The Intensity of Prejudice

The prejudice so openly expressed by many here in San Diego is really starting to get to me. You know it's bad when even Schwarzenegger says that he's surprised by the "intensity of the prejudice" of these people. He also said: "I had this woman come up to me and say, 'Stop the invasion.' It was that kind of dialogue. It was 'invasion' or 'robbing our country' or they 'want to take it back.'" WOW.

State senate-leader Don Perata (a Democrat from Oakland) referred to these bigots as "all these crackers down in Southern Cal – ah, where is it, San Diego, taking on the governor. You know, even the governor was shocked. He said he was embarrassed, and I agree with him."

And of course now some in San Diego are not happy with Perata. Roger Hedgecock, whom I have absolutely no respect for, called him a "wacko leftist Democrat". (I'd take that as a compliment. ;-) He also said, "Don Perata, much of who you actually are has been revealed here." Reminds me of Mel Gibson revealing his true (anti-Semitic) self in Malibu the other day.

Another guy (assemblyman Ray Haynes, a Republican from Murietta) even went so far as to say the following:
"He has decided to throw fuel on the fire. These folks are good-hearted, sincere people who are worried about the effects on California. To call them crackers is to literally inflame people. It is the same as using the N-word when you're referring to black activists."

Never mind the fact that Haynes is essentially comparing the bigots (the "crackers") to activists, and also never mind that the term "cracker" is in no way as demeaning or insulting a word as the "n-word".

UGH.