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Signs of intolerance get outed
(by Barbara Christian - October 01, 2009)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Signs of intolerance get outed
Promise, this is the last time we will mention it. But over the past few weeks, so many people have asked that it would be unfair to ignore the concern out there.
It is painfully apparent that we have tried but failed in our attempts to shine the light in a thoughtful and serious way.
So how about a humorous approach? There is a saying that goes something like, "There is logic in humor, because humor is truth."
So this in response to all of you who have come to us and asked, "Hey, Barb, I think I may have racist tendencies, but how do I know for sure?"
With apologies to Jeff "Redneck" Foxworthy and with hope that the third time is the charm, let us begin by thinking about the following statements.
-- You may be racially intolerant if you fly a Confederate flag from the antenna of your vehicle. Are you trying to draw attention to yourself?
-- You may be driven by arrogance and prejudice if you are the passive-aggressive president of the National Rifle Association who (accidentally on purpose) does not mention to the membership that the Secret Service gets nervous when people bring guns to a speech by the president of the United States. The U.S.A. is not a banana republic, after all, and it was a meeting on health care, not a gun show.
-- Sorry, but you are definitely a racist if you own a white hoodie with two eye holes and love the smell of bonfires in the morning. Enough said.
-- It can't be helped, but, yes, you are a racist if you display a Nazi flag in your bomb shelter, and it's not a World War II souvenir. You are permitted to burn this flag. Really.
-- You no doubt harbor some prejudicial tendencies if you long for another Civil War in hopes it will turn out different this time.
-- Oh, dear, you really do have a problem with diversity if you have a tattoo of a swastika somewhere on your person. Angelina Jolie burned Billy Bob off her bod. Take the hint.
-- There are signs that you have work to do with accepting people of other races or religious persuasions if you believe that those of the Jewish faith control all of the world banks plus the entertainment industry, and all Italians have some connection to the Mafia.
-- You are also suspect of social-economic bias if you shouted "huzzah!" when the financial institutions got their bailout and uttered, "Down with the unions and the working class," when the auto industry got one too.
-- Finally, you have hit the trifecta of racial, gender and religious prejudice if you if you belong to a club that does not allow anyone other than white Protestant males.
In closing, we hope our test helped answer your concerns. If not, may I suggest you check with former President Jimmy Carter and syndicated columnist Maureen Dowd. They may be able to assist you further.
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