America Is Beautiful, Ignorance Is Not

      I don't know why I am surprised each and every time I am let down by the stupidity and racism that exists in this country.

     Coca-Cola kept one of their Super Bowl commercials under wraps this year and after airing - almost instantaneously - bigoted, hateful comments began spewing into the social media sphere. The commercial in question begins with serene images of this beautiful country with America The Beautiful being sung in English in the background. Throughout the video, the song is then translated and sang by a group of young girls in a plethora of languages including - but not limited to - Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, and Tagalog.
     In case you missed it, here is the official extended 90 second video from Coca-Cola.

     Personally, I was moved to tears by this commercial (... and by the entire It's Beautiful playlist on YouTube). That is how beautiful I considered this commercial, and the message behind it. But, not everyone shares my opinion, as illustrated by just a few of the following oh-so-evolved and intelligent comments posted to Twitter after the commercial aired.

(Hmmm, Erik, check yo'self. The song in question is not God Bless America. #PatrioticSongButNotTheSame.)
c/o https://twitter.com/erikvela09

(Oh, sorry @uscliffordmc ... The song isn't our national anthem either. #StarSpangledBanner.)
c/o http://twitter.com/YesYoureRacist

(Ahhh, there it is. I knew I'd see it eventually, when all else fails blame Obama for the marketing tactics of Coke. #MakesSense)
c/o https://twitter.com/nothin_NEW

(Ryun, don't downgrade the importance of using apostrophes when writing contractions. #ElementarySchool?)
c/o https://twitter.com/rconn216

(Buddy, I wasn't aware Taliban members were such huge supporters of Coke. #FuckStupidity).
c/o https://twitter.com/buddycanty31

(Nick, Pepsi's CEO is an Indian-American, Indra Nooyi. She is considered one of most powerful people in the world. #AreYouNowConsideredOneOfTheDumbest)
c/o https://twitter.com/morikis

     ... And the tweets go on and on and on ...

     Now I totally get it. While I do not agree with a single point made in any of these tweets, you're entitled to your own opinion. I will listen to your opinion. I will engage in conversation with you about your thoughts and opinions. Just know that if you agree with any of this garbage and you don't see the positivity and beauty that was in that commercial ... You are not someone that I want to associate myself with ... You are not someone I would want to raise my future, hypothetical children around ... I mean, honestly, in MY opinion, you are not someone who I really want in my country because you are bringing us down one stupid comment at a time ... But we really can't go shipping you all off to your own little homes on Bigot Island, now can we? That would be totally un-American. 

     I take pride in surrounding myself with people from all walks of life and all cultures. I come from a multi-ethnic, bi-racial, dual-religious family. I have friends of all different ethnicities and races. One of best friends is Cuban, another is Irish, another is Indian ... and that, to me, is an America I want to live in - one where relationships are cultivated and bridges are built between those that may be "different" in some way.
     The It's Beautiful playlist features some behind the scenes video from the making of the commercial, and honestly, these girls who sing America The Beautiful - these children - they give me hope for a better future. They are part of the reason I don't give up on humanity every time I see a tweet like the ones above ... Because when I hear things like this from the mouths of babes ...

America is one union but with a mix of cultures and it doesn't matter who you are, we should always be friendly to each other no matter what difference we have. --- Naya

 ... Not everything fits the same way but I think that's what makes it so special. --- Carolyn 

We have the right to be ourselves, we can speak whatever we want, we can pray whatever we want to pray and I just think that's pretty amazing and that we're lucky to have it. --- Naomi

It's so beautiful that we are all the same, we just have different backgrounds, and that's okay. We're all Americans and we can come together to make change. --- Sushmitha

     ... That is what gives me hope for the future of this country. 

     So, if you are one of those people who choose to be ignorant of all the beautiful languages and cultures that make up this country, that's fine - you do you. Just do the world a favor, don't spread your vile thoughts to our country's future leaders who really give me hope that they can all get along despite their differences.

And maybe someday, we'll figure all this out, try to put an end to all this doubt, try to find a way to make things better now and maybe someday we'll live our lives out loud. We'll be better off somehow, someday. (Someday, Rob Thomas)

Side Note: The It's Beautiful Coke commercial, in addition to featuring all those beautiful languages, was also the first Super Bowl commercial to feature a gay family. See their story and others here.

