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school houselimecello.jpgLet’s educate ourselves. A potentially dangerous topic, but I think much good could also come from it. So, this is a pondering that will hopefully be fueled by all of you. We all make mistakes, and life generally throws such mistakes in our face. So, we’ll try to keep this as nice as possible. Of course, this will also double as a forum for venting – so really, as long as we keep personal attacks out of it, I’m good.Sensitivity – is this an issue you think about? Do you know someone who asks really awkward questions? I’m not talking about the once in a blue moon foot in mouth situation. I mean the person who makes at least three people uncomfortable each day.

A friend recently sent me this article. It’s a fun column in general, but this week what I’m going to direct your attention to would be the third question. It might not seem like a big deal, but think – have you ever asked someone “what are you?” – or how you would feel if someone asked you that? My personal favorite answer I’ve heard is “A human.” But I suppose that would be just as rude as the question. (Does a rude question excuse a subsequent rude response?)

Now I’m not saying this is something you should never ask. If you’re talking about diversity, personal experiences, or the other person mentions “back home” or some other sort of lead in – go for it and ask. You could learn some great things. I’m pretty sure I’ve asked it myself. But I’ve never done it within 5 minutes of meeting someone.

Something else I recently saw online was an ethnic label attached to something medical, and it simply grated on me. This has also been on my mind, because I recently saw a commercial that I found rather unnecessary. H5N1 is something I’ve been following off and on for more than five years now. H5N1 is Avian Influenza, better known as Bird Flu. The BBC has had a page on it for something like forever. Those of us in the west have been safe thus far, though governments are somewhat prepared. There was an uproar when the US government spent millions of dollars on a vaccine about three years ago. Also, there have been some more recent developments, trying back to a sad event in Spain’s history. A friend of mine was 100% adamant last summer that humans could not get bird flu. Hopefully it never becomes an issue (or a greater one) for him or any of us. H5N1

So, I’ll leave you with that commercial I saw. What do you think? Educational, or scare tactic? (I’m ok with the “you need to be aware” intention behind it – but… geez. What’s with commercials these days? Like the missing child cum battery one.)

But back to the main point – what is something people might not encounter in their every day lives that you think they should know about, or would like them to get right when they talk about it? Major or minor, I’d love to hear it.