The (very) Fine Line

Hello again for the first time in 2012! It's been a good long while since my last post and once again I forgot just how much I like to write these blogs. It's kind of a stress reliever, ya know? Believe you me, I need one. Lot's of drama going on right now that I'd actually really love to write about, but alas, I have already had a predetermined topic for this post in my mind for a long time. Today I'm going to talk about that invisible yet seemingly terrifying line that offensive asshole like myself are destined to cross.



Now, I've been called a lot of things. I've been called a racist, a sexist, a homophobic, among other names of a less than savory nature. I can understand how some people can form those opinions of me because, well, I act that way all the time. There's something you need to understand about me though; I have no filter, and no sense of social sensitivity. I have no idea why I'm like this, but I simply do not feel the need to force people to like me because of the boundaries they've set for me. This sounds awful I know, but take into consideration how little experience I've had with the life, personality, or experiences of a stranger that I'm meeting for the first time.


I know I know, we should treat everyone the way we'd prefer to be treated. That's the thing though, if someone so happens to crack a joke that pertains to something horrible that's happened in my life, I don't care. Selfish of a request as it may be, I wish everyone would try to feel the same way more often.


I like making sexist jokes. Also I like hearing sexist jokes being made. Doesn't matter what gender is being made fun of, I think it's funny. To think for a second that anyone could consider me sexist is laughable at best. You see I grew up with a single mother. My mom, Julie, really kind of hated men when I was a little kid (which probably didn't make  me too fond of them either) and I can even remember a few times when she was mad, tell me I was only such a pain because I was a boy. That being said, if anyone ever tried to tell me there was something that my mother couldn't do because she is a woman (other that jack off, be kicked in the nuts, or things like that) I would call them an idiot. My whole life I've watched women do amazing things, including laughing with me about sexist jokes they hear. So no, I'm not sexist, not even close.


Gay people are great too. They're funny, usually articulate, and most of them have a fashion sense that anyone could envy. Sometimes the saddest part of my night is seeing the look of embarrassed disappointment of a gay guys face when he finds out I'm straight. (and yes, I get asked, a lot >_< ) But I've got plenty of gay and bisexual friends so this is all but a non-issue for me.


Another thing is the mentally handicapped. I say "retard" all the time. It's actually one of my favorite words. I have no idea why this is, but it occasionally pissed someone off, and I must not be the only one because someone found it completely necessary to make this public service announcement. I honestly have a little bit of a phobia of people with mental handicaps (severe ones you douche, not like dyslexia or something) and I have no idea why. I'm truly sorry that I feel that way and I have nothing against them at all. I've actually met a few whose I company I really enjoyed.




 I'm not sure if you know this, but I'm white. Very, very white. I use the "n word" from time to time in complete jest. Now I can see how this might be a problem and I assure you I don't make a habit of it and I don't encourage anyone to. The thing is I believe that the "n word" is just that, a word. A powerful word yes, but really we're only giving the word itself the power by making it so taboo. If a new racial slur was made up  and constantly used in a derogatory tone, eventually it too would gain a terrible sort of power. Granted there are still some terrible racist pricks who still use the "n word" frequently and in as derogatory of a manner as possible, but isn't making a big deal about it the reason they feel powerful using that word in the first place?


Now that last paragraph I'm sure seemed like something a racist would say to justify his racist nature. I would just like everyone to know that I have absolutely no reason to be racist. My family didn't move to the United States until the early 20th century, so they had literally nothing to do with slavery. Also I haven't even had close to enough negative experiences with any single one race that would lead me to label that entire race. The actions of a single person do not dictate the morals of people with their same skin tone. White people commit crimes all the time, the biggest gang in the American penal system is a white gang. The only non-white race I really grew up around was American Indians and I think that culture is fascinating.


There is something that has been on my mind lately. Here in Duluth there are new billboards up for an anti-racism campaign that says in big bold letters "It's Hard to See Racism When You're White" then at the bottom the campaign's web address, unfaircampaign.org/. This has sparked a pretty loud argument in the city and has really pissed off a few people. (an article from the Star Tribune can be found here) The only things I'd like to say about it is that first of all, making a statement like that exclusively about one race is incredibly racist in itself. Secondly, I understand the message they're trying to convey, but I think they're approaching it in the wrong way. You can't tell call me a color and then preach to me about racism in the same breath.


So that's my latest rant. As always please feel free to chime in (lord knows my blog could use the attention) and thanks for reading.