Side Note II: I feel like I'd be doing an injustice to society if I didn't make this clear for some people ... So, for the record, this is America the Beautiful, this is God Bless America, and this is The Star Spangled Banner (which is the national anthem of the United States).

What's Wrong With The World Today: Ignorance Is Bliss. #SorryImNotSorry.

     Y'all are gonna like this one ... Wait for it. Wait for it ...
     At work a few days ago, I had a grown ass man ask me if I was related to Saddam Hussein. If it was a child at the school that I work at, I would have written it off as curiosity and a learning experience, but when you are a TEACHER, it gets written off as ignorance and stupidity, sir.
     Now, I have had my fair share of people ask me that question, and my fair share of times, I have looked people straight in the eye, deadpan, and said, "Yeah, he's my uncle." Just like Will Smith is related to John Smith, and Denzel Washington is related to George Washington (for all I know, they might be, I did not research this ... But, for the sake of making a point, there you go).

 

     Usually after saying that people realize, "Shit, I look like an dumb mf-er right now." Nope. Not this guy. He straight up was like, "Nooooooo wayyyy." Ummmm, first off, our names are not even spelled the same, bro. Second off, NO. We are not all related. And, lastly, comparing me to one of the world's most hated men and maniacal terrorists in the history of time - super offensive, especially in light of recent events.

     For anyone who may have this compartmental way of thinking - yes, it may make your black and white life easier - but it is NOT RIGHT. 

     When you talk and you say things like "People from there are blah blah blah" or "I guess it was the so-and-so's again" and "The terrorists did this ..." you are simply exacerbating an already hateful world. And when you do say these things do you think about who the "people" are that you are referring to and who "the terrorists" are? When you say things like that, you have already painted a picture of who the problem is, and of who a terrorist is. You are simply adding fire to an already humongous flame. A terrorist can be anybody. Terrorism knows no creed, color, nationality, religion, or ethnicity. Yousef Erakat of FouseyTube put out this video today, which I think sums it up wonderfully, especially when hate crimes have already been on the rise in the past week against what many people paint as the stereotypical "terrorist" in today's society.

     Now, am I saying that a terrorist is never a Muslim? Obviously not. Am I saying that they are never of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent ... No. I'm not that naive. What I am saying is that there is no reason to paint all people of one faith, or one color, into one horrible picture, and to put them in one small box. That is simply ignorant.

     And, on top of that, I refuse to get into the "But guys, you need to understand you shouldn't do that because Islam is a peaceful religion" argument ... Because, you know what, personally, I am tired of having to apologize for the sins of others. I am tired of having to think, after every horrible tragedy, "I hope it wasn't a Muslim" for fear of all Muslims being blamed, and I am sure that this is the feeling of billions of Muslims all over the world.

     As the innocent bystanders of these horrible incidents that occur, we also deserve the time to grieve alongside the rest of humanity but oftentimes we are not given that because we are too busy worrying about apologizing for the actions of others, but you know what? I'm sorry I'm not sorry. There is no reason that the innocent should have to apologize for the misguided actions of a select group. What I should be able to be sorry for are the families who lose loved ones in these tragedies. I should be able to mourn the lose of life due to these actions ... 

     But the one thing I will not do from this moment on is apologize for the actions of others.

Why can't we talk it over? Always seems to me that sorry seems to be the hardest word. (Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Elton John)

Black Nurses Need Not Nurse

     A Michigan nurse is suing for discrimination after seeing this taped to a newborn baby's clipboard in the neonatal unit last fall:

Photo c/o abcnews.com

     For real, son?! What did the hospital personnel think would happen? - That black nurses would just see the note and pass on by, no questions asked, all hunky-dory.

     Ummmm, no.

     I understand that the manager on duty was concerned for the staff, especially after the father in question showed off his well-thought-of swastika tattoo but, at that point, if I was nurse manager on duty, I'd tell him to get his racist ass out of the place, if he didn't like how I ran my floor.

     I, of course, have a big mouth.

Night nurse, only you alone can quench this here thirst. My night nurse, oh gosh, oh, the pain is getting worse. (Night Nurse, Gregory Isaacs)

What's Wrong With The World Today? - Racy Racism ... Or Is It?

