Hear red, see red

Lunchtime.  Co-workers.  (I think you can already see where this is going.)

Boss Lady brings up the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor in an almost-neutral tone.  Another co-worker chimes in with a "I don't really know her, but I heard a quip about who do you want as your brain surgeon - the minority who had to struggle her way through med school, or the rich white guy who's had the best of everything?"  Laughing ensues

I have an intense burst of teeth-grinding, then I try to bring up "Well, what if you want to talk to your doctor?  Do you want the busy, 'why bother with the little people' doctor who blows you off, or someone who'll sit down with you and relate things to you so you can understand?"

Co-worker replies "I don't care about talking, as long as I'm able to talk afterward!"  Cue more laughing.

Someone else chimes in with "Affirmative action - hah!"  I take a deep breath and wait for the subject to change.


I could go into my thoughts about how a diverse Supreme Court is the ideal we should all want, and that a minority woman that has made her way through the legal system to a place where she's a potential candidate is liable to be a more talented and qualified option than the rich white guy who's had everything handed to him (*cough*Bush*cough*), but really, I bet I don't need to.

Maybe I need to bring a flask to work.  Booze would help wash down the taste of bile, don't you think?