The problem with Pit Bulls...

The one thing I have really liked about Okinawan's so far is their friendliness, peacefulness and their unprejudiced views towards my dog, an American Pit Bull Terrier, in case anyone is wondering. We have had 80 yr old ladies come up to him, families with their kids, couples, groups on teenagers. They all want to pet him and he just wants to lick them. Rewind 6 weeks to San Diego, where everywhere we went with him, for every 4 good comments, there would be 2 negative ones...people crossing the street, dirty looks, outright rudeness. I have read time and time again you have to have a thick skin to own this breed (and I really don't, it bothers me, I get upset), you have to rise above the prejudice, and yes, that is exactly what it is, Prejudice. It is prejudice caused by the brainwashing of the general public by the media on some frenzy against these dogs. I have dealt with it for 3 years from the day we adopted him. It has been stressful, I had a neighbour upstairs who hated him for no other reason that he was a pit bull, she hated us and caused us so many problems. She was a real nasty person. She was also very unhappy and was mean to a lot of people around the area but we were her main target. So, when we came out here, it was such a wonderful relief to walk Harry as if he was a 'normal' dog (which, guess what, he is). So, Friday evening, I was sitting on the seawall with Harry, minding my own business, just watching the kids play, when I see a family coming along, as they get nearer, the dad says to his teenager "move to this side, that's a pitbull". I don't suppose he expected me to hear, but I did and San Diego came flooding back. I thought to myself 'what a cheek, he is discriminating against my dog for no other reason than his breed and this is a black man, with an Asian wife and 2 biracial kids, 'WHAT A BLOODY CHEEK' I screamed inwardly, 'he should know better about stereotyping'. As they passed, I said "my dog is friendly, just because he's a pit bull" They just looked at me and then I kicked myself the whole night 'why didn't I say to him that he is being prejudiced, why didn't I confront this injustice' (I told you I'm rather sensitive!). I mean does he really know what a Pit Bull is? Has he seen a pit bull chew up a child? ('cause that's what they do isn't it?) No, of course he hasn't, but I can guarantee he has heard about it on Fox 6 or some other news station that should be investigated. Owning this breed causes you to be misjudged accordingly. Suddenly my tattoos become more than tattoos they become added to the misjudgement of a pit bull owner, that I am uneducated (wrong I have a BA (Honours) degree), stupid (wrong, I have my street smarts), a threat to society (wrong again, I am a nice person, but don't piss me off!). In fact, I would go as far to say, that I can be quite a snob, I like fine foods, I love to travel and I love photography. Does that break out of the Pit Bull Owner demographics? Just wish that ignorant man was reading. But then ignorance is bliss, isn't it?