     GQ magazine recently released its list of the "100 Hottest Women of the 21st Century" ... despite there still being "987 more years in this particular millennium," according to the article.
     While the list contained some common hot names such as Beyonce, Shakira, Eva Mendes, Halle Berry, and Megan Fox ... There were some surprises on it such as Seth Meyer's celebrity survey choice of Hillary Clinton, about whom he said, "I think somebody who is getting sexier every year is Hillary Clinton. Every year she seems better at whatever she's doing. By the end of the millennium, she's gonna have it locked down."

     However, that was not the real surprise ... Amongst its list, GQ found it appropriate to include the following categories:

     - Hot Chinese Chick: Zhang Ziyi

     - Hot Italian Chick: Monica Belluci

     - Hot Indian Chick: Freida Pinto

     - Hot Pregnant Sri Lankan Chick: M.I.A

     I am at a loss to understand why these women were singled for their nationalities and/or ethnicities on this list of so-called hot women, in the first place. Why weren't Beyonce and Halle Berry listed as "Hot Black Chicks" ... and why wasn't Shakira the "Hot Colombian Chick" or Eva Mendez labeled as the "Hot Latina Chick?" ... 

     OHHHHH, because those some of those might have been considered offensive. I get it. The media gets to sexualize certain women ... But if they think they'll be in hot water for other choices they make, they steer clear of those stupid choices.

     For the record, the hyper-sexualization of any race, nationality, or ethnicity is wrong. If GQ wanted to list the 100 hottest women of this (incomplete) millennium, it should have just listed 100 women straight through - not pulled some out based on their "look."

      

And we read in the gospel of Vogue that we're all supposed to dress and move and be visions of perfection, such a misconception, 'cause the real connection is deeper than the eye can see. What's inside of you? What's inside of me? The hands that made the moon and stars, the mountains and the seas, made you wonderful, beautiful, marvelously. Let the whole world see your true beauty. (True Beauty, Mandisa)

PS. Can you say airbrush?! I mean I know it's winter and everything but ...Beyonce is not that white ... ever. They whitewashed her like woah.

Racist: Time After Time

     Graduates of the St. Martinville, La. Senior High School Class of 1973 have proven themselves no better than their previous alumni.

     While they had decided that after 40 years of having segregated class reunions, this would be the year to change it all ... invitees received a letter announcing that there would be a whites-only after party at one of the classmate's homes.

Photo c/o abcnews.com

  

     According to an ABC News article, while this was the original plan, after some hard soul-searching (::sarcasm added::), the organizers decided that having an event for "white graduates only" was not what they were going to do. She stated that the old plans were sent out prematurely. 

     Yeah, I bet they were sent out prematurely. Just own up to it - 40 years later, your classmates, and maybe even you, are still a bunch of thickheaded racists, whose reunion would end up looking quite like Romy and Michelle's. 

     (No, really. Did anyone else wonder if they had more than maybe two or three non-white classmates at their reunion?)

Don't you forget about me. I'll be alone, dancing. You know it, baby. Going to take you apart. I'll put us back together at heart, baby. Don't you forget about me. Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't you forget about me. [Don't You (Forget About Me), Simple Minds]

WWJD: Not What You Did

     A Baptist Church in Mississippi recently turned away a couple and refused to marry them, citing that the couple were black and that there had never been a black wedding in the church since its founding in 1883.
     Despite the fact that the couple attended the church frequently, according to ABC News, some congregation members felt so opposed to the wedding that they threatened to oust the pastor if he did not cancel the wedding, which he then did.

     So, let me get this straight ... you'd rather choose to not marry a black couple then to stand up to your clearly misguided congregation with the possibility of losing your job? Hey, here's a thought ... Isn't your job as a pastor to teach those who are misguided!? --- It seems to me like most of your 1883-thinking congregation are a bunch of misguided fools who are stuck in the past and are hanging onto a bunch of clearly racist traditions.

Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson, c/o abcnews.com

     This couple wanted nothing more than to marry in the church that they frequented. It's a sad state of affairs when people are turned away by those that they feel are the ones that have accepted them into a house of worship. This was a disgrace and shines a bad light on religion, overall. It makes those who follow any faith seem close-minded and backward in their thoughts.

      Here's hoping that the congregation of Crystal Springs First Baptist Church learn a little lesson in inclusion as time goes on and as the shit begins to hit the fan in this media frenzy it has created ... Too bad it had to come to that.

