Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Why didn't she get fired again?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070530.wtimhortons30/BNStory/National/home

A teenage female employee at a Tim Horton's in Alberta wrote a sign and hung it on the drive-through door of the shop. It read, "No drunken Indians allowed." She was reprimanded, naturally, but they did not fire her. They want to give her a second chance. Ah, what? I'm sorry, some things don't deserve a second chance. Or, sometimes, in order to take advantage of a second chance, you have to receive a punishment that makes an impact first. I'm not saying other people shouldn't hire her if she seems truly remorseful and to have learned, but the lesson will sting more and last longer if she is told that, in life, certain actions are deal-breakers in personal and professional relationships. Offended part of the clientele at Tim's with such a racist joke is a deal-breaker for, or it should be. Aboriginal customers will feel she got off easy (because she did) and will not feel entirely safe going in there (to her specific establishment at the least).
Somtimes, the best anti-racist education one can get is a kick to the teeth that says, "No, if you act like that, you will be fired and will have to find somewhere else to go." If we all had a zero tolerance policy where racism were concerned, I guarantee you people would learn to shut up and that racist jokes aren't funny! She'd find another job, and in order to avoid being fired again, unless she is beyond stupid, she would learn not to say offensive things. The best second chance at life we can give this girl is not a slap on the rist and a mandatory racism awareness class, but a lesson that hurting others closes doors for you.

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