to NOT want emails like this in my inbox? I know I am not ... come help me formulate a pithy reply ....

[ghosty]

I fucking HATE stuff like this. It pisses me off. And in the light of this week's happy euphoria with the US elections it puts a sour taste in my mouth.
I got an email from our old neighbours. I know why they have done it (ignorant bastards) and they think it is funny. They sent it to everyone in their address list it looks like. I want to 'reply to all' to make it clear I don't appreciate this kind of email ... I don't understand why people have to make some kind of 'tit for tat' stand. Aren't we trying to make positive changes?
I need a pithy reply but also, what the hell am I going to do with their 13 year old son who is flying over from NZ to stay with us for 4 days in January???
fuckity fuck.

This was the email, it isn't pretty:

"Michael Richards Court Speech

Makes one stop and think after reading this :

Michael Richards is better known as Kramer from tv's Seinfeld series.

This was his defense speech in court after making racial comments in his comedy act.

He makes some very interesting points. He said :

I'm proud To Be White

Someone finally said it.

How many are actually paying attention to this ?

There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, etc.

And then there are just Americans.

You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction.

You Call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,'

'Whitey,' 'Caveman' ... and that's OK.

But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head, Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner , Gook, or Chink ... You call me a racist.

You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you, so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live ?

You have the United Negro College Fund.

You have Martin Luther King Day.

You have Black History Month.

You have Cesar Chavez Day.

You have Yom Hashoah.

You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.

You have the NAACP.

You have BET.

If we had WET (White Entertainment Television) we'd be racists.

If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists.

If we had White History Month , we'd be racists.

If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance'

OUR lives we'd be racists.

We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce.

Wonder who pays for that ?

A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant. If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships you know we'd be racists. There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US . Yet if there were 'White colleges' THAT would be a racist college.

In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights.
If we marched for our race and rights,you would call us racists.

You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it.

But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.

You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us.

But , when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug-dealer running from the law and posing a
threat to society, you call him a racist.

I am proud.

But you call me a racist.

Why is it that only whites can be racists ?

There is nothing improper about this e-mail.

Let's see which of you are proud enough to send it on
Regards,"

Honestly, I want to throw up.

I think I would reply assuming they had sent it to you with the unspoken understanding that it was shocking that some people think he's making sense.

I would reply with words to the effect, 'Christ I can't believe that blinkered shit still goes on, he sounds like a lunatic, thanks for the heads up, that's the last time I was Seinfeld!' I would then add a serious note that it's good not to rest on your laurels and assume things have moved on in AMerica because the next president is black, so thank them again for the timely reminder.

Accidentally hit reply all. Then email them v briefly and say Oops, replied to everyone there, silly me!

And I would fucking bring it up again when their 14 year old is with you. Find your opportunity and '....like that email your parents sent me. shocking how small minded people can still be.'

OTOH maybe I would just tell them fuck off and find someone else to look after their 14year old. They're miles away now - no need to continue that friendship.

What a horrible email, no wonder you are upset.

I like the idea of deliberately misunderstanding it. If you didn't have the son coming to stay, I would suggest you block their email address. I would not want anymore to do with them.

What is the son like? Does he share their views?

oh god I would be furious
IAmNotHere has a good idea I think. I think anything more in depth rebutting all the points would just be a waste of breath

oh and I sent you an email, but on your hotmail. address which I'm not sure you use now - did you get it? I can Facebook you instead if that's better?

Also agree with the other posters about the response. Don't forget their son is still a child and may have had to listen to lots of insidious crap over the years.

First of all, I would point out that he never actually said it. Send them this link:

www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/proudwhite.asp

And tell them before they spread such disgusting things they should make sure they are real.

Well, the email, although worded in a way that leaves you in no doubt that the author is probably racist, actually raises some REAL points.

It is true that it is ok, good even, to 'celebrate' being any colour other than white. This is a fact. It is not the person being horrible - it is the truth. It is also true that any white person displaying the same level of 'pride' in their colour WOULD be, is in fact, considered a racist - it is true, it happens - you are not allowed to be proud to be white, like you are allowed, encouraged, to be proud to be black, or asian...

It is also true that white people can be insulted and that's ok, but insult people of any other colour and that's racism.

All of these things are undeniable facts. You can't argue that any of these statements are in themselves false. The evidence does not support that claim.

However, the crux of the matter is that these things are happening at the moment as a result of all the racism, segregation and abuse throughout history of people of any colour other than white. (of course, white people have been abused and enslaved too of course - but not because of their colour, iyswim, I may be wrong on that of course, but I don't recall any history of white people being considered less than human because they are white) It is, well, it is taking back some power, some control, giving some pride back, iyswim.

And that's a GOOD thing.

Eventually, we will all move past this stage and, I pray, develop as a species to a point where all issues of colour have been resolved, put behind us and we all live together, equally.

"last time I was Seinfeld"

That would be watch Seinfeld.

hecate - would you mind if I used a bit of your post in my email back to them?... the "the crux of the matter is that these things are happening at the moment as a result of all the racism, segregation and abuse throughout history of people of any colour other than white" bit?
That was kind of what I was thinking but didn't know how to say it ...

MrsJC - I rarely check my hotmail account ... best to send me a message on FB or you can email me on ghostyandmeg1(at)bigpond(dot)com

hecate well said you worded that perfectly

ghosty - my opinion is that you shouldn't involve their 14 year old in this. I am ashamed to admit my father is a nasty racist but none of his 4 children are. This sort of stuff may be making his 14 yo sick as well so I'd give the child the benefit of the doubt as I wouldn't like anyone to think I was like my father in any way.

I agree with hecate - why do people of colour other than white need such 'power' because they have been abused and are in a minority group such black organisations stated in the email help to provide opportunities that otherwise have been denied to such minority groups.

what Tee2072 said

'Why is it that only whites can be racist'?
Because whites hold the power. Historically and still true, unfortunately. Which is why it is SUCH a big deal that Barack Obabma is now president. And would have been a big deal if Hillary Clinton had been voted in. Women can't be sexist because men still hold the power -historically and still now, unfortunately.
Don't mention it to the kid though - unless of course he instigates a discussion, in which case you could open out the conversation. He will be a long way from home though, so don't take it out on him!

by all means, ghosty.