Oh, I don't disagree that TJ handled this the wrong way. I agree that he can't admit when he is wrong and this a convenient way for him to leave as a "victim."
But this isn't the first time someone's thrown racial smack out there towards TJ, only to have some folks spin it so that it's okay. Which is what I see some folks doing here. Just because TJ's been a jerk for so long, it's okay to insult him for his heritage. Sorry, but I disagree with that.
And like both ChiTown and Titus pointed out, racism isn't just a white issue--I lived in southeast DC, in a building of 800 people where I was the ONLY white guy. So I'm well aware of how it works the other way. Hell, I almost got shot just because of my skin color.
But, as a white guy, I haven't dealt with racism on the level as a black, hispanic, or even Jewish person has dealt with it. So for me to say "well, they just have thin skin" is,
IMHO not the way to handle it.
I feel as though bringing up anyone's race for any reason is unjustified. Instead of saying "this black guy I work with," I just say "this guy I work with." That doesn't make me perfect or culturally sensitive or anything else--I just fail to see how race matters in 99.99% of situations. To bring it up in an insult is just plain wrong, again, IMHO.
MM
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