It was dripping from each line how fed up you are from that neverending discussion and wondering about what you are. Even the who is denied you, you're a what, period. It's sickening to imagine being in your skin, not because I'm so much a racist, but imagining the looks, the bold comments, even being physically attacked for it, for being who I am.

Yet, I experienced kind of the same a kid and I'm white, pardon, Caucasian. I was bullied like you as well, by both fellow students and adults. Why?

Because I'm open-minded and critically, liberal and diplomatic. Because I didn't take part in my peers ridiculing others. Because I wanted to learn and made that clear. Because I could read and did. Because I spoke proper German and not the local dialect. Because I clad "better" than most others since my parents could afford it (however, never bragged about it). You name it.

Isn't it weird how somehow this might read familiar to you?

In the German Grundgesetz the First Paragraph says that an individual's dignity is sacrosanct. Yet, yours is violated each day, just because you don't fit into one of drawers society has created for its members.

Everything out of the mainstream - be it by looks or behavior or whatever - is considered a threat that must be neutralized. Some are bolder and some less, yet the latter hurts worst because you don't notice it immediately; its effect is delayed but not less than direct confrontation.

It was irritating to see how your respective families fought each other, insulted and denied each other as well. It was like an emotional war between ethnicities, about which one is the "better one"... and you kind of a joker between the parties.

Each planted crap in your mind to lower the other and you sat between chairs not knowing what to do as it's a child's initial impulse wanting to please its family. It doesn't speak for your families. I hope you excuse my bluntness here.

I was so happy for you that you have a supportive mom who loves and accepts you the way you are, doesn't seem to judge and question you, but protected you against the destructive racial propaganda from all sides and raised you the best she could to a decent adult.

That also shone through between the lines... and I think that gives you the strength to bear so gracefully with all those insensitive, racistic idiots who can't make sense of you yet gawk at you as if you were some curiosity.

The most ironic part of the whole piece in my eyes was your encounter with the receptionist who didn't even recognize you as one of hers. Looks like there's innerracial racism as well and that sucks even more.

Call me naive or mentally challenged, but I can't understand all that fuss about your appearance. I happened to look at your picture in your bio and I couldn't see a reason for it. There are no horns sticking out of your head, no vamp teeth or "666" tattooed on your forehead, no Medusa hair. I only saw a pretty girl with a nice smile.

Maybe the bullying in my youth has sensitized me how it is to be fought like a social critter. Maybe it was also my parents' "colorblind" education.

It would never come to my mind to discriminate anyone... whenever there's a threat I could ugly memories resurrect or I hear my parents' voice in my head about difference being nothing bad but good since it enriches society and life by sharing different experiences and cultures.

You've come to the same conclusion as I which is again amazing, I think. You freed yourself from all the emotional debris laden on you as a kid, make the best of your current situation and are proud of who you are.

Apropos proper English: I tried to find only one tiny mistake, but failed. Technically this was really impeccable... and made a little German nit-picker very sad.

Thank you for sharing this important eye-opener.

My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Go Noticed" .

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