N 7/3/02

Work Diary, 7/3/02

Last week, a co-worker of mine was fired. I happened to be out boating
on a lake in Kansas and missed the drama, but from the rumor mill I've
gathered that my co-worker either: 1. Mailed an exceptionally dirty
picture via the office email system, or 2. Made a racial slur against a
former clerk who was promoted (the gist being that the clerk was
promoted not for her experience and work ethic, but for being black in
a politically correct world).

Either one of the above scenarios would be disturbing, of course. I use
my work email all the time for personal and professional
correspondence, and I'm pretty sure what my reaction would be if I were
pulled into my supervisor's office for email abuse?

Me: "You mean you've read my personal emails?"

Boss: "Yes, and we've noticed you're using your email far too much
and?"

Me: "Don't bother. I quit."

The other issue, the alleged racist comment, is something else
altogether. While I don't know if my co-worker did, in fact, make such
a statement, I do know this type of banter goes on all the time. For
instance, a new Indian restaurant just opened next to my building. As
my friend and I headed over for lunch, another co-worker warned us not
to eat anything that looked suspiciously like dog or rat meat.
Similarly, many of the other employees here complain when they receive
a call from a Spanish-speaking client. "Why don't they just learn
English?" they whine. My typical response: "Their money's just as green
as anybody else's. Get an interpreter."

Absurd, really, when you think it's the year 2002. And, of course, much
worse occurs everyday here in the US and all over the world. I don't
have a solution; I can't really even make a suggestion. But here's what
I do know: While my job is usually a thankless position, I do have
three letters in my filing cabinet from former clients. All three are
from black people (a fact I confirmed via the police reports for their
respective car accidents). The letters are short, hand-written, and to
the point, thanking me for my efforts and for helping them during a
difficult time.

Coincidence? Maybe, but it doesn't take a liberal to see something
sadly amiss when a group of people feel compelled to express gratitude
just for being treated like everybody else. I am tired of hearing the
sighs of relief from minorities on the other end of the line when all
goes well, sighs that stem from the fact that
they?just?can't?believe?it.