WONDERFUL DAY IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
by Gene Royer
October 27, 2003
A very funny thing happened to me last week at the homeowners'
association board meeting:
I had the floor and was making a recommendation that the
board hire my good friend and neighbor Steve to do their audit
this coming year. You may recall from past articles
that Steve is the large Negro man who lives behind me. He
is a fine CPA; and for a hobby, he raises rottweilers and
trains them to attack anything white.
(I save all my old steel-belted radials for the lovely dogs
to play with)
As part of my presentation, I addressed Steve's qualifications
and the length of time I've known him, and so forth. And
as a sidebar, I said that he was very large and had a booming
voice like James Earl Ray. Well, of course, it was a
silly slip of the tongue because I intended to say James Earl
Jones. I was not immediately aware of my gaffe until
I noticed that many on the board smiled as I continued my
talk.
The board voted to consider my recommendation; and after
adjournment, the Chairman took me aside and told me that my
remark had offended Mrs Jackson, the newest member. He
suggested that I go to her and personally apologize.
I burst out laughing at my own mindless mistake and declined,
of course, because the remark had no ill intent and was purely
an unintended misappropriation of words. And besides,
I do not believe in pandering to people because of their thin
skin--regardless of the color their skin might be.
"No way am I going to apologize," I said.
And as I walked away, I told him over my shoulder that I
know perfectly well the difference between the two men. "James
Earl Jones is the brilliant Hollywood actor, and James Earl
Ray is the man who shot Rodney King."
©Gene Royer 1998
©
2003 Tocqevillian Magazine
