Sometimes it's difficult to say anything at the moment. About five or six years ago, a woman who worked in the same office uttered a racial slur that had me picking my jaw up off the floor. (I can't even bring myself to repeat it when I tell this story.) I stood up and verbally blasted her for it, which, in turn, left here completely shocked...as I was usually very quiet and about fifteen years her junior.

I try to speak up when I feel someone is being racist - otherwise, how will people ever change?

I was raised to believe that people are people and nobody is better than anyone else, but it took me a while to understand concepts like instutionalized racism and white privilege and the kind of effects they have on our society. I'm still learning.

Then they'll both probably call their docs and demand Tamiflu because they've been exposed to Mexicans.

May the "Swine-Flu" gods use these hard-working fellas, as carriers, only. Not the fatal strain, just the one that makes you wish it were.
Let yourself off the hook, One. I'm convinced your comments would have fallen on deaf ears.
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Sometimes it's hard. I have blistered enough people over the years for racism, sexism, ageism, and just about every other -ism there is that a certain segment of the people I'm affiliated with refer to me as the Ice Bitch.

We are all just human. Don't beat yourself up over this one, corgilover. Do what you can; that's all any of us can do.

I hear similar comments all the time. Thanks for the post, onecorgilover.

George, you are my heroine! I admire your courage. Thank you.

High Lonesome.....I wouldn't put it past them!

Thanks, Mothership.....I will try to let it go.

Dang, Incandescent.....you are spot on! They are absolute hypocrites.

Ash, I know......I was surprised that they felt comfortable saying something like that around me (a black woman) but in all honesty, I really believe that they have no idea how offensive they were.

Thanks for coming by, Steve. It boggles the mind, huh?

i've witnessed this same kind of racism. a certain type of person views immigrant mexicans not so much as humans, but as a labor rersource to be exploited. the phrase "i'll send my mexicans over" is something i've heard before, and it never fails to amaze me.

Sounds like white privilege at its finest, my friend. Makes me want to hide under my bed and never come out again.

"I'll send my Mexicans over" The mind boggles at the idiocy - and I have used my share of illegal labor, but I wouldn't dream of underpaying them. They might not come back! Rated.

I Beg your Pardon! MY housekeeper is Byelorussian!

I have used guys from the street corner on occasion. I paid them well, they worked their asses off, and gave I them In 'n' Out Burger for lunch, and everyone was happy. One guy even gave me a business card afterward, listing all his skills.

Meanwhile our local Repugnican Representative claimed getting these guys chased off one of the popular corners as a crowning achievement of his most recent year in office. Asshat.

A study by the Anderson School of Business at UCLA a couple of years ago revealed that most of the guys on those street corners are NOT illegals. Many of them like to pick up work that way because it often pays more per hour than regular laboring type jobs, and also because it is often convenient to work around a spouse's part-time job so they can share child care responsibilities.

Seriously (difficult for me today; I have a giggle under my saddle), you can't change them. The best that can be done is to move on. I've tried everything from gentle prodding to shaming, and there is no shame.

You need to spend less time in the same room as bimbettes.

One has to wonder just what it would take for some people to be embarrassed.

I'm with OESheepdog!

:) Rated

Jeff, you are right....I don't believe they see them as thinking human beings.

Ditto, Ash!

Bella, agreed. We can all identify where day laborers hang out looking for work and I understand why people want to hire them for their services, but to look down on them that way....wow!

Connie, I agree....both of them are lost causes.....ugh!

GeeBee, that seems to be the overwhelming perception, isn't it?

Surly and OE, I agree....but where will I microwave my lunch? ROFLOL!

Jeanette.....that is the $10K question of the day.....shameful.

Ah, onecorgi, I know the silence eats you up but it would have done no good. They just would have included you in the chain of people they talk about in an ugly way. Glad you're making the stand here.

It's a hard thing when you overhear such statements. On one hand you don't want to be all in their kool-ade, but on the other hand, if you decide to work toward an anti-racist/classist future, you feel as though you've missed an opportunity.

