A Story That Will Make You Laugh (or Cry) [View all]

[louis c]

I've been a DU member since 2004. I'm the head of a small union in Boston. I'm white, 60 years old and 5' 4".

All this is pertinent information for this story.

I'm a self-admitted big mouth. I don't let stupid statements stand, even if it comes from a stranger and I'm not involved in the conversation. I know what you're thinking "how the f*#k do you avoid getting your ass kicked every day?" To be honest with you, I have no idea.

Anyway, here's the story. I'm off duty and sitting at the bar. I represent the bar-tenders and cooks and almost everyone else in the place (150). Some loud mouthed, nearly intoxicated white male patrons are talking shit about our President. They like using the N-word, since there's none around. Three guys, average height and build (remember, I'm a shrimp). I've had enough. "I just want you to know, it's talk like that that made it easy for us to win this last election. We're lucky Obama's president, and he'll go down in history as one of our best". They're response, "who's talking to you, asshole?" My reply, "Nobody, I'm talking to you. Do you know how stupid you sound repeating Rush Limbaugh's talking points?" "I had a great election night, how was yours?" They responded with the Kenya, Socialist, impeachment bullshit, and I walked away.

As I walked away, I could hear one of them say ,"just as I thought, no answers to the truth."

Now, in a different section of the place (it's rather large), two of my favorite employees were on break. They happen to be African-American. One is 6' 2", the other 6' 3". Both are security officers and the hardest working, nicest guys you'd ever want to meet. I told them what happened and said I'd like to teach these guys a lesson, without making a big deal out of it. "We're in", they said. "Great", I replied. I told them all they had to do was walk with me, back into the bar, and let me do all the talking. I promised them it would not be a big deal. "OK", they said.

So, get the picture. Three white guys who hate Obama sitting at a bar in which everyone at the bar heard the first conversation. I walk back to exactly where I was standing, flanked by these two huge African American security officers, in full uniform and armed. They looked even bigger next to me. You could hear a pin drop.

I stood at the bar for a few seconds and asked the three of them, "Would you like to continue to discuss politics with me?" I paused, looked at all three, none looked back. They just stared down at their drinks. I let another 30 seconds pass and said "I didn't think so".

Laughter filled the air as me and my two buddies turned and walked away.

I love living and working in a union environment.