Comments on: Communion http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/ Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:02:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Samantha http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118183 Samantha Tue, 20 May 2008 19:11:24 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118183 I am always so taken aback by these moments - a month ago or so, the driver of the bus I was on stopped one stop short of the final stop and refused to finish the route. As the remaining passengers got off grumbling, a (non-black) woman turned to me and said something equivalent to "the black drivers are all so lazy". I was stunned - shocked that someone was willing to stereotype over such a minor incident AND then tell me (the only white person getting off the bus) about it - but I only managed to stammer out something like, "I haven't noticed that" or something equally lame. Of course I am prepared for a snappy comeback the next time this happens. I am always so taken aback by these moments - a month ago or so, the driver of the bus I was on stopped one stop short of the final stop and refused to finish the route. As the remaining passengers got off grumbling, a (non-black) woman turned to me and said something equivalent to “the black drivers are all so lazy”. I was stunned - shocked that someone was willing to stereotype over such a minor incident AND then tell me (the only white person getting off the bus) about it - but I only managed to stammer out something like, “I haven’t noticed that” or something equally lame.

Of course I am prepared for a snappy comeback the next time this happens.

]]> By: Pyracantha http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118114 Pyracantha Tue, 20 May 2008 01:22:00 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118114 I think of physicists as a kind of priesthood anyway. The calling, training, and work may not be religious, but it has some of the same qualities. I think of physicists as a kind of priesthood anyway. The calling, training, and work may not be religious, but it has some of the same qualities.

]]> By: IrrationalPoint http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118097 IrrationalPoint Mon, 19 May 2008 17:56:43 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118097 <i>“Well, we’re all more or less basically good people, really, no matter where we’re from…”</i> True. Hope he got it. Cheers, IP “Well, we’re all more or less basically good people, really, no matter where we’re from…”
True. Hope he got it.

Cheers,
IP

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118089 Clifford Mon, 19 May 2008 13:34:50 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118089 Oh my, Mary... that's hilarious! One can imagine people doing that in a number of places now... in a concert hall, in that big waiting room at the DMV... etc. I must look out for people doing it... -cvj Oh my, Mary… that’s hilarious! One can imagine people doing that in a number of places now… in a concert hall, in that big waiting room at the DMV… etc. I must look out for people doing it…

-cvj

]]> By: Jude http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118087 Jude Mon, 19 May 2008 12:32:05 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118087 At least he *tried* to get it. I remember being lectured about racism by my racist step-grandfather who told me that anything I felt about racism was irrelevant because I lived in Rifle, Colorado where there were no black families and he grew up in Tennessee. Whatever, old man. My favorite Polish-connected documentary about racism is Hiding and Seeking, which if you haven't seen it, is an amazing film. Besides, it has cemeteries. http://www.amazon.com/Hiding-Seeking-Faith-Tolerance-Holocaust/dp/B00067BBQY/ At least he *tried* to get it. I remember being lectured about racism by my racist step-grandfather who told me that anything I felt about racism was irrelevant because I lived in Rifle, Colorado where there were no black families and he grew up in Tennessee. Whatever, old man. My favorite Polish-connected documentary about racism is Hiding and Seeking, which if you haven’t seen it, is an amazing film. Besides, it has cemeteries.

http://www.amazon.com/Hiding-Seeking-Faith-Tolerance-Holocaust/dp/B00067BBQY/

]]> By: Mary Cole http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118083 Mary Cole Mon, 19 May 2008 10:21:11 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2008/05/18/communion/#comment-118083 On the subject of the rituals of childhood never leaving you, I have a Catholic friend who tells me that more than once she's inadvertently genuflected whilst getting seated at the cinema! I like both your wished for and actual response to the man who spoke to you after the Mass! On the subject of the rituals of childhood never leaving you, I have a Catholic friend who tells me that more than once she’s inadvertently genuflected whilst getting seated at the cinema!
I like both your wished for and actual response to the man who spoke to you after the Mass!

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