Shutting up a loud mouth racist

[Bluzmann57]

I went to an establishment I frequent to watch the alleged Iowa football game earlier and ran into an old friend of mine who happens to be African- American. We were talking about old times, sports, and several other things. And all during our conversation, there was some goddam loud mouth know it all that a lot of people could hear, but nobody would do anything about. Until he mentioned something about the basketball incident involving the President of the United States.
The loud mouth guy said, "I heard Obama got a fat lip. How can anyone tell?" My buddy, who we will call Darrell, and stands about 5'8" and weighs about 160 or less, walked up to the guy and said, "What the hell does that mean?" The loud mouth went pale and said, "Uh, I didn't mean anything. I ain't a racist." Then I piped in since I have a big mouth too and said, "Yes you are.".
Anyway, the loud mouth paid his bill and left immediately after the confrontation. The ladies who work the bar thanked us both, as did a couple of other people. After that, Darrell and I had a pleasant time except for the crappy outcome of the Iowa game and we got free beers to boot.
So sometimes it is better to confront the idiots and make sure your voices are heard. I will do it nearly every time. And so will a little guy named Darrell.

[rurallib]

1. Tip of the hat to you Bluz

way to go.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

2. Good

"I'm not a racist" = "I am a racist and and too chickenshit to admit it on top of it"

[Warpy]

3. Good for you both

Garbage like that should always be challenged, no matter how hard it is.

I hope you got a lot of free beer. You earned it.

[patrice]

4. Now, THAT's revolution!

:applause:

[howaboutme]

5. OK but think about this for a second

I understand your point.

I'm becoming very cynical on charges of bigotry and racism. When I hear racist or bigot thrown out, the immediate thought now comes to mind that this has become the best way to control a country by dividing it. First rule of divide and conquer uses racist and bigot. To go further the way to discredit credible people is to call them pedophiles or racist or conspiratorial.

The media has been superb at such manipulation when they wish to discredit someone for the moment who has been generally very subjective, objective and important to a cause that is not in support of the establishment.

So in my opinion unless there are absolutely true substantiated racist actions going on, such as job discrimination on employment or tangible criminal assaults I no longer buy into racism allegations per se. Political correctness needs to be about actions not speech.

[MineralMan]

7. I don't understand your point. What the guy said was clearly

a racist remark. Good for the OP and his friend for calling the guy out. It wasn't political correctness at all.

[howaboutme]

35. Words versus blatant discrimination

Sorry I wasn't being critical of the OP. I agree that saying "Obama has a fat lip, etc" is in very poor taste, and deserves to be acknowledged. I'm just saying I don't put it in the vile racist category. I don't do it myself and I'm not as sensitive to name calling, or ethnic jokes, or such a remark on ethnic features, as I am to real tangible racism, such as job discrimination. Unless words are said as a personal attack I put actions on a much higher plane of racism. The press focuses on words while ignoring actions. When an individual or organization only hires or promotes those having the correct ethnic pedigree, that represents a much more vile example of racism. Does anyone disagree?

[alphafemale]

37. Job discrimination is illegal. And has been for quite awhile.

Confronting assholes saying stupid shit? That should happen more often.

[howaboutme]

48. I agree with the latter but

Regarding discrimination you really need to speak to individuals who work in certain business sectors and hear their anecdotal comments. If it affected me personally I'd be screaming about it. Unless you are related or very close many will not even discuss it for fear of retribution. Make no mistake it exists and is more common in certain areas than others, and instead of hearing about this from the press, we hear about some media person who might say the wrong thing at some moment in time.

[The Wielding Truth]

44. It wasn't the "fat lip', but the "how could you tell", that was so racist.

[NOLALady]

10. I don't see a problem.

Calling out a racist cannot divide this country. The country was divided before anyone decided to be "politically correct".

[gratuitous]

12. The only person who said "racist" was the loudmouth

When he made his little comment about Obama having a fat lip, the black man who queried him simply asked what (the hell) that was supposed to mean. It was the loudmouth who, having opened his pie hole and being called on it by a black man, protested that he wasn't a racist. Bluzmann simply denied his denial. The only person talking "racism" in the encounter, near as I can tell, was the loudmouth.

But go ahead: Tell us all how the loudmouth's comments weren't racist. After all, he didn't fire a black guy for being black or physically assault anyone (verbal may be another matter), right?