I am colorblind. Coffee black and egg white. Pull me out from inside. I am ready. I am ready. I am ready. I am ... (Colorblind, Counting Crows)

If You're Muslim and They Know It ...

     If you ever partake in casual news-watching ... or news-browsing on the web ... (Or haven't been living under a rock) ... I'm sure at this point, you have heard of the NYPD's intrusive, (in my non-lawyer mind) highly likely illegal surveillance of Muslim students across the Northeast ... and, you know what, it's some ...

      Maybe I'm mistaken but I always thought this was country was founded on the principles of life and liberty (and the pursuit of happiness), as well as some basic civil, human, God-given rights ... Like, for example, the fact that (in case you need a little Civics refresher course on the Bill of Rights):

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (Amendment 1)

and, you know, maybe this one ...

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. (Amendment 4)

     Both those amendments are straight up in the CONSTITUTION of the United States of America ... Basically, uh, the supreme law of the land.

     So, when did it become okay to basically target a whole group of people - in this case, students! - pretty much labeling them as terrorists before anything connects them to acts of terrorism.

     OH WAIT ... Some of them talk about Islam and pray four times a day while whitewater rafting. Totally makes sense now.

     Ummmm, these are MUSLIM college students. Obviously some will pray while out and about ... Obviously some talk of religion will come about. It was an Muslim Student Association trip ... and, despite that, WHO CARES!? ... They have a right to do both of those things without being covertly spied on and then having a SECRET document sent back to the NYPD about their actions.
     This past Sunday, I attended an event sponsored by Muslims For Peace, Inc., which focused on the NYPD surveillance, as well as the human rights issues in Bahrain. In attendance were NJ Congressman Rush Holt, NJ Senator Linda Greenstein, and Councilman Stephen Dalina of Monroe Township, NJ, as well as close to 40 attendees.
     Speakers described the actions of the NYPD as "tragic and un-American," citing that Muslims deserve the same rights as all other Americans. One speaker stated that if the NYPD wants cooperation they should not be secretive and "come through the front door" as it is a "religious duty to obey the laws of the land."
     Holt started speaking by simply stating that, "It's troubling what fear will do to a people."

 

     He went onto describe the actions of the NYPD as "intrusive, reprehensible, and pointless," as well as counterproductive.

     "People should be as much troubled by the bad police procedures as they are by the intrusive actions," said Holt.

     He said that the fear people demonstrate ultimately leads to an unraveling of our society.

     And, if you ask me, that is one of the truest statements I have heard to date. It is fear that led to this surveillance of Muslim students. Fear that has grown after 9/11. And, while I know that there are threats everyday that need to be investigated and looked into, this was not the way to go about it. Yes, keeping this country safe and secure is important but infringing on the rights of an entire group of people because of their faith goes directly against the same rights and freedoms we are trying to protect. 

     Counterproductive, don't you think?

First they came for the communists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

  

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me,

and there was no one left to speak out for me.

- Niemoller 

Judge not before you judge yourself. Judge not, if you're not ready for judgement. The road of life is rocking and you may stumble too. So while you talk about me, someone else is judging you. (Judge Not, Bob Marley)

 

American Muslims On TV ... No, Not The 10:00 News.

     Traditional weddings and gypsy weddings, strange addictions and hoarding, little couples and couples with 19 kids  ... Just some of the reasons why I, personally, cannot get enough of TLC ... And now I can add another reason to that list - the All-American Muslim, a new reality show premiering on November 13 at 10/9c.
     The show features five Muslim American (or American Muslim) families - whichever you prefer - living in Dearborn, Michigan simply living their lives as ... you guessed it ... All-American Muslims (Woahhhh, I know I blew your mind with that one!).
     The families on the show will consist of a police officer, a football coach, club owners, housewives, along with other business-people.
     On top of taking us into their work lives, the show will also delve into the the challenges these families face when it comes issues of marriage, infertility, hijab (headscarf), inter-cultural/religious families, conversion, and the everyday lives of American Muslims after 9/11.
     Despite these families thinking Dearborn is a bit more of a pleasant place for Muslims to reside, with the racial make-up of Dearborn being 86.86% white, with 33.4% of Arab ancestry, one person stated, "After 9/11, the environment was a bit more hostile."

