Posted on my home owner's association message board a few days ago (some identifying information removed):
Be on the alert for area visitors
Friday evening around 7:30, my wife stopped into [drug store] at [location]. As she walked toward the door, a black man approached her and said, "I'm from New Orleans. Can I ask you something?" She said, "NO!" and hurried into the store. When she came out again, he was apparently gone, maybe thinking the police had been called, although he might have been hiding. From his accent, my wife concluded that he probably was from New Orleans, and we know there are Katrina "evacuees" still in the motel on [location] and the apartments east of [location], thanks to FEMA and our generous Mayor White, so when you are out in this area--day or night--be on the alert for others who may not be willing to wait for their share of the Bush-Clinton Fund!
More after the flip:
On a related note, I wonder if there is enough interest in CHL (Concealed Handgun License) to get a group rate for the classroom portion of CHL training here at the [location] clubhouse. If my wife had called me from [drug store], I would have been inclined to run over there--CHL or not, but it would be better to have a license, in the event I needed to use it.
This is a real post on a real message board for a community outside of Houston. I think it is serious and not meant as satire.
"I'm from New Orleans, can I ask you something?" --> Oh my gawd, I better get my gun! Huh?
I am thinking that I will not respond to this in any way. But should I? What do you think I should say? What would you say?
UPDATE:Thanks. My initial reaction to the post was anger. From some of the comments I am beginning to see this as an opportunity to respond in a polite and useful manner. Ask why he felt threatened, etc.
If I do post a response I'll note it here along with any reaction I may get.
2nd UPDATE:I posted this response. Posts are infrequent but if I replies in the next day or two there I will update further here.
A man asked your wife if he could ask her something. What is threatening about that? You seemed to think that responding to that question with a gun would have been appropriate. Did you leave something out of the story like he was carrying a knife?
If I ask your wife a question are you going to pull a gun on me?
What are you afraid of?
Hey, I got a quick response:
I agree with your posting. Wow, I guess the party didn't work in Operation Compassion helping those in need. I guess the party didn't live on [street] and help those other Katrina victims that lost everything. The lovely lady that owns a business @ [location] offerred her home (on [street]) to those unfortunates who were living at the Motel [xxx] and just happened to be at the desk seeking discount Wendy's coupons. How heartless, paranoid, bigotted and scared is this couple. You can see from their remarks- "Black", "Katrina", "New Orleans". What if that Black person lived next door to you and needed some help? Would you help? I hope the [association] doesn't lower itself to having to have CGL instructions at the clubhouse.
So thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. Without those I would not have posted a response at all, or possibly I might have just ranted and spewed. This is better. Of course, I have not yet heard back from the original poster and may never ...
