Get this! I was just accused of being a racist! I am not a racist, and I dislike bigotry in all it's hateful forms. That's the way I was raised and I am proud of my open-mindedness (is that a word).

Heck, Coral (my last girlfriend) was black for Christ's sakes.

Ok, here's the way it all happened. I was walking to the bus station and a guy who was a regular at the grocery store I used to work at recognized me. He asked me if he could borrow fifty cents. I didn't have any change on me so I said I couldn't. He then asked me for a dollar.  

I kind of make it a rule not to give out money on the street. Plus I had just turned him down for fifty cents, why would I give his twice that? Again, I said no. He pleaded with me telling me he would pay me back when he got his paycheck.

I replied that because I didn't know the man I wasn't going to give him money. I think that is a more then reasonable response.

Then the rest of it went like this: (I'm now going to switch to diolaugue for the while)

Man: Oh, I'm black!? (implying that this is the reason I wouldn't give him a dollar) 

me: And? I'm white, but it doesn't matter.

man: do you bleed green blood or red blod?

me: red blood, of course.

man: I bleed red blood too....

(I interupted him here)

Me: Look, it's not a color thing I just don't know you so I'm not sure if I'll ever get my money back. So, I'm not going to give you any money.

Thankfully (and ironicly) another man come and asked him for some money and I was able to just walk away. Sure, it was just a dollar it wouldn't have kille me, but like I said I make it a rule to not give away money on the street. And it's not like I'm some greedy jerk, I volunteer for and give money to a handful of local charities. And it most definitely  wasn't the color of the mans skin, the guy could have been white and I still wouldn't have given him a dime.

This has made me a little pissed off. I mean, in this country we have gone a long way  to fight our racist past. Obviously, there still is alot of racism still in the grain structure of some people, but for the most part I think most people aren't racist.

This man's accusation that I am a racist not only looks bad on the state of our country but makes a huge step back. I mean, it's kind of like fighting fire with fire. The man trying to make me feel guilty for an alledged racist decision is only another form of racism.

This country has come a long way but I was just reminded of how far we still have to go. And that's just kind of make me sad.

Thanks,

Mark