Sometimes it's fun just to watch them hang themselves when you ask the questions about what they just said:

Pardon me for the intrusion, but did you just say that you have Mexicans? I don't understand. How can you have Mexicans?

And what did you mean when you said that they "knew better?" What makes you say that?

Feigned ignorance is a great way to make a point without being overly aggressive. And it often confuses the hell out of people brainless enough to say things like this in public.

It is possible that if you said something it would have started a needless fight, and you are right that you can't change those dummies.

Annette, you are so right.....I would have been targeted next.

Teendoc, in retrospect, I wonder if those words were uttered to get a reaction from me. It was just the three of us....maybe I'm not giving them enough credit. Your questions were great though....dang it!

Delia, I agree an in these times, I'm not trying to get fired over folks like that.

I'm sorry.... "My Mexicans"... last I checked you couldn't do that anymore... Rated for your restraint in not throttling these morons...

That was crude and terrible. I feel sorry for anyone who works with or for those women.

It's simply appalling. I would have said something for sure. I can't control myself in matters like this. I'm sorry you had to hear/witness it. But be grateful you know who they are and can handle them accordingly. Rated.

Incredible and enraging. In Argentina there is the same insensitive way to talk about our neighbour immigrants: Bolivians, Parguayans, Peruvians... it´s unnerving. I´ve had some strong exchanges with people like your bimbettes here... I can´t understand why some people are so beastly. Rated.

You did the right thing. Better to let it go.

As comedian Ron White says;"There ain't no cure for stupid."

I cannot understand that kind of attitude. So much for the "global village" mentality that brings all the people of the world together! Racism is never excusable, presumption upon another just because of race is never acceptable.

Following on from what Teen doc was saying, around here if someone referred to having a mexican, just like saying they are having a chinese, it only meant one thing. They were having a meal that traditionally came from that part of the world. Now, theres an interesting way to turn things around creatively. With a wee bit of imagination who knows what could be said ........

Just a thought.

Living in CA I hear things like this all too often and I am so tempted to record the conversation and play it back so they could hear how obnoxious it sounds. Then I think of reality tv and realize they probably wouldn't hear anything wrong with it.

Rated

onecorgilover, sometimes you can be so shocked by what people think is acceptable, you just can't say a word. Don't worry as you say they might have been testing you. Teen doc had some nice followups just in case the situation ever pops up again.

On a somewhat lighter note, here's my yard work story. I happen to be of Mexican ancestry. All my grandparents were born in Mexico back before the turn of the previous century. My parents were born in the US as my grandparents & their families worked the migrant worker trail in the midwest. No Ellis Island for us Lou Dobbs.

Anyway, they stayed in Chicago starting about 1925 and most of the men worked in the steel mills along with other Mexican immigrants. Landscaping wasn't big in those days. We became sout' side Chicagoans.

fast forward to present day, I married a woman of Irish-German ancestry who happens to love gardening. So, whenever, there's any major yard work to be done, I tell her that she is soooo lucky because she has her very own Mexican to do landscape grunt work and I'm very cheap too.

I know, not sensitive to the current Mexican immigrants who are often exploited, but I often point that out when I hear people talk about their landscaping crews.

I hate not saying something, but do it all the time. The pain of my silence and eaten anger burns in my stomach for days afterwards.
:D I wanted to quote your email to me (the one you sent me after I got all upset at that guy), but won't do it because I didn't ask permission first. You and my mom have the right of it, Renee. Truly, they aren't worth it. Just be thankful that you know how to love enough not to feel contempt for those who aren't exactly just like you.

I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear what her "Mexicans" have to say about Senora #2. We'd probably all get a good laugh.
We pick our battles, OCL, I think you're right about not changing their hearts so why waste your energy. There's always another dragon over the hill.

