Steve Thomas |
So there I was, on my way back from my appointment with the witch doctor - let me tell you, witch doctors are hard to find in the Houston metropolitan area - when it hit me. Could I have been misunderstood?
I went to The Daily Cougar offices and asked some people what they thought. The prevalent answer seemed to be I went awry with the "plight of the black man" crack. And here I thought I was trying to be honest. I tried to report what was said between my friend and I. My bad!
I also heard a complaint that, because of my article, Frontier Fiesta changed from a culturally diverse, all-inclusive festival into a redneck hick party with thugs from little towns like Vidor and Cut-N-Shoot.
That's just great. Now I am a racist provocateur. Isn't that lovely? My parents will be so proud.
Perhaps I need to explain my point a little better. So, in plain language I hope everyone can understand, this is what I meant:
Frontier Fiesta is not a culturally diverse festival designed to include all minority groups, nor is it a Klan meeting. It is simply - and this part is important - a party, no more, no less. As for the grab-assing part, I was speaking, or rather, writing, metaphorically. You aren't supposed to literally go out and grab an ass. I am sorry if that wasn't clear.
And, as far as Frontier Fiesta evolving into a Klan meeting because of an article I wrote, you flatter me. If that is true, I have severely underestimated the maturity and intelligence of my classmates, and I should stop writing this instant because I am far too influential.
Here's the heart of the matter for me: An event is an event. A statement is a statement. We, as humans, tend to attach our own personal meaning to these events and statements and take what we want away from them. Inherent in that act is the possibility that we are wrong.
If my little ramblings are wrong, so be it. But for me to take a different meaning from an event does not mean I am rascist. It doesn't mean I am insensitive or ignorant. It simply means, right or wrong, I disagree with you, although I will grant that, at times, I can tend to be a tad bit insensitive.
So if I turned Frontier Fiesta into a redneck festival, I apologize. I was simply giving my opinion of an event.
I have spent most of the semester putting my little words to paper to try to provide an alternate, sometimes humorous, view of life. I have tried to poke fun at people, including myself and my family and friends, to provide balance.
But I guess no matter how much humor or innuendo I use, people will attach their own meanings to my words independent of what I want those words to mean, and will judge me as rascist, culturally insensitive, crazy or just plain stupid.
And that's all right, because I am sure I have fit those descriptions at various times in my life - especially the last one.
But don't take everything you read so seriously. pay attention to the context. Maybe next time you will get a little laugh instead of a little angry.
Thomas is a senior journalism major
who just wants to be loved.