Unlike me
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:42 pm
Being from a melting pot such as southern California, blind intolerance and racism is something I am just not exposed to. Recently I have been working in a different state where I have found that dumb hate really does exist. Not that I didn’t know this went on but experiencing it first hand is another thing.
I was working with another contractor I had just met who turned out to be totally incompetent so I had to hold his hand thru pretty much everything or do it myself while he watched. We were working off the same ladder wiring up loose ends in the ceiling. The manager of the restaurant we were working on walks by and greets us. Not a second after the manager got out of earshot, the guy I’m working with turns to me and says, “I think he is a *homosexual slur*.” I was sort of stunned that someone could be that damn bold. I told him I was Christian and didn’t want to talk like that, but he brushed that aside and kept moving his mouth. I didn’t really know what to say I was so mad so I said nothing at first. But he was very talkative and pressed the point of the mangers sexuality saying, “Don’t ya think so?” I replied, “I’m not sure I’ve never met him.” Then he starts going on and on about someone he picked on in high school and this and that, I won’t repeat what he said but it broke my heart just hearing it. After about a minute of him rambling on using a very hate filled word at every opportunity, I interjected and asked him, “Have you ever gotten your ass kicked by a *slur*? (The word felt odd coming out of my mouth, I had never uttered it before). He looks puzzled by the question and smirks a “well, hell no.” Looking him dead in the eye I threatened, “If you use that word one more time you will have.” It took his brain a second to get what I was saying and then he shut his mouth. Even though our feet were on the same rung, my shoulders towered a foot above his. He seemed to get smaller as the silence wore on, seeking to hide within himself. After a we quickly finished our job he said he needed a break, he walked to the bathroom and just kept on walking. Never saw him again.
I never threaten people, I am very mild mannered but my temper got the best of me this time. . As he spoke I could literally feel my neck getting hot. I was ashamed at what I did, and spent that night praying and fasting. Well as I spent the night alone in the hotel, that the whole job site was sharing. "Someone" took the liberty of giving my truck a fresh new paint job. I went out to my truck this morning to find big orange letters across the driver’s side. I bet you can guess what it said. I put my forehead against the window and just thought how bad gay people must have it. I really couldn’t care less about my new paint job at that point. I just thought of the friends I have made here and it made me so sad to think that other people have gone thru this but much worse and for a life time. Just because of stupidity. I have no other word for it… intolerance maybe.. culture.. whatever it is. I hate it. Basically my point it to any gay person that reads this is that I really do feel for you. I don't feel like you, but i can feel or you...in my own small way. For what it is worth I’m sorry for intolerance.
Well to end the story I went to work today and pulled up with my new flashy paint job. One of the California boys saw it and said “hey I didn’t know you was gay, Randy.” I said, “I’m not, I find both sexes equally unattractive.” Then a long pause and he broke with, “oh… ok.” And slaps me on the shoulder with a chuckle. Later I found out it was spray marking paint which wipes off with water. I didn’t wipe it off yet.
I was working with another contractor I had just met who turned out to be totally incompetent so I had to hold his hand thru pretty much everything or do it myself while he watched. We were working off the same ladder wiring up loose ends in the ceiling. The manager of the restaurant we were working on walks by and greets us. Not a second after the manager got out of earshot, the guy I’m working with turns to me and says, “I think he is a *homosexual slur*.” I was sort of stunned that someone could be that damn bold. I told him I was Christian and didn’t want to talk like that, but he brushed that aside and kept moving his mouth. I didn’t really know what to say I was so mad so I said nothing at first. But he was very talkative and pressed the point of the mangers sexuality saying, “Don’t ya think so?” I replied, “I’m not sure I’ve never met him.” Then he starts going on and on about someone he picked on in high school and this and that, I won’t repeat what he said but it broke my heart just hearing it. After about a minute of him rambling on using a very hate filled word at every opportunity, I interjected and asked him, “Have you ever gotten your ass kicked by a *slur*? (The word felt odd coming out of my mouth, I had never uttered it before). He looks puzzled by the question and smirks a “well, hell no.” Looking him dead in the eye I threatened, “If you use that word one more time you will have.” It took his brain a second to get what I was saying and then he shut his mouth. Even though our feet were on the same rung, my shoulders towered a foot above his. He seemed to get smaller as the silence wore on, seeking to hide within himself. After a we quickly finished our job he said he needed a break, he walked to the bathroom and just kept on walking. Never saw him again.
I never threaten people, I am very mild mannered but my temper got the best of me this time. . As he spoke I could literally feel my neck getting hot. I was ashamed at what I did, and spent that night praying and fasting. Well as I spent the night alone in the hotel, that the whole job site was sharing. "Someone" took the liberty of giving my truck a fresh new paint job. I went out to my truck this morning to find big orange letters across the driver’s side. I bet you can guess what it said. I put my forehead against the window and just thought how bad gay people must have it. I really couldn’t care less about my new paint job at that point. I just thought of the friends I have made here and it made me so sad to think that other people have gone thru this but much worse and for a life time. Just because of stupidity. I have no other word for it… intolerance maybe.. culture.. whatever it is. I hate it. Basically my point it to any gay person that reads this is that I really do feel for you. I don't feel like you, but i can feel or you...in my own small way. For what it is worth I’m sorry for intolerance.
Well to end the story I went to work today and pulled up with my new flashy paint job. One of the California boys saw it and said “hey I didn’t know you was gay, Randy.” I said, “I’m not, I find both sexes equally unattractive.” Then a long pause and he broke with, “oh… ok.” And slaps me on the shoulder with a chuckle. Later I found out it was spray marking paint which wipes off with water. I didn’t wipe it off yet.