I think that this betrays a negative attitude that has developed in the last decades. Immigrants used to welcomed and fully assimilated as citizens. There were more good jobs for upward mobility.
Now some people want to deliberately create an underclass. And they want to make sure we always have an underclass. They don't care if they ever have opportunity.

you did the right thing I think, it could have gotten ugly and who wants that in the workplace. now if you get the name and number of the workers you could call them and tell them to charge her more

The word "insensitive" in your post seems redundant, somehow.

AnnMarie, it was sad.....I felt so sad...because I guess I never thought I would actually hear someone say something like that in a professional environment. I mean, I KNOW people think like that, but usually they exercise restraint.

Dorinda, I guess the good news is is that they won't speak to me nor do they look at me when we come into contact. I've never had words with them before, I just think if you don't graze on salads every day, you are not worthy of being acknowledged....ok, meow on that one.....but it is true....... HA!

Cartouche, I know that you would have handled it! lol But trust me, it wouldn't be a fair fight....we're not exactly dealing with a brain trust here. ;-D

I know, Marcela.....just when you think you've heard it all....tragic.

Agreed, Wayne....what would be the point? ;-D

Jon, I like the way that you think!

Buffy....I think that there is a very prevalent culture of meanness out there now. If you complain about it, they say you're being PC or a wimp. I still believe in treating everybody with dignity, no matter what station they are in life.

JT, you brought up some excellent points....and pardon my french....what the hell is wrong with Lou Dobbs? He's lost it!

Thanks, Julie. You know, folks like that used to make me so angry. Until I thought about how miserable they must be to walk around all puffed out because they hated people who looked differently from them. What a waste of energy!!

Thanks, Lifehalflived.....I believe that I probably made the right call, given the situation.

Brilliant point, Kathy. I think it's in some people's best interest to have an underclass.....you know the old rich get richer spiel.

Ariana.....thanks for that chuckle.....god, wouldn't that be sweet?!

Duane....ahem....um.....point taken!!

Good for you. Sometimes it is better not to say a thing.
Rated

Corgilover: As kind and gentle as your heart is I'm sure that was tough to hear. God, we need more people like you in the world.

Somethings are better left unsaid. Especially at work. Sounds like a couple Republicans.

While I agree with George, I regret you saying something as well, though I know it's tough at the moment.

You could have said, "I'll send MY Mexicans over to kick your racist asses" for instance.

Really, if nothing clever comes to mind, simply say "You and your words offend me." Walk away.

Those ladies(?) are called, Jerkoffs, in my neck of the woods.

OMG! But you are right your disapproval wouldn't change their heart or their minds. But you wrote your disapproval here and that counts for something. Great post and nicely written. Shocking.. but great.

Trudge,
Thanks....you want to believe that people don't think that way until reality hits you square in the face!

John, you are an angel!

Mike, that was the main reason why I didn't say anything because I was at work, but then I thought about it.....that they needed to be put in check regardless....but the opportunity has passed, so it's just as well.

Beth, should I be unfortunate enough to hear something similar I will keep that in mind. Thanks for the tip. ;-D

Ric, agreed....and that's being kind.

FE, you just have to shake your head sometimes, huh? Thanks for the support, hon!

Wow. I guess many of us have been in those situations. Thanks for checking out my post on a related topic.

Whoa. I was picking my jaw off the floor after I finished reading, too. Not much else to add that others haven't, though. Rated with a sigh.

What a pair of idiots! Laughter, Renee, it's the only medicine for this kind of sickness. If you can't think of anything witty immediately, just shake your head gently at them and laugh indulgently. Maybe a 'tsk, tsk' or two, as well. Maybe a frisson of anxiety will rock their complacent superiority.

When my Dad (an Army Lifer) died, we were living in Manchester, N.H. I had grown up with all sorts of races my whole life. My Mother moved us to North Carolina. This was 1968, and every other word was N this, N that. It made me sick. I purposely hung around with some of them in school, just to piss them off. I wasn't that popular, but I slept very good at night.