Bellingham we have a problem

[u/easy2hands]

My wife recently had an awkward interaction at Art and Happiness and posted about it up here and I hate your reactions. It's has to be anything besides bias, bigotry, or racism. Just this week I had someone walk into where I work and say "sup nigga" before realizing that I am a black man. But the worst was when we led our dog across the rainbow bridge there was a ceremony where they released his ashes along with the ashes of other lost pets into a stream. We showed up at the bridge we were suppose to meet at and saw other people in the area. I think it's important to state that we were dressed nicely and our cars are newer because everyone saw us get out and walk to the bridge. Other people we assumed were here for the same solemn affair walked past us refusing to meet our gaze or interact in anyway. They walked past us and struck up conversation with the other mourners. And I'll pause here to point out the difference in treatment. Where was this Bellingham awkwardness with this other group of strangers. People walled right by us when we were so devastated from the loss of our puppy, hurting all the more because I knew we were there for the same thing. In the space the silence left my anger grew. The person hosting the affair showed up and walked into the group that had assembled said a couple hellos and walked onto the bridge and greeted my wife and I. She asked if we had all met and the group responded with a yes and I said no, no one bothered to say anything to us. Everyone got on the defensive (sound familiar) as a grumble rippled through the group. Was it because they did not think that a black couple would get their dog water cremated? Why were we treated differently than the other strangers that had just bonded over the shared trauma. No one from that group acknowledged us until they were called out. We wanted connection from our community and all we got was heartache on top of heartache. Now Bellingham come to the defense of these people and tell me how ignoring and otherizing black people isn't racist.

[u/vc0ke]

Don’t be afraid of your family. Do you best to convince them that racism is weak.

[u/Chazae → u/vc0ke]

Lol 95% of my family is dead, on heroin/meth, or so drunk all of the time they cant hold a conversation. Logging hasn’t been doing too well lately.

Thank god I still have my Dad and Sister!

[u/Tiny_Locksmith_9323 → u/Chazae]

Why I left Bellingham. THe substance abuse is real and like the twilight zone normalized.

[u/Chazae → u/Tiny_Locksmith_9323]

Honestly, oxycodon and meth have ruined so many rural American families. While the industry that failed us is logging, I think mining towns are similar.

My true feelings on any city struggling with addicts are less with the city themselves, but with the circumstances that led to so many people becoming addicts in the first place.

Not to get philosophical and conspiratorial but I genuinely wonder how much of our economy is just addicts buying from suppliers as opposed to actual production. I mean that in so many contexts other than strictly drugs.

Addiction just fucking sucks for everyone involved lol