What to do

[mrmpa]

I went to a flea market today, first time in probably 4 years. I was walking down an aisle, when one vendor began yelling across to another vendor, "we can't burn their fucking korans, but they can burn our flag." They went back and forth for probably 20 seconds, when I realized walking toward me were 3 Muslim women. This banter by the vendors I understood now, was to harass these women. As I walked by these women, I said "I'm sorry you had to hear that."

What the hell should I do, when I hear this crap from people? What do you do when you hear this crap? I wonder if something is said to these idiots, could it get physical? Help me out here for the next time I hear something like this, and there will be another time, unfortunately.

[NYC_SKP]

1. I think you did the right thing.

And I thank you for it.

We can't be silent, we can't shut them up but we can sure as hell have a voice.

Thank you!

[TexasObserver]

7. Agreed. The victims of the abuse should be one's focus.

[dimbear]

2. I believe the phrase is "in a New York minute,"

and on the balance you did well. Thank you from the sane side of the planet.

[m00nbeam]

3. Apologizing to the women was a good first step

Depending upon how certain you were of your safety, you could state your disapproval of what they were yelling. I do know it does take courage to stand up to bullies (and that is precisely what the vendors were - bigoted bullies - empowered by the fact that nobody speaks out against their behavior).

[mrmpa]

4. safety is always what I think about

I'm a month short of 54, I use a cane and in pretty bad pain. I also know I have a temper and I could probably aid in escalating the situation. What ticks me off is that this flea market is in my township, which is about 75% Democrat. These two guys, I have no idea where they were from.

[m00nbeam]

5. Yes, safety is a big concern

While I may look like a force to contend with, I have chronic pain and am really rather physically weak. Sometimes it helps to stand up with a number of people. I have often found my voice in such situations when surrounded by friends.

[TorchTheWitch]

6. I always confront bigots - always

One of the biggest problems I've noticed with almost all bigots is that they assume that their bigotry is universal, so when they make a bigoted comment and no one speaks up they assume that though no one said they agreed their silence confirmed that they did agree. If people spoke up when bigots make their ugly comments eventually they would get it through their heads that their bigotry is NOT universally accepted, and that alone may make them rethink their beliefs... at least it may make them not so prone to making such gross comments and keeping their bigotry to themselves.

I'm blonde and glow in the dark lily white, and it seems to me for this reason people who are bigots against dark skinned people always feel comfortable making their ugly comments to me as though they're sure that because I'm not just white but REALLY white I would agree with them. It baffles me how shocked they are when I hand them their ass for making such ugly comments to me as if I'd actually agree with such nastiness. I always make sure I give these people the dressing down they deserve loud enough so that at least several more people in the vicinity hear me giving the shithead what for. Inevitably, the people that overhear smile encouragement at me and give nasty looks to the bigoted bigmouth, and I love it when said bigoted bigmouth suddenly realizes that "Oh my Gaaaaawd! NONE of these other white people agree with me!" You can see clearly that realization all over their face as they try to slink under the table.

Occasionally one or two of the people that overheard will come up to me and thank me for speaking up, and I always tell them that if more people DID speak up maybe these shits would get it into their thick heads that their bigoted beliefs are NOT universally accepted and start thinking about why that is.