I Work With a Bunch of Ignorant Racists (Rant)

[Blue Gardener]

I work in a manufacturing facility with about 700 employees, with maybe 300-350 on 1st shift. I am charge of putting together the monthly newsletter. This month, at the request of management, I included the following short article:

"We Have a Request
We would like to display a flag from each country represented by an associate working here in xxxxx. So far we have: Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, Italy, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Kenya, India, China, Egypt, Canada, France, Philippines, and of course the United States. Please contact xxxx if we missed anyone"

So this morning, a woman from the production area of the plant calls me and starts ragging about how this is the United States and the only flag that should be displayed is the American flag...blah, blah, blah. A couple of hours later I find out she has started a petition to stop the company from displaying these flags! And, 81 people actually signed it! All we want is maybe a small display in the breakroom to show the diversity we have in our workforce. That's it.
What the hell is wrong with these people? :grr:

[rkc3]

1. If you ever are forced to downsize - it should be quick to

identify the first 82 to go. Look at it as a win-win for you and the company.

[Catherine Vincent]

2. Geeze. Would it kill them to display those flags? What are they afraid of?

It's only in the breakroom. I would be proud to have different nationalities representing the company I work for. It makes it international.

[CO Liberal]

3. Ask That Woman...

...if she is full-blooded Native American. If she says no, tell her to shut her piehole.

[Abelman]

8. Classic!

:rofl:

[Blue Gardener]

9. That's the first thing I thought of

Of course her ancestors came here from other countries. It just happens to be many years ago instead of in the last couple of decades. I guess that makes a difference in her pea-brain mind.

[Pool Hall Ace]

12. Great response.

I'm going to keep it in mind, should I ever need it. :applause:

[Hatalles]

17. Aye, that's a good one.

Methinks I'll jot that one down as well.

[otohara]

4. Bush Had Managed to Divide This Country

in half and united the world against us.

[jean]

19. there's a math formula somewhere in your comment...but

I'm no mathematician and can't come up with it!

Your words also made me think this country has been devalued by (at least) half, under bush's watch.

:dunce:

[Maru Kitteh]

5. Fuck em! Let them go get another job if they don't like it

I'm sure Klan mama can help them find a new one.

I would make the flags LARGE and PROMINENT.

[Blue Gardener]

10. I think the flags are still going up

The Human Resouces Manager is not too happy about this petition. Everyone in this facility has been through diversity awareness training. Apparently it had no impact on some.

[Henny Penny]

13. Just make an announcement to the effect that

"the flags are going up". And right next to it, "some people have been selected for further diversity awareness training"!

I'm sure even pea brain will make the leap.

[CO Liberal]

20. But Thanks to the Bush Economy....

...new jobs are hard to find.

[coffeenap]

6. A similiar thing happened to a friend of mine--he wanted

to fly the flags of origin of his students at the high school where he was principal. He did it, and received complaints and threats from area parents. This was in an upscale, "liberal" suburb of Milwaukee. We couldn't believe it--he was universally loved--until then. Geesh. Who ARE these people we live with??

[BrainRants]

7. Tell her to present her petition to management, not you.

Don't accept the petition from her, make her hand deliver it to your management team in person. Make her her take the heat from your leadership team and let them put the heat back on the signees to educate them on diversity in the workplace.

My advice (and we all know what that's worth) is to stay out of it as much as possible. You're just the messenger and it sounds like management is already on your side.

Perhaps replacing a few of these "True Americans" with more people from those other countries will help get your management's message across.

[Blue Gardener]

11. She took the petition to management

I guess she just had to get her two cents in to me first.
I have been absolutely furious about this all day. I think maybe I need to get on the treadmill and work off some aggression for awhile.

[BrainRants]

14. Time will tell, I'm guessing she and the 82 others just created

a problem for themselves.

Perhaps your management will remind them they are expendable (as we all are).

[Blue Gardener]

16. They have a union

But in my opinion they are violating company policy by circulating a petition that singles out a group of people.
I just find it appalling that they could be so mean as to pass that petition around when they have many co-workers from other countries that could see what it is. It's just cruel and heartless.

[BrainRants]

18. Not sure how your union treats seniority promotions,

but perhaps your management team could promote a few of the people from other countries ahead of the thick-heads. I generally support unions for workers rights, but sometimes they can be a pain in the ass when it comes to problem employees.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall of the next board meeting. :)

[tanyev]

15. How did she feel about US flags flying at half staff

when the Pope passed? That was a direct order from Our Glorious Unelected Leader. You might have a real interesting conversation with her about that.