Saddened by Society- Two Stories

It's unfortunate that people do stupid things and say even stupider things. With all that is going on today with politics, I think it brings out peoples true colors. Unfortunately the filters seemed to have popped off and i see people spewing filth and evil.

I was at a flea market this weekend, by Giants stadium. If you don't know where that is, it's not too far away from NYC in Jersey, hence it being for the New York Giants and New York Jets. Funny considering it really should be New Jersey Giants and Jets... but that is neither here nor there. I am not a football person, so I will not take on that argument. So I am continuing my search of art supplies for this upcoming project, looking through people's stuff and trying to find interesting metal parts that might work. I am at this one booth and i start to hear this conversation going on behind me:

Man: Obama! He's never going to win.... only the blacks are going to vote for them.

Woman: I LOVE OBAMA! He's great! He is a change for our country. He has a great vision.

Man: I don't know why you think he's going to win. McCain is better and way more experienced. Obama doesn't have experience and not enough support to win. The only people who are gonna vote for him are you people.


At this point i stop what i am doing and think... wow, am i really listening to this? I look over and see this little black lady, about 80 years old talking to this white guy who is about 40 something. I then decide, this is ridiculous. So i speak up:

Me: Umm I am voting for Obama and I don't give a shit what color he is. He represents change and not four more years of the same.


At this point the little lady smiles and me and shakes my hand knowing i got her back. There is another woman standing near us who is Latina and she is smiling at me too. I just smiled back at them and thinking, wow, what a total redneck... and not far from NYC! I can even see the skyline from the parking lot! Then his wife jumps in and starts laughing at us.

Wife of man: What has Obama done? What exactly has he done?

Me: other than being the senator of ILLINOIS? I mean really?! What will happen if McCain dies and Palin is in charge? (this was prior to all the info we have now about Palin) What has Palin done? Beside governing only about 10K people in ALASKA? She has no experience!

Wife of man: She's a woman! I would rather have a woman in there! (totally riding on Hillary's coat tails)

Man: All Obama is going to do if he gets in office is give all your money to those people (pointing at the little black lady).

Me: (awe struck) THOSE PEOPLE? Are you KIDDING ME?!

Man: yeah to the black people!

Me: WOW! I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM ACTUALLY LISTENING TO THIS! WHAT A FUCKING RACIST!

Man: You all leave my booth! I don't want your money! Go away!

Me: NOT A PROBLEM! I DON'T WANT TO BUY FROM A BUNCH OF IGNORANT RACIST REDNECKS!

Now granted this was the edited version. My friend Jess was with me, so she jumped in on all that too... We both walked away shaking with anger. And in total disbelief and awe. like what kind of person are you to actually say that kind of stuff outloud? and to a little black lady! like directly to her face! She has lived through all that racist bullshit in her life and had a fucking LOSER try to bring her down. What a total asshole. We did have a guy come up to us after and basically agree with us about what a jerk that guy was. But the entire time, all we could think was how much we wanted to yell at them and tell them they are horrible people. We didn't. I said, it's not worth it. He's not hearing any of it.


STORY 2
As of late, i have harassed on the subway. When i ride the subway, i pay no attention to what is around me. i am Helen Keller to the world. I have my Ipod on and reading a book. Been doing that for about 5 years now, haven't had any issues with that until recently.

I am sitting on the train and this woman sitting next to me taps me on the shoulder. I look over and see a heavy set black woman. I take my earphone out and say, yes? She then tells me- You are kicking me. Well, i KNOW i wasn't kicking her. I had my music low and wasn't "rocking out" to anything. I was actually engrossed in my book, so the music was really background noise. Now I was wearing a skirt and had my legs crossed, being lady like. I figured what must have happened was when the train would start and stop, it jerks my leg. So i said back to her- Umm, i am sorry, but i don't think i was kicking you. And if i did, it was unintentional.

Now that was not what she wanted to hear. Granted, i am not exactly sure what she wanted to hear, but that wasn't it. She looks at me and continues to say- YOU WERE KICKING ME. I look at her and say, Umm no i wasn't. She then says, well if you didn't have your legs crossed and just sat there with both your feet on the ground... I just look at her and realize she is just crazy. I put my earphones back on and go back to reading. I don't want to fight with crazy. She then proceeds to preach to the entire train car about how rude i am for kicking her and how i won't put both my feet on the ground. I basically try to ignore her, but like i said, my music was low, so i could hear her well. Then i hear her say- If you gonna keep kicking me, then i am going to kick you! I then turn to her and say- that is assault. (pre-meditated in fact, so anything i would have done would be considered self defense)

Now one thing you should know... as a person who is about to get her black belt in Tae Kwon Do, I really really want to try out what i have learned. I have never in my life been in a fight and now that i know what to do, i really kinda wanna try it out. Now of course i am NOT GOING TO, but if the chance arose.... hells yeah. I kinda wanted her to kick me. I also kinda wanted to say to her- look, trust me when i say this, but you would know if i kicked you as you would be in serious pain afterwards. But no, i just sat there and tried to think of what i could do that would piss her off. Yes, i wanted revenge... but i rather the mind games of it. Something that will drive them mental without me doing really anything. I figured, she was annoyed that i wouldn't argue with her, so what would make it worse is if i just laughed. That way she would know i wasn't taking her seriously and didn't care at that point. I could feel the heat coming off of her. As she continues to preach to the car, i am chuckling to myself and shaking my head as though saying to myself, i can't believe this is actually happening to me. Luckily my stop was next and i got off. I was kinda hoping she would do something, but she didn't. As I was walking up the stairs, another woman taps me on the shoulder and twirls her finger by her ear giving me the international sign for crazy. I smile and laugh and say- yeah thanks... that is why i was laughing. It was just nice to know that someone else thought the same.

So yes, crazy is in the air... Either that or I have a sign on me that i don't see that says- Please fuck with me. I am not making eye contact... i am not provoking it. I am just lucky I guess. I just wish people would stop being ignorant assholes. Yes we all gotta live together and figure out how to do it. If you are going to be openly racist, then go live in the woods away from other people. Isolate yourself so you don't have to deal with other races and people in general. It's 2008... let's grow up. And if you can't deal with crowded subways, where there isn't much room and think everyone is out to get you, then don't live in a city. The subways are crowded and yes, unfortunately we are going to have to touch one another at times. it's sometimes gross, but we are all in it together. Just be respectful. I said i am sorry and said it was unintentional. Move on...