Big Bore
03-02-2001, 06:43 PM
I may be preaching to the choir here, as I have never read any kind of language on this forum or read anything that was hurtful to anyone in any way, but something happened today that I cannot apologize for, and there is no way to correct the wrong. *The only thing I can do is to try to remind people to think before they speak, even if I am preaching to those who don't need it.
At work today a fellow co-worker and I were discussing the questionable actions of Jessie Jackson. *The guy I was talking to, in no uncertain terms, referred to Jackson as a nigger. *Now I do not approve of the use of such words, but unfortunatley, was unable to voice my displeasure before damage was done. *A fine young woman who was inspecting the conveyor behind us had walked up, unheard, and she overheard his comment. *I saw her about the same time the comment was made. *She is black. *The look on her face was as if she had been slapped, and I am sure her opinion of "electicians" was not enhanced in any way. *I doubt that she heard any of our conversation except the one word, and she had no idea who it was being directed toward, as if that would have mattered anyway.
* *The situation reminded me of a poem, author unknow, that I read many years ago that has always stuck with me. *I hope I am recalling it correctly, but the message is the same regardless.
When I was only eight years old
Heart filled, head filled with glee,
I saw the whole of Baltimore
Stretched out in front of me.
Now I was young and very small,
And he was no whit bigger.
I smiled at him,
He stuck out his tongue and called me nigger.
I saw the whole of Baltimore
from May until December.
Of all the things that happened there,
That's all that I remember.
So, the next time one feels like casting a slur on someone, think before you speak. *Words are harder to call back than a bullet, and hurt just as much.
(Edited by Big Bore at 8<!--emo&:0--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'><!--endemo-->6 am on Mar. 3, 2001)
At work today a fellow co-worker and I were discussing the questionable actions of Jessie Jackson. *The guy I was talking to, in no uncertain terms, referred to Jackson as a nigger. *Now I do not approve of the use of such words, but unfortunatley, was unable to voice my displeasure before damage was done. *A fine young woman who was inspecting the conveyor behind us had walked up, unheard, and she overheard his comment. *I saw her about the same time the comment was made. *She is black. *The look on her face was as if she had been slapped, and I am sure her opinion of "electicians" was not enhanced in any way. *I doubt that she heard any of our conversation except the one word, and she had no idea who it was being directed toward, as if that would have mattered anyway.
* *The situation reminded me of a poem, author unknow, that I read many years ago that has always stuck with me. *I hope I am recalling it correctly, but the message is the same regardless.
When I was only eight years old
Heart filled, head filled with glee,
I saw the whole of Baltimore
Stretched out in front of me.
Now I was young and very small,
And he was no whit bigger.
I smiled at him,
He stuck out his tongue and called me nigger.
I saw the whole of Baltimore
from May until December.
Of all the things that happened there,
That's all that I remember.
So, the next time one feels like casting a slur on someone, think before you speak. *Words are harder to call back than a bullet, and hurt just as much.
(Edited by Big Bore at 8<!--emo&:0--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'><!--endemo-->6 am on Mar. 3, 2001)