Racism rears it's ugly head.

[scarlet_owl]

I just couldn't believe this! My mother and I were sitting outside of my step-father's work the other day. We had brought a pizza for lunch, and we were happily eating and waiting for him to come out. This woman comes out and sits down on the picnic table where we were sitting and asks, "May I sit here?". My mother and I say, "of course". She then proceeds to tell us that she has to sit out there every day to eat her lunch because "the Mexicans have taken over the break room". Now for those of you who don't know, my mother and I are Mexican-Americans, but we look more European. Mom and I just kind of stared at each other, as we couldn't believe what was happening. I wanted to say (but didn't), "Well, we've taken over this picnic table, too." Maybe I should have.

Thanks for letting me rant about this. Sorry about the poor grammar.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. Why oh WHY didn't you say just that?

Bigots deserve NO respect.

[scarlet_owl]

4. I don't know why I didn't.

I think it was shock. I just couldn't believe it.

[Blue-Jay]

2. You & Mom should've started speaking Spanish

for the rest of the time that idiot-woman was sitting there.

:D

[scarlet_owl]

5. My mother doesn't speak Spanish.

She would have had no idea what I was saying. She only knows the curse words-the only Spanish ever spoken in her household.

[Blue-Jay]

8. bummer.

That would have horrified the woman.

[youngred]

3. You should have said it

at the end of lunch after having had a long conversation with her. Teach her a lesson about judging people

[scarlet_owl]

12. I just couldn't at the time. It was too shocking to me.

I don't usually associate with people who make such statements. My mom and I had a good laugh about how much of a moran this woman was, though.

[bearfan454]

6. I am Hispanic. My Dad was born in Spain.

When I was dating Mrs bearfan her exhusband asked her if she was still seeing that "Mezican" ? She told him I wasn't a "Mezican", that I was from Chicago. He told her that only meant I had farther to swim. There will always be ignorant people no matter what. I don't even let stuff like that piss me off any more.

[mrboba1]

7. farther to swim???

Great. not only is he a bigot but he doesn't know Mexico shares a border with the US!
:mad:

[bearfan454]

9. Stupid is as stupid says

That was 15 years ago. He died about a year ago. He had a heart attack from making his heart go a million miles an hour thousands of times with methamphetamine.

[TX-RAT]

11. Fellow Meskin Here

At least 1/2 My moms from Monterey, and in a strange coincidence so is my wifes. What a combo she's 1/2 Mexican and 1/2 German, don't piss her off.

[truthspeaker]

10. probably referring to illegals who swim the Rio Grande

the source of the slur "wetback".

[mrboba1]

13. hm.

I must not be up on my racial slurs. I didn't know that wetback was for Mexicans - I thought it was for Cubans/Carribean islanders or something like that...

[mulsh]

14. I worked at a place like that

Mostly Mexican workers, I was one of 3 anglos in the factory. Breakroom always taken over by Mexicans, mostly women, mostly from Mexico. They were brutal. Man the gossip, good thing the other anglos didn't speak spanish. Good thing some of the women thought I couldn't understand them. I haven't worked there in 15 years but I still keep in tough with a bunch of those women.

Maybe that woman's co-workers are better off with her outside.

[Cybergata]

15. Man, do I understand this!

...but knowing me I would have said something to totally embarrass the woman. I come from a family blond, blue-eyed Hispanics, and stupid people are always making comments about Mexicans in front of me. I will let them go on and on, then point out my name is Lopez, and let them get red in the face. As a teacher, I find it impossible not to explain to them the error of their misguided opinions.

I especially love it when they say something about "Mexicans should go back to Mexico," so I can give them a history lesson. The present day Southwest U.S. was part of Mexico until the United States occupied it in the mid 1800s. My family has been in New Mexico since the 1600s & 1700s, and all that time this area was considered part of Mexico (even if they called it New Spain.)

The whole border issue between the Southwest and Mexico is a rather new concept. Up until recently, people moved back and forth across the border all the time. BUT then, without making the border a big issue, how else could people in the U.S. get and exploit a cheap labor source. Not to forget, have a scape goat to blame all our problems on. No, now that we have so much, we can't dare let others have a share. Pretty sicking if you ask me.

Please see John Sayle's "Lone Star," or Cheech Marin's "Born in East L.A." or El Norte...yes indeed El Norte.

All of our ancestors were once (including my Native American ancestors) immigrants. This country was built on the back of immigrant and slave labor (forced immigrants). It brings me joy to look out at my students in class, and see so all the beautiful faces that reflect so many different heritages. This is what makes up the United States. This is what makes it great.

:hippie: