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March 24, 2007

Yes, Virginia, People That Stupid Do Roam the Earth Freely

Last night, after specifically deciding I was NOT going to stop in at Lil' Peeps for Karaoke, I stopped in at Lil' Peeps for some Karaoke.

OW had organized a group, I hadn't seen her in a week (:)) and I had to drive by anyway. I'd dressed in the morning with the possibility in mind, wearing clothes I was ok with having to wash immediately due to smoke saturation. So I was prepared to give it an hour or so.

Now, for those who don't know, let me explain that Lil' Peeps is

a. Really and truly actually called Lil' Peeps
b. A bar fashioned out of an old RAX
c. Fah rEEuhl

So, the smoke is thick, the music predictable and its your expected midwestern night out of fun. There's this guy so drunk and odd that you're not sure if he's just that trashed or if he's a little mentally challenged in which case, why is he that trashed. Either way, annoying. He gets up to do some rap version of some song that's not a rap, and in the lyrics, is the "n" word.

Now, this is actually a perfect example of the double standard set by the hip-hop community - in that it's "ok for a one of my brotha's to call me that - you know, it's a term of endearment," but if a white person says it... Ok, well, now that every suburban kid from here to there and back has embraced the hip-hop culture as their own and the advertising world has caught on, it's everywhere. And anyone who listens to hip-hop has been desensitized to the "n" word and other street terms like it. And at the same time that rappers are churning out music supporting this desensitization, we all wonder why we all "can't just get along."

Anyway, I digress. Deliverance boy wailed his way drunkenly through the song, "rapping" all the lyrics, including the "n" word. Many people kinda went "huh?" when he did it, having not realized it was the "rap" version whatever classic song it was, but then listened a little more and realized what was going on. So fine. Some of his friends must have said something to him about it, b/c seemingly out of nowhere he starts talking about how he's the "white got not afraid to say n*%%#$" - and proceeds to defend this title for the next, oh, say, 20 minutes.

It's been a long time since someone used this word in my presence, and I've been lucky enough that I can only remember twice, and both times were people who weren't so much throwing it at me, but trying it out (not that I'm sure usage matters). The first time I was too young to tell the girl just how ignorant it was of her to "try out" the word, and the second time we (some other friends were there when it happened) punished the user for months. I don't think he's uttered the word since.

There were two other black people in the bar, both on the other side of the room. This guy's group was right next to ours - not that he couldn't be heard over everything else going on. The more his friends encouraged him to shut the hell up, the more he persisted he was mad cool for being unafraid, and using the word in every exclamation.

I hadn't had a drop to drink so I was 100% clear headed. I always say that the most appropriate thing to do in situations of pure ignorance is to point and laugh as thought observing an animal in a zoo. But this guys was so far gone, and he wasn't being overtly hateful, just waving his stupidity around like a flag. Pointing and laughing was just going to make him wave harder - and louder. In fact, any sort of confrontation was just going to aggravate the situation. So I did nothing. Neither did either of the two black guys on the other side of the room (they were with different groups). In doing nothing, at first I felt as though I'd failed. I was uncomfortable, I wanted to leave. But I kept thinking about it (as he kept frickin' yelling) and I came to peace. No one that sad is worth brain space of mine.

So Virginia, yes, people this ignorant do still exist. You've got your animals in the zoo and you've got your pathetic ignorant drunk - both seen in simulated natural habitats.

Posted by nikl at March 24, 2007 06:21 PM

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Comments

This photo, sadly, does not do him justice, although the visible Dale Earnhardt autograph is nice. He quickly lost the over-shirt and was stumbling around in just the wife beater. And the pic fails to capture the meth teeth and scraggly facial hair.

And the "classic" song was "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," which was re-done, hip-hop style, by 2 Live Crew in the late fecking 80s.

Also, the KJ pissed me off all night with his laziness. We may have to try the VFW next time around ... or someplace "down South" by youse guys.

Posted by: Beth at March 25, 2007 03:07 PM

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