SOCIAL MEDIA | RACISM

#84 — I Am Racist: Beware, Never Mouth This One Word or She’ll Hand Slap You, Too

Can anyone help me understand what we’re allowed to say?

It’s all fun and games until you get blindsided by a stranger.

Sucker punched, really.

At times, confusion can set in as to why you were targeted by someone who doesn’t know you. At all.

Reckless accusations won’t bridge gaps but widen the chasm.

It started so innocently.

I enjoy reading fun, eclectic, and intriguing stories by Jan Sebastian.

We often comment on each other’s articles and this one was no exception:

I have tried and liked a few of the items Jan listed and some not so much. Of course, there were a few foods that I have no desire to try.

Manatees, for one.

Isn’t that normal?

My mom hates salmon, which I could live on, and turns up her nose when I suggest it. I can hear her go-to answer, “yuck.”

I responded to Jan with just that one word, yuck, on one specific food.

Imagine my surprise to wake up and see an assessment, a harsh judgment, a despicable label, attached to my comment.

I am not a fan of extremists.

Nor do I support the misguided.

I certainly cannot comprehend attacking leaps to tie my personal food choice to racism.

Racism?

We all have our causes, our passive and or aggressively sought-after passions, to share with others.

Indeed, my accuser spelled out her mission in her bio.

“I believe talking about race, skin color, classism and capitalism will set us free. Defensiveness, taking things personal and avoiding certaing (sic) topics will just make everything more difficult.” — Your NativeFriend

As I gained an understanding of where her lens is focused, my eye caught a story she wrote in reaction to my one-word comment and Jan’s story.

Her defensiveness, not mine.

The irony in her wording did not escape me.

Her entire story vilified Jan, and me, and I imagine a lot of people who have specific tastes.

How does this work?

My grandson says yuck to most foods.

Is he racist?

“Everybody thinks they are sooooo anti-racist, but calling our food “disgusting, yuck” is beyond racist.” — Your NativeFriend

What does skin color have to do with how my tongue and stomach react?

According to the writer and her title, a lot.

Seems overzealous.

So many assumptions, big feelings, and defensiveness in reaction to my personal palate.

This is her attempt to set us free? I felt boxed in a corner of condemnation.

Racist, she says.

Beyond racist.

Am I naive to believe I can dictate my menu? Should I be conferring with others? Or, can I dismiss food as long as I use acceptable wording?

“When white people hunt for fun is classy, and sophisticated and is a good taste sport to have. When indigenous people eat and hunt the animals they love, they raised because that´s part of their culture is “evil, savage and cruel”. — Your NativeFriend

This is far-reaching in regard to my comment. Who said anything about evil, savage or cruel?

Not me.

Sweeping generalizations are deal-breakers if you aspire to be viewed as open-minded.

Yes, yuck is an expression of disgust.

But, an open mind will consider where the disgust is aimed.

I don’t want to eat a rat, okay? Or a snake or spider. Feel free to eat anything you want, even however you wish, and I promise no character assassination will be coming from me.

I use the word yuck to signify my displeasure during a multitude of scenarios, foods, and situations.

• Stepped in dog poop? Yuck.
• A month-old grape, complete with fuzz, found under the fridge? Yuck.
• Took a long, deep swallow of sour milk? Yuck.
• Inserting a narrative where it doesn’t belong? Yuck.

There is no backstory. I have no hidden agenda to disparage a culture, race, or history.

Yuck is a descriptive word to me.

“Please don´t exoticize our food. Don’t criticize it and most important don’t use pejorative and violent terms for what is so sacred for us.” — Your NativeFriend

Is it me?

Was the word yuck canceled? Is it no longer an acceptable response?

Pejorative and violent terms?

Seems overzealous.

I appreciate passion. Passion for the message, however, does not mean broad-brushed strokes can be applied without care.

Reckless accusations won’t bridge gaps but widen the chasm.

I am not a fan of misguided attempts to label a person and flag a word, used in a clearly defined context, as something they’re not.

I am not racist.

What say ye?

Do you use the word yuck?

I am willing — and open-minded — to be enlightened.

Bizarre comments from the left field are not new to me.

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