Easter Beauty

This is a workplace where any abuse either verbally or physically will not be tolerated.

Anyone engaging in such activity will be asked to leave immediately.

This notice or one quite like it is posted on many places of businesses both in the public and private sectors.

The posting of this little notice is designed to ensure that all who enter will be treated with respect and safety.

 Following a time spent listening to the ranting of a customer in a local Beauty Salon I suggest that these little posters also  should contain a mention about the inappropriateness of the expression of  racism and prejudice statements as well.  

I think that it should be my right to  be able to sit quietly discussing the happenings of the day with other customers in an environment free from racial slurs that are commonly hidden in  what is often considered as the  innocent reporting of gossip.

At my last visit to the beauty salon in a small town  there was a customer commenting for all to hear about a group of people from a visible ethic background who drunkenly knocked on her farmhouse door late at night.  The speaker did not limit her comments to just the description of what happened, but also commented loudly and to whoever was in listening range that she would never open her door again to this particular ethic group, although she would  do so to  Chinese, Filipinos, and Pakistani people. She proclaimed that her doors would always remain locked against the threat  of such intruders ever again.  She commented on the body type of the individuals at her door, their perceived drunkenness, as well as their accent, and suggested that they were 'eyeing' up her vehicle for future theft.

It was a disgusting display of racism and took all my will power not to comment.  It is fortunate that there were not any young impressionable minds in the salon, although the positive comments she received from other customers were very revealing as well as disappointing to hear.

What was even more disturbing was the cheerful  "Happy Easter!" that this woman proclaimed to  the proprietor  and went on about her sanctified business of the day thinking she had every right to assault whoever was in hearing  range about the incident at her house on the weekend and thus, spread her  accompanying hatred for a whole race once again.

The woman has every right to her opinion.  She has every right to tell people about her unexpected company in the middle of the night.  She does not have the right to slander all the people belonging to the ethic background of her late night visitors in a public place and that is why I think public places should have some sort of little sign that reflects that thought.

Prejudice mongering is every bit as detrimental to  our society as is physical and verbal abuse,

and it is time small town culture starts to realize that fact.