Amy has a neighbor on her "uphill" side named "Sam." In the Sam's yard there is a bamboo plant, abutting the retaining wall. Now, anyone who knows anything about bamboo knows that it grows really, really fast, and spreads quickly. That's one of the reasons is such a favorite among the sustainability folks. That's also the reason it's a Really Bad Idea to plant one so close to a retaining wall:
Now, to give Sam a break, he did not plant this bamboo - he bought the house while Amy was on deployment, and the previous owners did not inform him that Amy had already spoken to the previous owners about removing the bamboo because it was displacing the retaining wall. Sam bought the house "unawares," as it were. However, once Amy returned from deployment, she immediately told Sam that the bamboo had to go, because it was causing structural damage to the wall. Would you like to guess if Sam removed the bamboo? Ding, ding, ding.
Please note that Amy has been fucking around with this thing for as long as I've known her - 16 years. The bamboo is still growing, the wall is still being displaced, and the list is becoming alarming.
So Amy is now getting bids from contractors to come in, excavate and demolish the wall, and put a new wall in. This, of course, requires permits, material, heavy equipment, ad naseum. It will probably cost around $10K. Even though the damage is due to the neighbor's negligence, Amy is willing to split the cost with him in order to keep the wall from collapsing on her head one fine day. I think that's pretty darn generous. If the neighbor can't come up with the cash (he doesn't make a lot of money), Amy will replace the wall, then put a lien on his property for the entire amount.
Now, this might seem like a harsh thing to do to the poor neighbor, who works at in-home hospice care, caring for dying people. At least I thought it was a bit harsh...until I met him.
He came over to discuss the wall, and other neighborhood goings-on. While here, they told me there was a home up the street that is being rented by a member of the Aryan Nation Brotherhood, complete with tattoos. I mentioned to Amy that it's a good thing I didn't live in this neighborhood, because I was liable to picket his house, and subsequently get shot (Aryan Nation Boy was just released from prison).
Sam's response? "I think it's okay to hate black people. As long as you don't act on it."
I'm sorry, what did you say?
"Everyone is prejudiced. It's okay to hate black people. You just don't act on it."
You know, not really, you ignorant fuck. Everyone is not prejudiced, although I could successfully argue that everyone is biased. It is not okay to hate black people, or brown people, or fat people, or poor people. Because typically, even though you may have a desire "not to act on it," you will. Whether it's avoiding contact with the hated group, or making decisions about your daily life, the truth will out, and you're still an ignorant, stupid fucktard.
Now, I realize I'm an axle-wrapping militant about certain things. Abuse of children and pets. Honor killings. Sex crimes. Racism. I'll admit that Sam pushed my buttons, because he chose to spout off on an issue that gets me wrapped around the axle. But seriously? Seriously? Who thinks that hating an entire group of people based on the color of their skin is okay? Who? What rock was he raised under that he still thinks that this is the mind-set of an enlightened individual? I'm not talking about being political correct here - if Sam had said there was aspects of inner-city black culture that he didn't care for (rap, bling, pants hanging down around the ass, the acceptability of impregnating women without supporting the baby), he would not have earned my ire. There are aspects of my own culture I find offensive - I'm not going to give someone the Smackdown because they have personal preference on a culture not their own. But "it's okay to hate black people?" That kind of talk makes me physically ill.
Now, you may be Proud of Me. Instead of ranting at Sam, and telling him Karma will be paying a visit someday soon in order to repay his hate-filled heart, I let him know I did not agree with his position, and that while behavior is the ultimate arbiter of a person, intentions matter. This is Amy's neighbor, who she has to deal with on a daily or weekly basis, and my screeching at him about being an ignorant, racist asshat will not make Amy's life any easier.
So I allowed my feelings to be known, and dropped the subject. But you can bet that my ability to be civil has been stretched oh-so-thin, and that I will not be conversing with Sam the Ignorant Fuck again.
Amy's not sure what he was thinking by making those remarks, and expects he'll ask her at some future point if I thought he was serious. Guess what, Asshat? Telling someone you just met that "it's okay to hate black people" is not the way to impress. I'm not impressed, it's not acceptable, and I still think you're an ignorant fucktard who's a racist asshat.
Words matter.
4 comments:
I mentioned to Amy that it's a good thing I didn't live in this neighborhood, because I was liable to picket his house, and subsequently get shot (Aryan Nation Boy was just released from prison).
Come now, you wouldn't picket without being armed would you?!?
And yeah, that's not funny even if you don't really mean it. And I'm proud you were so civil. And nonviolent.
Yes Virginia
There are people in this world that are like that.
They come in all sizes, shapes, genders and colors.
Make note of who they are and move on...
Well, I hate the Aryan Brotherhood - does that make me a bad person?
;)
Not in my book, Jim.
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