Wow.
I'm sorry that guy was so ignorant.
One of the things that I have had to learn is that yes it is true, racism is everywhere and to varying degrees.
The truth is racism is nothing more than ignorance and hatred.
I know that it is *NEVER* a one way street. For example- it is never just hatred for one thing like blacks, latino's, or asian. It is also there for whites.
I guess what I'm saying is hatred is everywhere. You can never get away from it. Hatred, Racism, discrimination it's all everywhere. Regardless of race, religion, or anything.
The thing that gets me though, as it gets you, these same people who hate other people who have the exact same color blood they do (if you cut someone, they *WILL* bleed red) will always feel that *SOMEBODY* owes them something.
I am always reminded of a time I was walking through my town and I saw this elderly woman trying to cross the street. I was only a child then and I had always been taught to treat everyone the same way I want to be treated.
So I went to this lady and she was trying to cross the street. I got to her and I felt this hand on my shoulder and I turned and I saw this man glaring down at me saying, " Don't you dare help her, she's a grown woman she can cross that street by herself."
I was torn on what to do because I was always told to respect my elders when I stopped and then I looked up and I saw this other woman come up to the elderly lady and gently took her hand and helped her cross the street.
The elderly lady trying to cross the street was white. The one who helped her was black. She wanted nothing in return and then I asked her (you know still being a kid)-"Mr (his name) said I shouldn't help her cross the street, I wanted to but he said I shouldn't. Why did you?"
The woman looked me in the eye and said, " Baby, God doesn't see color, he only sees your soul."
She then smiled and looked at the man and said, " Good evening Mr. Gonzalas."
I will never forget and to this day I have never been able to look at people the same way.
I wish I knew a way to conquer racism. But there is no way. People say there is but I've seen klan meetings near my house, I've seen Indians hit because they looked like terrorist, I've seen a lot. I've seen terroists kill people because of different philosophies. I've seen black people kill white people because they thought that the white person somehow disrespected them. I've been the target of racism.
Anyway. I guess what I'm trying to say is I know - in a way-how it is. I have no solutions, but I can say that I still believe that God doesn't see color and that no matter what a person looks like on the outside he/she does bleed the same color I do.
Anyway, I'm sorry I have no solutions.
*Hugs* I wish you didn't have to go through that. It's hell.