It made me throw up quite a bit in my mouth !

[Mira]

Remember the giga pan inauguration photo that was posted before?

http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b06233c
Here it is for those who have not seen it.

It was sent to me today in an email that was sent to a number of people from a company I work with. The header was:

"The I NIGGER AL ceremony"

In this economy I can't totally risk losing them as a customer, they give me a lot of work, and they pay what I ask.
But I did nevertheless hit reply all and said:

=================
Folks, most of whom I do not know:

I've heard of racist language and put downs concerning our new President - but I have not run across it before.
It could be considered funny if it were not such a pathetic attempt to diminish a person who is quite probably going to prove way larger than all of us.

I am, of course, referring to

" The I NIGGER AL ceremony" header of the link to the interactive inauguration photograph.

I could assume this header was penned by a black person, whose name is AL, but I don't think so.
If I am wrong, AL, please accept my apology.

Please check the stuff you forward to me for such language and attitude, because you cannot simply assume I share your prejudices.
Additionally, you already know I will respond.
In this sad case I just shake my head and wonder about you guys' level of having evolved.

By the way I was in Washington for the Inauguration, so you might find me in the crowd.
M
==================

[supernova]

1. I think that gigapan is going to be

THE keeper memento from that inauguration in the coming decades. :-)

Besides, Aretha's hat.


There were so many people there that day, I can imagine some future historians looking for famous or infamous people in the audience, and saying "Look, there they are at Pres. Obama's Inauguration!"

Good on you for not letting that awful email get a pass. :thumbsup:

[Haole Girl]

2. Nobody better dare send me anything with a title like that

Good for you... for standing up and making it known you don't tolerate racists.

[qanda]

3. I guess you already know that they were using "i nigger al" as a play on inaugural

But I think your response was as good as it could be without losing a customer. I'm not sure if I would still be doing business with someone who thought it was okay to send me something like that, but I understand you having to.

[Captain Hilts]

8. We just can't let stupid people push our buttons. nt

[Mira]

10. It galled me, to say the least. It was a fine line to walk in the face of

abyssmal ignorance and insult - and my need to eat and pay basic bills.

[Contrary1]

4. A typical freeper typo?

Maybe they meant AI, as in American Idol. It can only mean whoever sent it is ignorant and racist.

You handled it brilliantly, by the way. :applause:

[Catherine Vincent]

5. That's pathetic. nt

[sinkingfeeling]

6. I applaud you for sending that reply back to the idiot.

[elizfeelinggreat]

7. well done

When I used to get those emails it was from someone who used "BCC" for recipients and the return address was himself. I found it infuriating that I couldn't respond to everyone and wished I could have found a way to get around that BCC problem. I'm glad you had the satisfaction of responding to all.

[Fleshdancer]

9. Great reply!

I'm sorry you received such a great photo with such an ignorant and ugly subject line. I think you handled it very well though.