Many of us had to endure our wing nut relatives during the holidays. Here's a summary of my experience - I really need to vent to a sympathetic audience.
My mother's side of the family is from Northeast Philly. Anyone from the area can relate when I say that they put the 'r' in racist. They are also dyed in the wool Republicans that stood by Bush and love Sarah Palin, are resistant to change, and perpetually angry.
Here's the breakdown:
Aunt:
- Was teaching my brother's lab to bark at black people.
- Said that Obama's only bringing in Clinton people, and there is no change. I said, "At least the government will be managed well for the first time in 8 years."
Cousin 1 (elected Republican official and state employee):
- everything is to blame on the democrats and 'libs'
- various angry, racist remarks. He referred to the Cosby Show as a n-word show while drunk.
- there's a 'good black' that works for him in his office
Cousin 1's Wife:
- Just as bad (her father is very active in Philly Republican politics in the north east)
Cousin 2 (court official):
- good news is that he at least listens and is receptive to Obama
- too many blacks are breeding in Philadelphia and are 'taking over.'
Grandfather (kind man, but the patriarch of family racism):
- too many racist remarks to count; uses the word "boon" instead of "coon," making his remarks sadder still. If you are going to be a racist, at least learn the terminology.
- wondered aloud when Philadelphia will have a white mayor again
- framed a letter from George W. Bush and hung it on his wall.
- pronounces Obama "Oh-bam-ah"
- Obama's people are being arrested in Chicago (I had to correct that statement)
Granted my immediate family is not as bad, my grandfather's influence persists.
Brother (IMBA and Executive VP for a MI manufacturer):
- Unions are bad, and the factory that pays $14 an hour w/ no benefits near his home in Michigan is great for the Bay area.
- A friend in Chicago has a nephew that is a cop and saw blacks rioting on election night who were saying, "You can't stop us now." Allegedly, Obama and Mayor Daley didn't permit the media to cover it - 'they' even took a shot a police helicopter.
- Democratic Governor of Michigan is costing jobs, and Obama may put her on the Supreme Court.
Brother's wife:
- laughs at my aunt's treatment of the dog
- tells her son that he was talking like a "little black boy."
- attempted to tell a joke, "The blacks got Obama, and the whites got OJ."
Brother's childhood friend:
-Grew up in the Philly area, but now lives in a rednecky part of Maryland and loves the confederate flag.
Mother:
- dislikes Bush, but just goes along with what her father says too frequently. However, she is far more open minded than her sister.
I gave up fighting with them years ago: racism is baked into that side of the family. They are just very angry people, but pretty typical for NE Philly.
My sister and I just do not participate in their conversations and stay away during those moments, but it is very taxing to be around that type of ignorance - family or not. At least my sister didn't indulge my brother by buying him a Sean Hanity book this year.