Shame

[jennyaxe]

Today at lunch I was sharing a table with seven other coworkers.

One of them made a racist joke.

I didn't say anything to discourage that sort of thing or show that I intensely dislike it.

I wish I had. I'm ashamed. I thought I was a stronger person.

Comments

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Nod. That's an important point. If you said something, and didn't express it well, it would be ignored and might create additional animosity. Sometimes it really is better to say nothing than say the wrong thing.

I *am* glad you wanted to say the right thing... but sometimes it's very hard to find it in the moment.

[jennyaxe.livejournal.com]

If I ever hear that particular "joke" again I've got my reply figured out... but it took me several hours.

(For those who are interested, it went "if there's an $ethnic1 and an $ethnic2 in a car, who's driving? Answer: the police". My planned-for-next-time-response: "but what if both of them are policemen, who'll drive then?"