Guilt-edged
Just in case you think “race-baiter” is a recent addition to the Occupational Outlook Handbook:
I was shielded from a lot of the old ugly bigotry as a girl, albeit fully aware that there were small-minded people in the world. Even way back during that time my parents never allowed any hint of bigotry in their children. So I grew up very naive in thinking that a black person would accept my sincerity of personal interaction as a matter of course. It wasn’t until high school that I tasted the bitter edge of something new: I got played by a young Barack Obama-type. He was a transplant from Chicago, and he wanted to start a Race Forum, with the proposition of promoting more racial understanding in the student body. I was close friends with a black guy, a bright poet, which was still kinda tabu back then in the South (both poets and black guys as boyfriends. Heh.) Some had rumored us to be dating, though it wasn’t so. However, this led to my being asked to participate in the forum. I was excited to be a part, but it all came about that I had to pass a litmus test for which I was set up by the young “organizer” and was summarily found to be unsuitable for their purposes. It was not really a Race Forum because they were not going to allow any white students in it who couldn’t see themselves as oppressors and bigots. It turned out to be an Outrage Forum that bewildered those of good will.
Of course, they’d never concede that she had good will: she didn’t pass their damnfool test. And therefore:
Neither I nor my friend had anything more to do with them. Besides, he loved country music and Jesus and our little Chicago organizer was never going to allow either in a Forum for Understanding.
Of course not. It would drown out the sound of the axes being ground.
Lisa Paul »
9 February 2010 · 6:21 pm
Oh come on. Is this really a story about race. Or a more typical example of teenage brattiness i.e. “You can’t be in my club because we’re cooler than you.”
I don’t think it’s wise to base your world view on what people did in High School. Unless you want to play just another oppressed White person held down by an Uppity Urban Negro.
Joan of Argghh! »
9 February 2010 · 6:57 pm
Lisa never read my post, or not much of it, she just jumped over to my place to leave her presumptive umbrage. It’s okay. She’s shielded in her lovely vineyard.
I currently live in a black neighborhood. Again. For the second time in my life, by choice. I lived amongst 20 million Mexicans in the poorest section of Mexico City. By choice. I’ve risked my freedom to bring medicines to a communist country.
However, I avoid toney little vineyards in Sonoma, (although I’ve handled more bottles of wine than she, I’m sure.) But that’s more blog posts of mine she won’t read, either. As long as she feels she has contributed to the conversation, however, I’ll humor her safe little world-view.
Lisa Paul »
9 February 2010 · 7:21 pm
Oh dear, flame wars. Joan obviously didn’t read many of my posts if she thinks I run “a toney little vineyard”. I wish. However, I think I’d like to foster THAT illusion rather than the cobbled together, learn through mistakes, one woman (two terriers and occasional spousal support) cheap sweat and ignorance operation that it is.
Yes, come to think of it, I’ll take “toney little vineyard” for $200, Alex.
unimpressed »
9 February 2010 · 7:57 pm
I was going to make a comment on Master Race Baiter but then changed my mind….
Joan of Argghh! »
9 February 2010 · 8:27 pm
Ah then, Lisa, are we even? Or did I make my point, that being that it’s not really adding anything to a conversation to just jump in with assumptive passive-aggressive non-observations instead of addressing what was actually said. Thanks for playing!
I admire anyone who works the land. I wouldn’t dream of telling you what it means to you or your experience if you had chirped a fine post of woe and sadness on the loss of a crop or whatever. That sweat ain’t cheap, so don’t undersell it! I may presume that you did several things wrong and proceed to tell you so, if I was prejudiced against the lucky people who own real estate. And you would deride such presumption, as well you should. But all my opinions based on what I presume about you will not help you in the least, add to your quest to understand, or make you respect me. If you could have pushed back on what was really said, we’d be having a conversation. But if there are any flames in our current exchange, they must be emanating from the embarrassed flush on your own cheeks.
Please, I am not worth your trouble. Really.
Dick Stanley »
9 February 2010 · 9:07 pm
Ooooh, flamewars. I loves ‘em. Fight, fight.
I’ve known lots of Race Forum types in adult business. They get hired for “diversity” and spend their time whining about oppression. Beats working.
paulsmos »
9 February 2010 · 11:15 pm
I don’t like niggers, honkys, spics, mics, hebes, dagos, krauts, dinks, chinks, slopes, zipper-heads, beaners, rag-heads or any other shithead….just my pug, zeke.
CGHill »
9 February 2010 · 11:39 pm
Well, aren’t you just a ray of sunshine today.
Lisa Paul »
10 February 2010 · 12:03 am
Unimpressed, I,too, tee-heed at Master Race Baiter. Does that make me twelve? Or just appreciative of Chaz’s way with a turn of phrase.
unimpressed »
10 February 2010 · 1:00 am
I do believe that he leaves openings like that just for those of us, ahem, uninhibited enough to state them.