Overheard at the grocery store this morning.

Stopped off to get some cream cheese for the bagels and as I was walking past the deli section one old white guy behind the counter was telling another old white guy in front of the counter "the people in Kenya are really celebrating" followed by the usual "wink wink nudge nudge know what I mean?", and lots of guffawing.

The idea that we are one multicultural rainbow nation where race and ethnicity (forget religion, we aren't nearly there yet, and don't get me started on sexual orientation) is an idea shared by perhaps 55% of the adult population. We are the majority, or at least last November's vote seems to indicate that we are the majority, and I like to think we are the majority, but there are quite a lot of bitter racist asshats out there unabashed to toss out their racist bile in public. Perhaps Obama might be more like Lincoln than any of us care to imagine. Let's hope not.

peacefully affirm the truth and then walk away from whatever happens next.

I was so taken aback by the situation that nothing pertinent popped up. But I agree - it is important to not let this crap go unchallenged.

pretty happy about it, too! And so is the rest of the world!"

But I wasn't in your situation so who knows what I would have said in the moment. Sometimes you're so blindsided you can't believe people are saying what they are saying...

You'd think we would get used to it.

That would be a good resource for some enterprising soul, with the time, to work on: Here's your snappy comeback for those of us who are snappy-challenged, organzed by topic; I'd go there and memorize a few.

some guy was yelling N****R on our Main Street in our small town. It was colder than blue blazes out and I was walking back from the post office on Main Street on the other side of the street when this kid in his 20s started yelling that and other words like P**** at the top of voice.

I turned around to see who was getting all this venom and never could tell as they were evidently in a parked car that the screamer was trying to coax them out of.

Nobody was getting out of that car so the guy started walking toward a pizza place when he looked over at me and said, "It's none of your business". I said, "Oh, you yellng those words here on Main St and we're suppose to just walk on by with our heads turned the other way?" "Fuck that"!

Him, "Fuck YOU"..me, "FUCK YOU". I know real snappy.

Not sure I accomplished anything..just kinda surprised myself afterwards about what just happened.

That's pretty much what you did.

This is the level where real change happens, between us, one-to-one.

I'm glad it didn't turn out to be dangerous, but it would be the opposite of what needs to be done if I said you shouldn't do it because it might turn out to be dangerous. I'm just going to have to trust your powers of observation and your abilities to think ahead about alternatives when it comes to situations that might bring you harm.

:hug:

street so I felt a certain safeness with the distance and the Police Headquarters were a block away in broad daylight.

I did feel that there some sort of accountability there that came from someone's disapproval of the words yelled on Main Street.

:hug::hi::fistbump:

I was in a waiting room for people getting chemotherapy. I was waiting for my cousin. This old man (older than me) and I had exchanged a few pleasantries. I guess that gave him permission to tell a racist joke about Obama. I looked him right in the eye and said, "That's not funny." He backed down and apologized. However, I later heard him tell the same joke to a young lady so I don't know if my words had any effect.

If we keep it up, it WILL add up.

However, it is my opinion that Racism is so Crazy and Evil that it will, practically speaking, never go away. The best we can do is learn how to never underestimate it and live with Integrity around it and that includes recognizing its many nicely white-wa$hed $tore-front$ which, unfortantely, include non-violent, though well armed, groups within $ome churche$. Believe me, I've seen some things here in the burbs that sure have made me wonder.

customer service.

or at least I hope so.

Gently letting them know you don't agree with them, with a "is that supposed to be funny?" doesn't hurt.

Replaced by their multi-racial grandchildren. Just wish them a quick and happy stroke. :-)

'xactly

Good! So are people everywhere else in the world. Starting Tuesday, they're much less likely to have their homes destroyed in a bullshit invasion.

but as I noted, that was not the point of the conversation I overheard. My babel fish clearly translated that phrase as "wow! the n*rs are taking over". But you have a point, perhaps I should have stubbornly misunderstood what they were getting at and butted in with an observation such as yours.

A town one of Obama's Irish ancestors came from is celebrating, as are people everywhere.

that the old bigots are slowly but surely dying off. Unfortunately, some younger bigots are taking their place, but a vast majority of younger people just don't share the prejudices of the older generations.

On election night, when Obama was declared the winner and MSNBC, the network I was watching, went to uninterrupted coverage of the joy and celebrations around the country, what struck me the most was how incredibly young most of the celebrants were. Hardly a gray hair in the bunch.

Speaking of course, as a gray-haired baby boomer.

of the world because the criminals have been thrown out of office and the investigations are on the way"?

I just got out of there and fled back to the comfort of home.

:evilgrin:

that smart and have been in a couple of really funny (and fun) arguments that lately that started out pretty much the same way.

edit: To take out the word 'unfortunately'. It made it sound like I didn't thoroughly enjoy those arguements. Which I most assuredly did.

:evilgrin:

and when this generation of OLD dies off,the racism they so love will die a bit more with them. The old hold onto old things,and it is the old who fear change the most.And thankfully they will be gone soon.
As each generation grows up in a multicultural world and the voices of the old way are buried, the old way dies with the old.

Be thankful they were old farts. Soon they won't be around to spread their poisoned racist shit much longer.
They know their kind( old school racists) are dying out.

When left on it's own, natural selection has a blind kind of wisdom far beyond any racist fantasies or sick belief systems of control that gets stupid racist people trying to interfere with the process.

they were probably more or less my age. Perhaps pre-boomers, but likely not. I am only that old when I inadvertently catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror, or when some fool manages to snap a picture of me.

:( sorry :hug: I admit I did it to Gramps McSame though. :evilgrin:

I looked at these old farts being assholes in public and then I reflect that I am probably around the same age. I think the same way as you: 'they're on their way out, let it be', and then have a bit of cognitive dissonance as I realize I'm on the same slow boat to dead that they are on. It amuses me. I can't take it seriously, probably due to having taken way too much LSD as a youth.

still believing in OLD fart ideas, like institutionalized racism is good for the US,all those worn out failures, old ideas and the old people still clinging to them dying off is what I was referring to. As for you when you go,I am certain you will be missed, and not only by friends and family but by many many others, including me and I suspect a significant part of DU.

Hell,I'm 43 but look 20 something.Nobody ever guesses my age right.It's kinda funny really.Especially when someone my age starts talking to me like a teenager,I tell them they don't believe me,until show them proof of my age and the look on their face it's hilarious when they find out the truth,and even funnier when it dawns on them this is why when they talk to me I seem so"mature"!!LULZ

They had an 88 year old white woman who had traveled all the way from CA to DC for the inauguration. She said she was thrilled to have lived long enough to see Obama become president. Please do not lump all people together. There are plenty of 20, 30, 40 and 50 somethings that are prejudiced.

That man's a racist. Also a million years old, back when it was allowed to do. At least he wasn't 30.

We are the majority. For what it is worth.

And when their smiles fade add, "You're the minority now."

Two hispanic men were talking about how since Barack is only half black, they are not
moved by his being 'The First African American President', and that it doesn't
matter that he'll be the President, as it's still the old white guys who control everything
and that as usual Obama will be a puppet for their wishes...just like every other President.

Kinda pessimistic I thought.

Everytime I open my mouth it is a waste of time and they still walk away feeling they are right. You can't change people.

Racists have nothing to celebrate, ever.

on his face

He needs to turn on the TV and see what's happening in his own damn country. People are celebrating their asses off in the good old US of A.

THese people are idiots.