EXCEPT ME!: (Because I am better than you)

By Maryann Germain

Hey You!

You should respect each other’s differences
You need to accept peoples skin colors
You shouldn’t condone injustice
You must appreciate cultural varieties
Hey, you won’t ignore the aged
You have to be less of a bigot
You best not be religion prejudiced
You shalt not scoff at people with disabilities
You will help the homeless
You will crusade for Human Rights for all.
Hey, you must remember we are all brothers/sisters
You can’t judge a person by their last name
EXCEPT ME!
I don’t have to because I am superior! I am better! I don’t like you! I don’t know you! I don’t care about you! I don’t respect you! But YOU have to…….

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823012775

Maryann Germain

Maryann Germain: She has been a published author since the age of 14. At age 8 she read 7 chapter books a week. Her choices of writing genres are extensive and address many subjects: romance, instructional manuals, controversial issues, cookbooks, Christian parent-children’s interactive books and biographies. She also ghostwrites and does grant writing. She uses pseudonyms and her real name as well. She enjoys people, has many interests, and writing is “her imaginary friend”. Her Happy Place is her children. She has worked in various government levels and appreciates the challenges. She was an insurance agent, and finally an Az real estate agent for 27 years. She has been an instructor on many different subjects and thoroughly enjoys people. The author’s philanthropic career has been crusading for people with disabilities on various levels in the Southwest. The latest as an Az. State appointed Human Rights Advocate for the disabled, now serving in the private sector. She has actively supported teachers and students during the pandemic of 2020 along with assisting the vast homeless, displaced vets, needy, unwed moms, disabled, seniors population thru her 501C-3 corporation- “Lfited-Up Ministry.Corp” She also supports awareness of sexual exploitation of women and children. She asks for your support: Please donate at: www.patreon.com/ArtonaMission Maryann has many manuscripts yet to be published and will………. Her mantra is, “Writing is a passion that never ends!” For information on her instructional writing classes check out: www.azstoryfactoryusa.org

Book preview

© 2023 Maryann Germain. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/11/2023

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1278-2 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1277-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023914638

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Preface

Author’s Note

Chapter 1     Remembering Our World

Chapter 2     Historical Prejudice & Now

Chapter 3     Religious Bigotry/Sandbox

Chapter 4     People of Color & Class

Chapter 5     Tolerance vs Acceptance

Chapter 6     Why are we Afraid

Chapter 7     People in Power

Chapter 8     Our Blood - the Same Color

Chapter 9     Hand in Hand

Chapter 10   True Colors

Chapter 11   To Dream the Impossible

Biography

I am

dedicating this book to a man who taught us to be open minded, thoughtful, and fair. A man who would wear a yarmulka with his Jewish friends, eat kimchee with his Korean friends, would address a Frenchman in the French language, visit Ali’s home in the "hood’, when he was Cassius Clay, and proudly wear a shamrock on St. Paddy’s Day. He welcomed anyone into his home, life, and family. This man was not perfect, however, this man believed everyone was equal in HIS EYES so how could a mere human think anything differently?

Our Dad.

In the Artist’s World

White is devoid of color

Black encompasses all Color.

Preface

I wrote this book to bring awareness to people. To Inspire the reader to alter their attitudes. If we ever stand a chance of uniting as Humanity, we need to examine ourselves and voluntarily change. If we ever have a opportunity to survive, it is now. Tomorrow may never come.

When the George Floyd situation arose, I literally became nauseated.

Why do you ask Dear Reader?

Growing up in Chicago along with the racism, the segregation, the Atlanta riots left me a lasting impression, I couldn’t visit a dear school friend at her home, nor mine, because she lived in the hood and I lived in the White ’hood. It was very frustrating however it was the way that the adults lived. What an example to a child.

The hate, I thought somehow, we had as a populous that grew out of all that perilous time would dissolve with time. HAH!

Somehow, I thought we, as good Christians, and generally good people had learned to play Nicey Nice in the sandbox TOGETHER. Somehow, I thought acceptance would be a way of life as an adult. Somehow……

No way. I was wrong and probably delirious in my thinking. It was disturbing. It gave me a sense of failure for all of us and heartfelt tragedy for George Floyd and his family.

Are you fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, have scars, severed limbs, mentally different, low intelligence, too high intelligence, Nerdy, Quirky, Freaky, Wimpy, Egotist, bald, not the correct skin color, too loud, too quiet, wear glasses, left handed, knobby kneed, flat chested, too much boobs, hunchbacked, acne ridden, big nosed, cross eyed, turkey arms, no butt, too much butt, hairy back, cross eyed, talk with a lisp, Big toes, little toes, big lips, thin lips, Nose Hair, big ears, moles, veiny legs, birthmarks, accent, twangs, slanted eyes, cleft palate, deaf, blind, use of cane, wrinkly and on and on, munchkins, giants and aliens.

Do people shy away from you because of your affliction. Do you shy away from them if you encounter the above?

That is a definitive sign of ignorance. Everyone that has one, or more of the above afflictions, or I should say challenges, has talents, appealing characteristics and something very positive to offer up. YOU will never discover them because you are focusing on their challenges and not the person.

So, how about laying aside your preconceived, erroneous concepts of individuals and open up your heart, mind and spirit to True Acceptance?

Author’s Note

I am going to offend someone, somehow, somewhere with this content. Be you a liberal, a conservative, a religious person, a non-religious person, a zealot, colorful, colorless, LGBA etc, politician, priest or pauper I do apologize in advance. However, it is the way I see the world. Any comments are welcome, my email is within this book.

This book is designed to get you to dig deep inside of yourself and engage in a personal assessment regarding bigotry, prejudices, and feelings of discrimination toward yourself and other people. My intent is not to attack any one group of people however I do point out questionable practices that could lead to prejudice and discrimination.

You say this isn’t a book for you. That you don’t have a prejudice bone in your body. You treat everyone and everything equally. If you truly believe the above statement,

YOU really need to read this book!

We all have notions of superiority sometime in our lives. Please don’t deny that. It would be foolish. Our environment, past, present, and future, our role models, teachers, friends, family, and society each had an input in the way we accept people or discount them. I am simply making suggestions.

I am purposely leaving many gaps in this book. It is up to you to research and find your own answers. Just make sure, you aren’t demanding changes in others that you would not do yourself. Hence, the flavor of Except Me!

Our world is wrought with inconsistencies, injustice, and depravities. It is not easy to get along in the sandbox of life. It is up to each of us to either crusade for positive change, in both us and society, or be a fool and let it be. Sweeping it under the proverbial rug won’t work. We can make a better life for our progeny.

This is your legacy, Dear Reader. We can be the change!

EXCEPT ME!

Chapter 1

Remembering Our World

Dear Reader, the world that belonged to my two younger brothers and myself was filled with