     This show will hopefully bring to light the intricacies of Muslim families, and the different types of Muslim families that reside in our country (despite them all living in such close proximity to each other). I hope that people will pick up even the slightest sense that every Muslim family is different, with their own blend of religiosity and traditionalism, with their own ups and downs, their own joys and sorrows, and with their own skeletons in their closet ... Just like every other American family.

You are the hope for our globe. Don't give up nor despair. There's nothing you can't repair. You can change this world to a better world. (I Am Your Hope, Sami Yusuf)

Summer's Eve Makes Me Feel Fine ... In This Heat Every Time

     So ladies, if you are my age ... let's say mid-to-late twenties ... when we were younger, feminine hygiene product commercials were a lot like pharmaceutical commercials. They meant anything from women jogging happily through parks or cooking dinner for their husbands or gardening with their new puppy ... Like this woman who just douched her way to happiness and is strolling along a beach thinking about unicorns and rainbows ...

     But apparently today, feminine hygiene marketing campaigns come in the form of a talking hand appropriately named Vagina (you can call her V for short) in a campaign by Summer's Eve called "All Hail to the V."

     Summer's Eve has released three separate commercials, using different colored hand models using stereotypical voice-overs and, of course, consumers are ripping into the company and calling the campaign racist. I'm just calling it straight up hilarious ... and informative. I cannot watch a single one of these commercials enough times without rolling. And here's your chance.

Commercial Number One:

Summer's Eve Take On White Girl Vagina Problems

     Yes boys, it's true. Every time us ladies pick up a copy of Cosmo we need to read another article on the newest craze of Vagina madness ... whether it's vajazzling or hair styling down there. It's pure insanity. And, no, it's not just a white girl problem ... but Summer's Eve made the commercial and it was just too funny not to laugh, especially when products like this exist to help you style yourself into a peace sign down under.

Commercial Number Two:

Summer's Eve Take On Black Girl Vagina Problems

      Oh, yeah. Summer's Eve went there and made a black hair joke. We all know that is taboo territory, especially when it's attached to a dry, itchy V on the way to the clubbbbb. HOLLAAAAAA. Oh, and since when is wonder spelled with a "U" ... Oh, maybe when it refers to the WUNDERRRRR DOWN UNDER, of course. 

Commercial Number Three:

Summer's Eve Take On Hispanic Girl Vagina Problems

     Ay-yii-yii, boo, I find this commercial to be the funniest. Apparently miracle-working Hispanic vaginas burst into Spanish spontaneously ... and make slight sexual innuendoes in the process. Hispanic vaginas also have an innate sense of fashion because they know when they need to trash their own underwear. 

     The Summer's Eve "Hail to the V" campaign didn't just end with these three commercials. There was also this lovely number on YouTube that pushed consumers to their website, which I personally found very informative. 

     Yes, the ID the V Quiz ... Because Vagina told me that "nearly 70 percent of all women can't accurately identify  [her] and [her] lovely lady parts." So, I took her up on the challenge and took the quiz, and I guess I fell into that 70 percent because I only got 3 out of the 5 part, right. Granted I got the 3 most important parts, if you ask me, but still ... I didn't accurately identify all of them. 

     So go ahead and take the quiz, and see how you do! Because like V said, it's like jumping in a car without knowing where the accelerator or the ignition is (I'm pretty sure I accurately identified those).

     Also, check out the Vagina Owner's Manual and the Vaglossary (just because it's kind of funny).

Love your what-not, your money slot, your secret little honey pot. Love your Mary Lou, your va-joo-joo, your little man in a canoe, your naughty bits, your peachy lips, that little thing between your hips. Love, love, love your vagina. That important place inside 'ya. Love, love, love your vagina. Love that special place inside. (Love Your Vagina Song, Mooncup Ltd)

     This was a (very catchy) jingle written for Mooncup, a British menstrual cup ... Click this link, to see the many other interesting names that fans submitted - which they call their vaginas (or submit your own). My personal faves that were submitted are Pleasure Island, Snatchy Patch, Spadoosh, The Grumpy Elf, The Unicorn Fairy's Palace, and Faffaroon.

     Oh, and yes, you can download the song at the site also. I know. I plan on it.

What's Wrong With The World Today? - Discrimination in the Workplace

     It's kind of sad to be writing about this topic now, while I am in the mist of applying for jobs ... Especially because I thought that women would have been able to break right on through that glass ceiling and climb the ladder of success without any problems ... But apparently I am dead wrong. Discrimination in the workplace against women is still a giant problem, and this past week, women (and people with qualms against their employers, in general) have been set back decades. AWESOME!

