Back in the summer I had to haul my behind to the city (which used to be fun, but, thanks to De Blasio's regime and the lockdowns, is, sadly, not anymore). Once there, I decided to visit the old hunting ground of Marshall’s and T.J. Maxx on Sixth Avenue. Since the story took place in late August, I found the all too expected rainbow products on clearance in the far corner. Most of it was the usual junk, but a wooden toothbrush with rainbow bristles really made me chuckle - so, I snapped a picture and posted it on Facebook. That post produced a very interesting exchange, the most pertinent part of which is presented here without edits - aside from the name changes (in order to protect the innocent and the guilty).
Name key:
BC - yours truly
N - my friend from Pittsburgh; for full context - she is in her late sixties, a practicing Catholic, a mother and a grandmother, and also a very wise, logical, and tolerant person.
L1 - a former coworker of mine, with whom I was on good terms while back at B&N; also for context - that coworker was born and raised in the USA; she is in her mid-twenties, and she is a lesbian
L2 - L1’s then-fiancée; I have never met her; all I know about her is that she was also born and raised in this country; she is from a very religious rural family, and, obviously, also a lesbian
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BC: “I am OK with everyone living their lives and not sticking it in mine at every turn...but the corporate idiocy really gets to me...our store never flew the American flag, even on the Independence day, or Memorial day...but they went all out every June
N: “BC, I hear ya, GF! I hate "follow the leader" bullshit. It's mindless! That's why I said that if they're on that LBGQ bandwagon, it's stupid! I can't stand that!! Sheeple.
Did you notice, commercials now are mostly black people or mixed race couples? 13% of the population is now 98% of the commercials.”
BC: “yep, I did notice this a while back…”
L1: “BC, Seriously? Straight sex and romcoms and fucking everything has been in everyone’s faces and perfectly acceptable since the dawn of time. The rainbow isn’t hurting you or harming anyone. What it does is help people who have historically been outcasts feel a little more comfortable. Let people have their representation. It’s a toothbrush. Jesus fucking Christ grow up”
L1: “N, How would you feel if the tables were turned and people said they couldn’t stand who you are and who you love? Bc if you want to experience, I can make that happen.”
BC: “L1, are you telling us to grow up?!! N and I?!! That's one of the funniest jokes I have seen this week!”
N: “L1, What the hell are you raving about? Who said any of that? Why are you being so confrontational and vulgar?”
N: “L1, Are you threatening me? Are you? Do what you gotta do.”
L1: “N, Why are you being homophobic and racist?”
L1: “BC, Yep”
N: “Wow! It doesn't take much to set you off. Have some Xanax.”
N: “L1, Where is my racist comment?!”
L1: “N, Eh, I’m good. Not big on drugs thanks “
L1: “Here (screenshot of N’s earlier comment about commercials)
N: “L1, And???? That's a fact. Do you see Asians, Muslims and Jews in that disproportionate numbers. Whites? Pacific Islanders? Get a grip.”
N: “L1, Maybe you need drugs to calm the f*ck down.”
N: “L1, How about Native Americans?”
L1: “N, You’re the one being all salty about the existence of a rainbow toothbrush”
N: “L1, You're reading between the lines and not doing a good job of it. My suggestion would be to take a deep breath, calm down, and read without emotion”
N: “L1, You're overfocused on sentences taken out of context. Can't see the forrest for the trees.
CNN is hiring.”
N: “BC, I object to Jesus F*cking Christ. That's blasphemous. But, it's all OK when it's a liberal doing their thing.
I object but God is bigger than that. ”
BC: “you keep, forgetting, L1, that we are way older, more experienced, and yes, wiser...and that's the problem with your generation - all young people think that they are smart, but your generation decided that all older people are racists, bigots, nazis, etc, etc, etc, and you, guys, are the best of the best! You lead charmed lives that you don't appreciate, invent hardships, don't appreciate this country, and refuse to really educate yourselves on real history and facts. Young leftists in the USA are the most narrow-minded, entitled, and intolerant people I have seen in my life - and I have seen some doozies...there are plenty of things that offend us on the hourly basis, but WE BELIEVE IN LIVE AND LET LIVE!”
L2: “BC, Except you don’t believe in live and let live. You believe in being stuck up, biased, cruel, and hateful, and then you get offended if anyone calls you on it. If you truly believed in live and let live, a toothbrush wouldn’t bother you so much. Also, you can take your ideas about a charmed life and shove them where the sun doesn’t shine. Entitlement is expecting to never see a rainbow toothbrush. Entitlement is losing your whole asshole when someone asks you to stop being so myopically self centered for just long enough to consider other human beings might exist. Entitlement is condescending to people and micromanaging their lived experiences. If you don’t wanna be called a racist, don’t say racist things. If you don’t want to look like a bigot, don’t act like it. If you don’t want to be associated with nazis, STOP ACTING LIKE NAZIS. Also, there are plenty of old people who aren’t bigoted, hateful, idiotic, and selfish - I see them every single day, so stop claiming that age equals a shitty personality and no empathy. Stop claiming that experience means that you can’t treat other people like humans. Stop victimizing yourself over a goddamn toothbrush. The hypocrisy is so thick I’m fucking choking on it. Grow up for a goddamn second and let the gays LIVE.”
N: “I'll say this for a 68 year old "boomer", if a toothbrush comment offends you, you have a problem. Life is going to kick your ass so buckle up ladies. You have a rocky road ahead. Your choice! You can move on or constantly argue and work yourselves up.
Neither BC or I are homophobes. Not in the least. The comments and posts were all about "woke" people jumping on bandwagons following what they think will make more money. Do you really think those companies give two sh*ts about you or anyone else? If you really do, you're so damn naive, you better make some in-flight adjustments.
You need to learn to pick your battles in life. This silly thing isn't a hill to die on. Trust me, life and people are going to clean your clocks for the remainder of your lives! The best thing you can do is develop a healthy sense of humor about who you are and learn how to laugh at yourself in order to survive. You ain't getting out of life alive no matter how you REACT.
Yes, these are reactionary comments made by you. They're not thought through. Just reacting while filling in the blanks.
Can't you just scroll past what you disagree with? This is BC’s timeline. She's the queen here and she can say as she pleases. Don't like it? Move on. Life is too short and if this is the most homophobic thing you've ever seen .... WOW .... you do have a charmed life so far. Buckle up and lighten the f*ck up! The best gay jokes I ever heard in my life were told to me by gay male friends who learned to love themselves and don't give two sh*ts about who doesn't love or accept them. They found themselves and accept who they are. They don't need to get all butt hurt over jokes. The funniest black jokes I ever heard were told to me by black folks I taught in college. I grew up in a 35% black town.
If you're trying to fight some LBGQ battle, this ain't it! I remember days that gays, blacks and other minorities really had something to whine about. You do not! Life for your generation was easy compared to those who went before you.”
N: “One last thing ... if you wish to be accepted and treated with respect, vulgarity and insults won't help you in the least. If you want to be treated with class and dignity, blasphemy isn't going to generate much respect from others. You do much better learning and developing grace.”
L2: “N, ok boomer.”
