Sour Taste

I like to think that I’m a pretty laidback, easygoing and all around fun person to be around. I also hope that I am fair and understanding as well as compassionate to other people; regardless if I know them personally or have just met them.
There are two things that I have a very low tolerance for: Hypocrisy and Racism. I feel passionately about both subjects and in my opinion they go hand in hand.
After all it takes a great deal of hypocrisy to assume that ones self is better in any way than another human being because of the color of one’s skin.
I was born and raised in East Texas and know firsthand prejudges that are prevalent in this area. They aren’t as open or out in the open as they were when I was a child but unfortunately they still exist.
I was reminded of this unfortunate fact last week while I was out with friends and it has left a sour taste in my mouth. The sour taste is disappointment not only in the fact that there are still ignorant people who are mean spirited and full of hate but also that there are still people who either can’t or won’t make a stand for what is right. Some of which are friends of mine.
Without going into too much detail and to make a long story short, I was out with friends Saturday night. While with these friends, I met a man who irritated me from the beginning. He was pushy and tried to be touchy feely when I gave him absolutely no indication that he could be.
A little later my friends and I were at Denny’s and who came in but the irritating man and one of his friends. And what does he do? He comes over to where we were sitting and takes a seat next to me in the booth. He then proceeds to try the touchy feely ‘crap’ again. I scooted over in my seat, looked him in the eye and told him “Don’t touch me! I didn’t ask you to touch me and if I had wanted you to, I would have let you know!” Keep your hands to yourself!” He said “Oh we have a mean one here” and acted as though he thought it was funny, which only irritated me more!
The waitress came up to take our orders and I told her that I needed a little more time. As she was walking away, the irritating man said “ Hey girl! Come here” I could see on her face that she didn’t appreciate his arrogance and I told him “Don’t call her girl. How would you like it if she called you boy? She has a name” His response was “ What should I call her? Nigger?” Needless to say I had to refrain myself! My hand shot up and I popped him on his shoulder and said “Don’t talk like that! What’s wrong with you?”
I was furious! If I had sat there a second longer I would have gone ballistic. My friend’s were sitting in front of me and not saying a word! This upset me also.
I actually climbed over the seat to get out of the booth. I couldn’t even bring myself to ask this Idiot to move out of my way and I feared that I might take a notion to kick him out of my way…so over the back of the seat I went.
The security guard saw what I had done and asked me if everything was okay. I told him “NO it isn’t and I really wish that man, that I don’t know and didn’t invite, was sitting somewhere else!” So the security guard goes over and asked him to move away.
I was relieved because I really wasn’t wanting to make a scene with my friend’s being there.
But to my surprise when I sat back down, the person that I believed would know how I feel on the subject of racism, asked me if I had told the $%&@ cops to ask him to move!
I really couldn’t believe my ears. She told me that she hates cops and doesn’t ask the cops for *$!%. That was the last thing I expected her to say.
I understand that everyone has their hang-ups. I know I do but, I really thought that she would ‘get’ where I was coming from.
I was/am more hurt than mad about her attitude and I don’t think she really knows how hurt I was/am.
The whole experience was a lesson learned for me.
I will continue to let my opinions be known and if it offends or embarrasses anyone, well I guess I will just have to distance myself.
I know what is right in my heart….and I know that most people do too.
Hopefully there will come a day when people can love and respect others, not is spite of their differences but because of them.
I thank God for allowing me to experience the privilege of having friends and family that are from different races.
The sour taste was there but, the sweetness of my love for my true friends, family and with the help of a merciful God I will overcome…
Oh taste and see that the Lord is good...Psalms 34:8