Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Are We Really That Bad?
Just miles from my current school is a gas station which I will leave unnamed. My lunch hour consists of a trip to said gas station with a friend. As always, I am a paying customer for all goods I desire from the store. I find myself to be quite honest in my daily life. Here lies the problem: why am I always pictured? While browsing the candy isle after selecting lunch from the respective section I proceed to take a candy bar from a box on the shelf. With my 90 degree turn towards the counter to pay for my goods I am greeted with a menacing gaze from the Indian store clerk. I continue to pay where I am asked to agree to be searched by the on site security officer. Knowing my pockets contain nothing against any store rule or law, I agree. I am searched an nothing is found except for my wallet and cell phone/MP3 player. The clerk and security officers look relieved. It was not until leaving the store that I started to ponder the motives of the clerk. Am I to be judged because of my age? Am I to be judged by the manners of others? Here lies the racism embedded into our society. I am a Caucasian American with a clean criminal record who pays for his goods yet due to the actions of others I am pictured as a thief. I question my actions in that store. Should I return the glare and picture the clerk as Apu? Should I comment on the number of explosives he has in his store? I am a strong believer that respect should be given as it is received. I will not output my respect towards someone who is not willing to do the same.
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Hmm.. Dunno but I'm sure he probably just thought he saw you stash something; I doubt it had anything to do with being white.
ReplyDeleteI dare you to ask him how many tons of explosives he has dude!
ReplyDeleteI guess it's difficult to say. Often when I where a vest with my tattoos showing, I have about 80 hours worth so fairly heavily tattooed. People seem to form opinions of me, before they meet me. It's just the way society is, I probably do it to without even thing about it.
ReplyDeleteYou are.
ReplyDeleteOh wow. It happens a lot.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting story. Racism is a losing battle no matter what side your on. The oly real way to solve is just say fuck you to the clerk and dont shop there again. I think it's disgusting how things like this happen DAILY to white people. But "UHOH A WHITE MAN SAYS NIGGER AND THE WHOLE FREAKING WORLD GOES CRAZY". If nigger is offensive, then why do so many blacks say it? is a word racist if its said by one race? my point, racism is a losing battle.
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