How to start my last Ramblings of the year? I just don’t know, and I just don’t want to be a wet blanket, after reading a very heavy and thought-provoking book for a second time.

“Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man,” by Emmanuel Acho, has helped me through the complex and confusing relationships between peoples around the world. And right here in Canada and the States.

Perhaps for shock value, and to get the attention of readers, the author talks about the African diaspora.

I had grabbed my trusty dictionary/thesaurus, which linked the words diaspora and dispersal.

Please permit me to quote: “All black people in America are part of the African diaspora. There’s also a white diaspora, though Europeans don’t use the term as much. One important thing to remember is that Africans were mostly forced into their dispersion, while in America, Europeans mostly came of their own volition (and also, of course, sans chains).”

This was definitely a heaping helping of new thought for me. And I have always tried hard to understand black America.

Between my four years at university in upstate New York, much travel in many states and to many parts of the world, and being an extrovert, some say I am, in many ways, “pretty cool.”

Attending Caribana in Toronto over 20 times, enjoying 10 days at Carnaval in Trinidad, lots of fun Sunday evening “clubbing” at Sa-Fire in Scarborough, and lots of reading, I thought I had a pretty good handle on the multiracial situation.

In reality, how little I understand. My second reading of this book has helped, but still I think, “What can we possibly do?”

Despite great efforts and advancements, people of colour still have trouble finding a Band-Aid that matches the colour of their skin. Think about it. We have so far to go, from educational systems to systemic racism. Think about it. Seriously.

Dismantling systemic racism will be nothing short of dismantling white supremacy. All of us will have to work together.

Now, I am going way out of this lane as I ramble about white Christmas. Not culturally white, but white snow in Vermont.

Last week I enjoyed Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” at the Shaw Festival. My very basic cultural background happily says, “First class, world class” in all aspects. Physically, artistically and musically, the entire Shaw experience is usually so far beyond me. And right here in little NOTL.

The Shaw people, from the box office to the main stage and the show. Directors, sets and costumes, lighting, sound, everybody and everything.

Yes, I am rambling. I should really be careful and not get too deep this late in the year. But, where are we going as a society? As a people?

Media and technology today allow us to be informed, and almost everything is in real time. Not that long ago, less than a century, news travelled at a snail’s pace, if it travelled at all.

It is all so darned confusing and impossible to process now.

While I was still riding high and positive from White Christmas at the Shaw, I got whacked by the horribleness of recent happenings at Bondi Beach in magnificent Australia as Hanukkah commenced, and at Brown University in Rhode Island during exams.

Finishing up Ross’s Ramblings for 2025, I will share that many times people have asked me why I have spent so much time and money travelling during my life. My stock and well-received response was, “Because it makes the news so much more interesting and relevant.”

World travel really has broadened my perspectives. I have spent lots of time at both Bondi and Brown.

The most meaningful trip of my life was ten years ago, when I spent 12 days in Israel.  Despite Sunday school, a Christian summer camp, and much reading, I wasn’t really aware that Bethlehem was just across the street from Jerusalem.

About 20 minutes on a crowded public bus. Me, and a whole bunch of peaceful Arabs and Jews, going about their daily lives.

I am not attempting to sound cool or worldly or liberal. Less than 10 years ago, my wise son ripped into me because I had used the “N” word for effect while telling a story.

As Emmanuel Acho writes, “There is no conversation that excuses a white person using the ‘N’ word. Never. There is too much pain in that word coming from a white mouth.”

But I have rambled on, trying to conclude my 2025 season.

Shalom.