One good thing about today

I unfriended someone on Facebook today. I know that sounds like a bad thing, but let me assure you, it was a very good thing.

I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I will say something if somebody is an asshole in any way, shape or form, but my hope is that it becomes a teachable moment. It's been my experience that the person being an asshole usually has asshole influences in his/her past and they have an a-ha moment. Most of the time redemption is made, and the world is all rainbows and sunshine again.

The day I friended my old high school acquaintance on Facebook, I was actually excited. We had one of those epic teenage tales together that I still love to reminisce about. We also were both bullied and had a rough childhood. I know he floated around the foster system which isn't easy. He's also a proud gay man, which explains why he was bullied in our suburban high school. So, knowing that, I gave him lots of chances. My acquaintance, however, turned out to become quite the racist.

While I've butted heads with him before. I hoped, if anything, a reminder of how hurtful he was being by comparing racist comments to homophobic slurs that something may have absorbed. I made excuses for him (see above) and gave him another chance.

Today his status update was along the lines of "nothing ruins a meal faster than when someone at the table next to you decides to cut their child's nails while you're eating. No surprise that they were 'ethnic'.

Now, by the time I saw the update, someone else commented that there really was no need to add the 'ethnic' bit. People of all shades, from all cultures, of all classes and all sexual orientations are disgusting and thoughtless at times was one of the points made. His response was that he believed he was being polite enough by not mentioning which ethnicity they where.

Well, with that "justification" I was done. My response, "this is about the 3rd or 4th time I've given your comments the side eye. This ethnic person has had enough. Adios, cabron!". And I clicked unfriend. And when the box popped up that asked if I was sure I meant to unfriend him, I did not hesitate to click YES.

It would have been easy to just unfriend, but when it comes to bigotry of any kind, things need to be said. In this day and age it's inexcusable to allow this bullshit to slide. With that said, actions do speak louder than words, and sometimes quickly distancing yourself from people like this is good enough. I know I don't want to be demonized by simple association, especially if blogging makes me Internet famous someday.

So, I am proud of myself for taking a stand in my own way. This is the kind of mother I want to be. Lead by example, etc.

This is my good thing of the day.