The thing that surprised me about Jackie getting stuff was wrong was that she has lived in the US for a long time — and I think the difference between flipping the bird and giving someone the V sign would be one of the first things one would notice! Oh, well. I forgive anything to the author of Chances and Lucky. I…

I agree, Wife of Bath. I am glad to hear you say it. To me, John seemed the epitome of selfishness. I don't know why people adore him.

Miley said, "I just want something that feels black?" What? She was talking about a man — a specific man, I'll bet. Otherwise it makes no sense.

No! No! The Agincourt thing MUST be true. Do you know how many times I have seen Henry V?! I must believe in the Agincourt thing! Why do you do it?

Of course you had to wait. My cousins will keep talking and talking. You're lucky the sun didn't go down before they finished and gave you a chance to tell them that you don't speak Hebrew. Even then...they might not have stopped....

I was just thinking about the beautiful Ioan last night! I didn't know he knew Welsh. I know Catherine Zeta Jones does and that she and Anthony Hopkins used to speak it on set to one another. I don't know why, but this culture has always fascinated and delighted me. When Henry V says to Fluellen, "I am Welsh, you…

Clearly a furry black Viking...only THE most common Halloween costume...no where...ever....

Ah, you think you are telling the American Jew something she doesn't know! But I am a huge Anglophile who used to love to study the Celts (because I am a huge nerd). In fact, I own a book that mentions a nameless Black Celt with a great voice and in the margins I wrote — over twenty years ago — "John Rhys Davies." …

Orkney! Yes! I remember reading about an entire village in the Orkneys that came down with MS. As for height not being guaranteed (black Celt! You've got it! Look at that way you have with words!), well, we Jews know that one all too well!

You responded to me in another thread. I wasn't talking to you. You just popped up out of the blue to say,

Do you know there are many white people who don't feel that they fit the standard of "normality" or "beauty" at all? They may be that standard — but that standard sure as heck does NOT include all white people.

What is a really horrible thing to say to someone? What are you talking about? How on earth is it horrible to say that my brother doesn't like to date white women and that I sometimes wonder if it's my fault? What guilt trip am I giving the poster? I am talking about my brother. And the pain of my dysfunctional…

BTW, there is a "stereotype" about your race (Black Celt) and it's a good one. Supposedly, black Celts are really, REALLY good story tellers. Is that true? Do you tell tales too wonderful to behold?

You, too? Yay! I am SO happy for you! It is amazing. It's kind of weird. Sometimes my mouth falls open and I just STARE — I am so amazed he said something. I was used to hearing, "You bitch! All you want to do is argue! That's OUR computer and I can do what I want to it" when I would come home upset to find…

Yep. They DO mean American Ashkenazim — of a certain type. Harrison Ford and Gwyneth Paltrow each have an American Ashkenazim parent — but that is NOT the type those people are talking about. I know blonder blondes than Paltrow who are 100% Jewish — it is true that there IS a type but NOT true that everyone who…

I have heard that. Lots of people have heard stuff like your friend has. However, my student was NOT talking about my body — my students who have said things like that just mean that I don't seem "different" or "other" the way they thought a white person would be. I seem like one of them. This is interesting…

This is the place. I would like to ask you some questions. One — would you allow a friend of yours to be treated that way? If not — why are you letting yourself get treated that way? Two — do you have children? If you do, do you realize that it's very bad for them to see you get treated this way? It's your…

THANK YOU. About the "you sound like a great teacher — your students are lucky to have you" compliment. It's very nice. The thing is, the go-to insult for anyone with a limited imagination who is speaking to a teacher is, "You must be an awful teacher! I can't believe you are allowed to teach!" It's so tiresome…

Whoops! You might be a *bit* busy...but if you get a chance, and can read for fun — begin with The Crystal Cave! And congrats on going to law school!

That's why I LOVE NYC. If you live here, you are a New Yorker. We are so accepting. I worked in some very diverse schools. I remember doing a quick survey in one of my classes — out of 34 kids, 14 of them spoke different first languages. I am not saying that 14 kids spoke Spanish. No — there were 14 different…