[Enthusiast]

26. Okay! nt

[bettyellen]

15. oh bullshit, people create a hostile and dangerous enviornment with words all the time.....

and they continue, and perpetuate the hate, till someone calls them on it. So I always do.

[The Wizard]

33. Ask them

at what age did they first realize they enjoyed having sex with black men.

[Chulanowa]

17. I'd sad to see posts like this

Racism is a reality. It doesn't have to be a lynching, or Michael Richards going around screaming epithets. It's absolutely real, and it's still poisonous.

White priviledge is a reality, too - such as declarations that racism "doesn't count" unless it meets the narrow, narrow standards of the speaking white person.

[Name removed]

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[political_Dem]

56. A-men.

The blowhard clearly was hellbent on creating a hostile environment by displaying his racial animus.

People of color have to put up with this crap all of their lives, so they sure as hell know what is racist and what isn't. Anyone who denies such an act of bigotry and covers it by calling it "anti-PC", needs to go through "Race-Relations in America 101".

Furthermore, if there is anyone writing this incident off, they don't "get it". They are simply confused between what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior in a mixed crowd.

[MadMaddie]

19. The guy didn't get thrown out he left because

he didn't feel comfortable spouting his racist crap without support. Guarantee if he had two or three buddies there he would not have left.

Now to your point of political correctness, there is political correctness extreme and there is simple respect not to disrepect others. The latter is where this country has taken a nose dive.

Palin and her ilk talk about President Obama as "Not being one of us"! That is code for he is black. Every minority is aware of this double speak but others fail to accept it for what it is. The "Birther Movement", is code for "He is not American enough to be the president".

[political_Dem]

59. [phone]. You better believe it, Mad Maddie.

All of us folks of color know this from day one.

[Book Lover]

21. Talk about being superbly manipulated by the media...

"... I no longer buy into racism allegations per se."

What else need be said?

[Paladin]

27. Oh, Goody. Another "No Such Thing As Racism" Post

This meme is turning up WAY to often here at DU. If you want to pretend that political correctness is making it way too tough on bigoted white guys, how about taking it somewhere else?

[muffin1]

28. I don't see any other way to take the comment about Obama's lip.

If you do, please share.

[MsPithy]

32. This is really easy, if you don't want to be called a racist,

don't fucking say racist things!

[fishwax]

60. lol -- so it's not racist language that's divisive, but rather pointing out racist language

:eyes:

[tulsakatz]

6. excellent!!

I'm glad you confronted the idiot.....and yeah, you're right, he is a racist?

A while ago, Beck said something similar. I think it was during one of his many Nazi comparisons to Obama......then he said 'I'm not comparing Obama to Nazis'. Uh.....yeah, that's exactly what you were doing! Sometimes people think they won't get called out for something if they say they're not, regardless of what else they say. I'm glad you didn't let this guy get away with it.....

[SalmonChantedEvening]

8. Nothing beats a backpedalling loudmouth. :)

[The Doctor.]

13. Ummm.... Free Beer?

It's a toss up.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

23. Well played. You have me there.

;)

[Bluzmann57]

25. Truth be told, we got one each

The ladies were sort of glad to see him gone even though he apparently had quite a bit of money to spend. And we would have done what we did, free beer or not.

[blueamy66]

9. Amen.

I would have done the same.

I am a tall woman, but shit, if you don't have anything constructive to say, shut the hell up.

And then I would have shown them my lip scar, from playing bball......it's BIG now. :-)

[Odin2005]

11. BWAHAHAHA! That is awesome!

[Terra Alta]

14. Thank you for standing up to racism.

But it's sad, that in 2010 there is still blatant racism in America. I guess racism will never truly die, but we can all do what we can to put racists in their place.

[progressoid]

16. "the alleged Iowa football game"

Yeah, thankfully, I only saw two minutes of it. Yuck.

[Swamp Rat]

18. Yes INDEED!!!

:kick:

[lefthook]

22. You can't tell me racists aren't acting like bigger jerks,

Since Obama got elected I've heard things from the more backward among us that I havent heard since the 70s. You hear the word bigot applied more often because more people are acting like sleazebags. People use it to end arguments when people who make asinine statements, it's like using Magellan to end an arguement with a flat earther.

[Kweli4Real]

39. More often than not ...

the label racist is attached shortly after someone has said something with racist connotation and referencing "fat lips" when speaking of Black people does have racist connotation ... whether some wish to acknowledge it or not.

