anthro 101 introduction

Hello,

My name is Michelle Speck. I am a married, straight, Caucasian female in my mid forties. No, I am not your traditional student. I have three grown children, two of which have finished college and one of which is married. I was born and raised in a small town in North Alabama. I am a Christian, attending churches of the Protestant persuasion. I have come to realize that my way of looking at the world has changed quite a bit from my younger days. I attended high school in the late seventies and early eighties when shorts were short, socks were high and smoking was allowed on campus. Our school was about a 60/40 split with whites being the majority. While we all got along at school, definite lines existed regarding interracial dating and homosexuality. Homosexuality and interracial dating were frowned upon and if they were discussed, it was in the form of ridicule. As a young adult I must admit I did not agree with interracial dating and openly exhibiting homosexual tendencies. I had a cousin who was gay, which caused quite a stir in our family. He has since passed away and the stir continues still. How sad.

I must credit my daughter in helping me understand that interracial dating is not the end of the world. She has helped me see the inside of people and how to look at and make decisions based on the person, not the color of their skin. She has also helped me understand that everyone is someone. While she was in school the “gothic” craze existed. I forbade her from associating with the gothic crowd but she insisted. She opened my eyes in so many ways and I can say today that I have no issues with interracial dating, homosexuality, or religious beliefs that differ from mine. Everyone is someone and if we can learn to to learn from each other, then we can understand the differences and accept them.

I believe that “religion” is a personal decision that should not be forced on anyone. I enjoy religious discussions, not to argue but to learn. I believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the Bible. The name on the sign in front of the church building has nothing to do with the afterlife. It is a personal relationship that no person can dictate. Some would say that I am not carrying out the Great Commission, but I have seen too many people leave church and their faith because someone forced it down their throat. I do not want to ever be guilty of that. And who am I to judge?

I have always been fascinated with people’s origins. Where they came from, how did they end up here, that sort of thing. But as I have gotten older I have come to realize that their origins are not the only thing I can be fascinated with. Beliefs and lifestyles are just as important.