I’m a baker in a cafe located in the public library. I work in the back area but I can see out front. Most customers are OK but a few make up for them.
Today was a first. My coworker told me a bout a T-shirt a woman was wearing. It offended her and if I’d seen it I might have confronted the wearer and got into a screaming match.
Now, I’ve seen poor taste in clothes. such as BUCK FUSH. And I’ve seen right wing comments that make me cringe. And anything that supports Trump would make me want to bleach my eyes. But I wouldn’t comment on any of those.
This one said, according to my coworker: ISLAM: Spreading Hate Since 610AD!
I’m a devout Christian but I don’t think I could have kept silent about that one. What is the freakin’ point of showing the world you are a bigot? Any organized religion I’ve encountered has had it’s problems, why add to them?
It’s just so sad that people feel compelled to spread the meanness like that.
The problem is that people like that woman don’t consider themselves bigoted. They think they’re responding rationally to a real threat in the world. She’s proudly proclaiming how right she is, in spite of how the rest of us think.
On several occasions, I’ve seen someone say something along the lines of “people should just stay where they were born” (…that would make it kind of difficult to marry outside the family, after a while…), then turn to someone who was one of the immigrants they were complaining about with an “am I right?”, then be completely stumped when the immigrant pointed out he could not agree, due to being an immigrant. They may even say “oh, but you don’t count!” Similar situations with sexism or religion, it’s as if in their minds “those people” are some sort of shapeless blob rather than being made of individuals.
That woman seems to be at about that level of smarts. They can function, they can be successful, but some connections just don’t get made.
I work in a store owned by Orthodox Jewish men, and a lot of Muslims also shop there. I get men from both groups who refuse to do business with a woman. We also have a man around who knows how to run a register.
The first time it happened, I was shocked into silence. When my Boss explained it to me, he gave me some good advice: You have the right to think it. You do not always have the right to say it.
I once had a Muslim man who paid in exact change ,then said to his young son while I was standing there “When you deal with a girl, always give them correct change. They are too stupid to make change.”
OP: I’d have looked at it another way. I’d have admired, so to speak, the cojones it took to buy a shirt like that and then actually wear it in public. To be sure she’d be getting side glances and stinkeye and probably a few mutterings as she passed. I certainly wouldn’t have done it. She was putting a target on her back, or rather, her front. I wonder how long she considered the ramifications before she bought the shirt.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch… Would you have seriously jeopardized your job, and possibly your safety, by confronting this woman? Who knows how such an altercation might’ve snowballed? I’m glad you held your tongue.
I have seen a wide variety of T-shirts with messages offensive to religion in general and others to Catholics in particular. If you’re gathering data points, that is.
“God Hates The Catholic Church,” with an image of Catholics prostrate before a statute of Mary and floating overhead the text “Thou shalt not worship graven images…”
A"Top Ten" reasons the Catholic Church is destroying the world.
“As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs,” with an image of a fat naked Pope (identified by his hat) wallowing in a pile of gold coins and gems.
A shirt with the Easter Bunny and a department-store Santa in front of Jesus, the implication being that each are equally real.
I periodically see what I consider to be offensive t-shirts. For one example, I’m always modestly surprised when I see a t-shirt that says “fuck”.
But people are able to wear whatever they want - and I’m free to form whatever personal opinions I wish based on their attire. Can’t remember any instances in which I was unable to restrain myself from commenting on their choices.
Baker, I presume that after you bake your goodies that you (or someone) labels the various flavors/types when you put them out for sale. Otherwise, how would your customers know whether what they see is a regular cheese bagel or a gluten free garlic cheese bagel?
Consider, as I do, those types of shirts to be an idiot label. Most helpful in identifying the types to avoid.
