Shock and not so much awe...

So I’ve always considered myself an optimist. That being said, I’m not blind, nor am I a *complete* idiot. I’ve lived in the South (apparently we’re the “durty souf” at this point) all my life. I am well acquainted with the presence of racism in society. I live in an area where race is a daily conversation and thank God most of it is actually constructive (within my sphere of influence that is).

That being said, I got a rather large shock to my system over the last few weeks. See, I play Halo 2 on XBOX live quite a bit as my wife will also attest to (in a court of law if you need her too). In so doing this I have the opportunity to converse with what I humbly consider the bottom third of the mental and educational food chain in America, just above the radical left wing, feminists, and mothballs. (Yeah, I know I’m technically insulting myself and I'm lumping myself in with the affor mentioned mouth-breathers, but I know I’m smarter than they are…I’m a hypocrite, get over it)

So, where was I? Oh, so my friend and I are joined by another group of friends (people whom we knew in High School and have been reacquainted with through the magic of the internet). We’re playing with four individuals in a private game where the general public cannot attend. At first glance the four individuals (we’ll just call them 3k’s for short) sound to be normal, video game addicted yokels. And then the geography conversation starts. “We’re all from Ga.” I quip, “Near Atlanta”.

3K’s: “We’re from Southern Mississippi”

Uh oh….

3K # 1: “Yeah, my family vacations there and we go to Stone Mountain every year”

Eh…this isn’t good…

3K #2 “I like Atlanta, I just have one problem”

Here it comes, right on cue…

3K #2 “There are too many N@#%@s”

Insert group laughter from all 3K’s here.

So my friend and I just look at each other, not really knowing what to say. The rest of our party is uncharacteristically silent and I’d swear I could hear crickets over the headset.

After that we played one game, as no one really knew what to say in response. Needless to say we won’t be attending any further games with the 3K’s.
The sad thing is that this was not and is still not an isolated thing on Halo 2 live. I forget that Atlanta, for all it’s pathetic politics and gross misdeeds of government, is a progressive city where race and equality are concerned.

Apparently southern Mississippi is not.

I guess I shouldn’t really be shocked by this, but I was.

On a much brighter note, my meeting was cancelled, so no travel next week. WOOHOO!!!