Racism Sucks

[dr_tectonic]

Here's the email I just sent reply-all to a fairly religious relative:

Hi [relative],

I hope you haven't forwarded this to anyone but family yet. I'm sure you didn't notice (and I imagine [original sender] didn't either), but there's a lot of nasty racism in it. We know you better than that, but somebody who didn't might get the wrong ideas about your views from it.

It's so sad that once politics comes into the picture, so many people have a hard time following Christ's admonition to love our fellow man, regardless of unimportant details like the color of their skin or what language they speak! I'll certainly be glad when election season is over and there isn't so much propaganda floating around to watch out for.

Love,

--me

It's not nearly as publicly shaming (or expletive-laden) as what I initially wanted to send, but I'm hopeful that it will have a chance of actually being effective, and it seemed like the best way to call someone out on being gross and racist without having it escalate into something where I end up disowning a whole bunch of family members.

Ugh.

But hey, now I don't have to feel guilty about not being able to make it to the family reunion this year!

Comments

[goddessdster.livejournal.com]

I hear you. My parents frequently send similar emails in reply to friends and family. Unfortunately, it doesn't take an election year for such things to be received.

[nitasee.livejournal.com]

You are much kinder and restrained than I would have been. I tend to go Hulk SMASH! over such emails....but that is hard on keyboards....

[dr-tectonic.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, would I love to do that.

But I know that the net outcome would be lousy, and that if go all sweet and diplomatic and Miss Manners instead, I might actually manage to do some good and then I can't just rant, I am compelled to Do The Right Useful Thing, and it's rillyrillyannoying.

Sometimes I find being mature and level-headed very tiresome.

[dr-tectonic.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reminding me to be grateful that this is a rare occurrence! Because I am super-grateful for that.

[bryree.livejournal.com]

Love it!

Also love the fact that you could have (I'm *not* saying that you *should* have :) ) expanded your fourth sentence in an even more challenging way to: "It's so sad that once politics comes into the picture, so many people have a hard time following Christ's admonition to love our fellow man, regardless of unimportant details like the color of their skin or what language they speak or even that they might be considered an "enemy" of some kind!"

I may have to steal this some day...

[bryree.livejournal.com]

One of my other favorite rillyrillyannoyingbutmoreuseful emails starts like this: "I know you are the type of person who wouldn't want to spread untruths or to use falsehoods in making a point, and I noticed that..."

[nitasee.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I find being mature and level-headed very tiresome.

Me too. Sometimes, though I do just need a good cathartic smash moment. That's usually when I dig out the most violent movies I have on DVD so as the have a socially acceptable release - and one that won't harm the furniture and electronic devices. (So costly to replace.)

[dr-tectonic.livejournal.com]

That is an exceedingly useful turn of phrase, and I am caching it away for future use.

[jofish22.livejournal.com]

very \n
ic'ely phrased

sorry daughter typing too

[dorisduke.livejournal.com]

Quite well written, often the soft approach works better than the one you might want to send. They might actually think about what you wrote rather than just dismiss it as an angry outburst. Well done you...

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

Very nicely handled!

[putzmeisterbear.livejournal.com]

Very tactful.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

You are a very tactful guy! I'm not sure I could be so calm in responding. :)

[dr-tectonic.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thanks. :D

[dr-tectonic.livejournal.com]

Well, that's the result of rewriting it probably four or five times. The tact doesn't typically start to show up until at least the second time you erase everything and start over...

[dr-tectonic.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[dr-tectonic.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[dr-tectonic.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It does work better, and when I am angry instead of soft, I almost always end up regretting it later. But in the moment, man, sometimes it takes a lot of effort!

[annlarimer.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you didn't notice (and I imagine [original sender] didn't either), but there's a lot of nasty racism in it.

Bloody genius.