Why Must the President be a Nigger in my BoomerWorld

Someone called President Obama a nigger at The Duke Center for Living Fitness Center this morning. I didn't actually hear him say it. By the time I was summoned to the area, I heard him say "Obama has done more to divide this nation than any other President." Once a small group of us gathered in the area of the gym where they were, the two men left and headed to the men's locker room.

Okay, so here's how it went down. Miss Merlita, who looks 60 but is probably closer to 90, was sitting in a chair in the weight training area, along with three other older white men. I was approximately 20 feet away in another section of the weight training area along with one some other people. I kept looking at her because I was curious as to what she was doing since she wasn't using the exercise equipment attached to the chair.

Suddenly, she motioned for me and another man to come to her.  I remember thinking, "She's getting ready to talk my ear off!"  When we got there she pointed to one of the men and said he just called the President a nigger.  We started joking with her about her bad hearing until another man nearby confirmed that he also heard it.  As our conversation escalated, the two men got up and headed towards the locker room.

When I posted what happened on Facebook, someone asked if anyone said anything to the two men. No one did. I think this goes back to the mentality of older blacks in the South. They say "Shame on whitey and let's put it in God's hands," but they don't want to be confrontational. They still believe in trying to keep the peace even though the world around them is reminiscent of a period they want to forget. Had I actually heard the comment, I am sure I would've gotten in their faces but I, too, chose to follow the crowd. Perhaps that means I'm mellowing out as I grow older. But it doesn't mean I don't see the racism that exists among boomers and senior citizens as it relates to President Obama.

The Boomer generation has been labeled the greatest generation but when I see and hear how MY GENERATION is reacting to this upcoming election, I have to say we are anything but great. Disgraceful is more like it.

Boomers with Health Issues May Be Unlucky at Love

If you're single with Shingles, high blood pressure, arthritis or some other aging-related health issue, your chances don't look too good when it comes to finding romance.  That's because a survey conducted by the online dating site OurTime.com has revealed more than 50 percent singles over the age of 55 say they would not date someone with health problems.

That would surely rule me out of the dating pool since I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure at the age of 49.  Fortunately, my husband chose not to make it an issue since he married me the following year.

But never fear, if you don't look all that hot with your aging face and body, that's OK because, according to the same survey, 68 percent of adults age 55 and older say they would be willing to date someone they felt was less attractive.  

Other key points of the survey:

Some 70 percent of men and 59 percent of women say they are willing to date people of other religions.

65 percent of people 55 or older said dating more than one person at the same time was fine.

60 percent said they would date someone outside party lines.

46 percent of adults 55+ said they were open to dating someone of a different race

Where do you fall in line with this survey?