[Enthusiast]

24. K&R and Plus one nt

[ooglymoogly]

29. A post worth rec'ing,

KR

[pasto76]

30. you're not a friend to Darrel if you look the other way when people say stupid shit

yes, it places you in an uncomfortable position, but it is the right thing to do.

I owe my survival during my deployment to iraq on multiple occasions to black soldiers who are also my friends. As an Ironworker, I hear "nigger this and nigger that" almost daily. When have some respect for the guy, I go into a story about iraq, paint a horrifying picture of some of the scenarios we were in and wrap it with "I owe my life to these guys". They usually say "wow" or something. Then I say "They are also black. How do you think I feel about you using that word?" Their silence is enough of an apology, or at least submission into shutting up.

Sometimes I just tell them to STFU. It makes work uncomfortable, and I know Ive been laid off because of this in the past. But I ask myself, what kind of friend would I be if I just ignored it?

[obxhead]

31. Until we stop fighting against each other we will never win the fight

against our real enemy, corporate interests.

k/r

[howaboutme]

36. You are 100% right

I'll go even further and say the global internationalist capitalist elite like to see us fight amongst ourselves about our each and every pet interest while they keep us entertained and rob the bank.

Divide and conquer is the strategy.

[cliffordu]

34. Good on ya!

[FailureToCommunicate]

38. Change happens sometimes in small steps. Maybe the guy

will think twice before repeating his Obama comment to his kids...

[rasputin1952]

40. In reference to your last line...

"sometimes" isn't an option, confront it wherever you find it....good job...:hi:

ETA: I'm in NE, so our rivalry is well known...GO HUSKERS!...:D

[harmonicon]

41. good for you

I couldn't believe it when earlier this week I was talking to a few people at a bar I go to all the time, and this girl I'd just met came out with the "n word". I stood there stunned for a few moments while she kept on talking, and when she said it again, I just said, "this conversation is over" and walked away.

[RoccoR5955]

42. ALWAYS confront the bigots.

They back down each and every time.

[pezDispenser]

43. Did this happen in Davenport? n/t

[Bluzmann57]

52. Close. Bettendorf.

I prefer not to say the name of the establishment in here but it is a well known sports bar here in the Iowa QC's.

[pezDispenser]

53. That's cool

I know what bar you are talking about and fairly sure I know Darrell. When I was a kid, he was part of the circle my parents ran around with. Even if its not that Darrell, I'll just believe the Darrell I know did this. I'm sure he would have, had the situation presented itself. Good on you and good on Darrell.

[Swampguana]

45. If it wasn't racist

He would have said something besides "Uh, I didn't mean anything. I ain't a racist." He would have corrected himself if he was misunderstood. Good on you guys for calling him out. Free beers for good deeds only proves those around you were feeling the same about this guy.

[Dinger]

46. Well Done! K & R:)

[rainlillie]

47. I truly believe most racist are cowards... They'll talk smack among

like minds, but will back down when confronted. Good for you and your buddy. I wish more people would call racist out.

[Scruffy1]

50. it seems to go against the liberal ethic because ti works

Its much nicer to make like a doormat and encourage their behavior. Personally I have found some of the most effective tools have been zero tolerance and not backing down. Oh yes steel toed boots occasionally help spread enlightenment. Ask any member of Anti-racist Action. Seriously many start questioning their own beliefs when they are confronted, but if no one challenges them they think they are in the majority.n. It's a scientific fact that most males like their balls more than their racism. This is why the peace movement never will succeed. It is based on a erroneous belief that confrontation is bad, and yet after forty years of failure it still has its adherents.

[southernyankeebelle]

49. Bravo Bravo, I would have said something also and I have done so before. Soon as you confront them

they nearly want to pee in the pants. LOL

[MindandSoul]

51. We should all do it anytime we have the occasion! Good for you!

[Catherine Vincent]

54. Tell your friend Darrell (or whatever his name is)...

that I love him. :) Oh, and you too!

[proud patriot]

55. Excellent job

:-)

[political_Dem]

57. I send my thanks and appreciation to you and your friend for doing what is right.

Many people find it comfortable to stay silent and suffer the assholes in the world. This is especially the case when such derogatory folks engage in the practice of racism and discrimination.

You and your friend deserve accolades for not letting such ugliness slip by. It shows that bit by bit this world is actually changing.

:thumbsup:

[Name removed]

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