     Last week, the Supreme Court agreed with Walmart, stating that some 1.6 million women who were taking part in a discrimination lawsuit - who work at different stores, in different states, in different positions - could not sue under one class action. Each woman would need to file their own complaint against the company.

     I see the sense in that. The Supreme Court was really thinking hard. 

     "Go ahead and get yourself (and only yourself because you can't team up with any other women being discriminated against) the best lawyer your 7.50 an hour salary can buy! Oh, don't worry, you just have to face off against the best lawyers that the entire corporation of Walmart can buy. We don't see the problem there. It makes total sense."
     Despite the ruling, let's just hope that Walmart takes a hint and begins treating the women they hire (which make up more than half of their workforce) equal to the men they hire. Although, let's face it, with this roll-back that the Supreme Court laid out, it's unlikely.

      This is not the only case of discrimination against women in the workplace that we've seen this past week ... The other comes out of that lovely white-washed company of Abercrombie and Fitch.

     Hani Khan, a 20-year-old Muslim woman, in California is suing the A&F Co. for discrimination. She was hired at a San Mateo, CA Hollister store while wearing a hijab, a Muslim headscarf. When hired, the manager said it was okay for her to wear her hijab as long as it was in company colors but four months later, a district manager asked her to remove it while at work (in the stockroom, no less), and when she refused, she was suspended and then fired.
     According to the A&F Company site, the Hollister brand prides itself on the following:

Photo c/o http://www.abercrombie.com/anf/careers/brands.html

     I can almost smell the musky stench of their white lawyers trying to explain how their decision to let Khan go is absolutely in line with their “look policy.”
     Seriously, Abercrombie, you pride yourself on being an All-American brand? Well, there's nothing American about discriminating against someone because of their religion (or race), so get it together. How many times do you need to be sued to realize your "look policy" is a load of bull and a way for you to try and get around your shitty hiring policies?

     ... And that's what wrong with the world today ...

It's a sacrifice working day to day for a little money, just tips for pay, but it's worth it all to hear them say that they care. She works hard for the money. So hard for it, honey. She works hard for the money, so you better treat her right. (She Works Hard For The Money, Donna Summer)

Sidenote: If you believe you or someone you know has been discriminated against in the workplace, information is available at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's site at http://www.eeoc.gov/.

Racists At Walmart

     So I decided to head to Walmart today to do a little shopping ... Normal enough, right? Didn't think anything of it ... Until I sent a nice little "F-U" one woman's way, which is not something I would normally do ... Yes, I would totally think about it or say it under my breath, but never look directly at someone and say it. Nope, not me at all.

     Rewind: Right beforehand I was at Walmart, I needed to go to a family friend's house for a small get together and I was in traditional clothing ... and looking pretty damn good if I say so myself, and I was in no mood to change out of them. Why should I? I wear them all them time ... To Walmart, to the grocery store, walking around the city or whatever ... the point is I wear them all over the place so I was not going to change my clothes to run into Walmart for a minute and a half.

     Fast Forward: I get out of my car and am heading to the store, when I start approaching this car, and I see this 40-some-odd woman looking at me. She turns to her mother, or whoever, and has her look at me. The moment I pass by, I hear "We don't have enough white people in this country already, and then the one's we do have, have to go and dress like that." Excuse me. I wanted to be like, "BITCH, YOU DON'T KNOW MY LIFE!" ... Instead, I calmly turned around, looked her dead in the eye, and said a nice little "F**k you," barely audible, but she knew what I said, then I turned around and walked away.

     I am appalled that people like that exist in this world. I mean, one, she's so stupid that she couldn't even come up with an insult that made sense. I can think of 100 better ones to have thrown my way. And, two, haven't we grown enough as a society to accept those around us? And even if we can't accept people, can't people simply tolerate others and not spew garbage from their  mouths? All I wanted to do was go to Walmart, buy my Yankees t-shirt (yep, Baseball ... it's America's game!), and leave ... Nothing else ... But, no, I had to lower myself and curse someone out. Sad times.

... And although there's pain in my chest, I still wish you the best with a "Fuck you!" ... (Fuck You, Cee Lo Green)