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An open letter to stupid white people Paul Ryan Some days, you're just not ready for the news. You open the newspaper, you see a headline, and you close the newspaper again and throw it in the garbage. For a person like me, such a day says a lot, considering a newspaper pays my bills. This morning I had one of those "news so bad you rip it up" moments when I saw this article. A man in Arizona put his house up for sale, and placed a handmade sign next to the realtor sign that says, "For whites only". Anyone who yearns for those so-called "simpler days" of the the past, here you go. But it's not the sign that bugs me. There's plenty of racists in the world, and if there's one thing you can't control, it's stupidity. If I read an article about the KKK burning a cross, yelling racial slurs at minorities, or boycotting the DVD release of "Shaft", it doesn't really phase me. What bothers me about this particular article is the attitude of the man's neighbors. You see, what this man is doing is illegal, but the law has a loophole. In order for this racist man to be rightfully fined and possibly sent to jail for violating the Fair Housing Act with his "For whites only" sign, someone from his neighborhood must register a complaint about his sign. No one has. In addition, no one seems to be expressing interest in doing so. There's a million possible reasons for this. It could be that the neighborhood is full of racists who actually agree with the sign, but that's unlikely. It could be that the neighborhood fears retaliation from the racist man. It could be that no one in the neighborhood really cares. The responses from the two neighbors interviewed in the article seem to reflect the "not caring" attitude:
"It sounds like he might be a little prejudiced. But it doesn't bother me."
"I think it's stupid. This is 2004, not the 1960s. But it's his house. We can't tell him not to." It doesn't bother you? It doesn't bother you?!? If the man were holding a slave auction in his front yard, would that bother you? What if the man started hanging around the local elementary school, handing out KKK pamphlets to your kids? Would that bother you? These hypothetical activities promote the same message as the sign. The longer that sign stays up in his yard with no repercussions, the more racists like him will think it's acceptable. The most crucial lesson in diversity has always been that people who sit idly by while discrimination happens are just as guilty as those participating. The two neighbors who "aren't bothered" and "don't want to tell him not to" are just as bad as the racist who put up the sign. I'm not one to tell people what they should or shouldn't feel, but this should bother Donald Miller, and Annie Bosley can "tell him not to", by filing a complaint. She has that privilege and responsibility. Unfortunately, most people are stubborn, and don't listen to reason. Since showing indifference towards racism hurts everyone in the long run - including you, the reader - I've decided to give you a chance to talk to these two neighbors about their decision to allow racism in their neighborhood. Since the article didn't list their addresses or phone numbers, I gladly will. Donald Miller isn't bothered by racism, but he can be bothered by you if you call him at [removed by request], or write him at [removed by request]. Annie Bosley won't report racism, but feel free to report your opinion of racists to her answering machine at [removed by request], or to her mailbox at [removed by request]. Of course, this information is presented to you with the hope that you would not use it for harassment purposes. Daily Ramblings is not responsible for the police being called on you. We will not bail you out of jail or pay any damages caused by your use of said information, unless you are a really, really hot chick who's willing to put out for us (Putting out for us in exchange for bail money is also illegal, and not condoned by Daily Ramblings unless it is done in Nevada, where prostitution is legal).
Void where prohibited. To enter without purchase, send an oil on canvas painting of a midget on a tricycle to: Paul Ryan, 804 Cass St. #823, La Crosse, WI 54601. Daily Ramblings is a registered trademark of the Fart Dinkins Company, and may not be copied or reused without the expressed, written consent of Fart Dinkins. Since Fart Dinkins is a fictitious name, trademark copy and reuse is not possible. Thank you, and have a pleasant, Jose Canseco-free day.
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