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> Eating out in Houston is an exercise in acceptance. Someone who probably doesn’t look like you—whether that’s the waitstaff, the back of the house—is letting
by danShumway 6y ago
> Eating out in Houston is an exercise in acceptance. Someone who probably doesn’t look like you—whether that’s the waitstaff, the back of the house—is letting you into their home.
This is just a wild sentence. People don't become less racist after eating foreign food. People should not feel proud about themselves just because they spent money on a bowl of ramen.
> In Houston, most days out of the week, I’ve found myself in the company of family that wasn’t my own, that’s adopted me nonetheless.
There has to be a way to express, "restaurant workers are struggling financially because of COVID", without projecting that the minimum wage workers at your favorite Korean restaurant think of you as an adopted family member.
They just want to do their job and earn a living without contracting a contagious disease. They shouldn't, on top of that, be forced to emotionally validate their customers.
- perl4ever 6y ago>People don't become less racist after eating foreign food No, I think the point is, people (like the author) feel less racist after eating foreign food among people who don't look like them. Pride is one possible emotion, but relief is one that seems like it would generalize more. The internet is full of faceless people talking about racism, and getting out in the real world and doing normal things around normal people can be therapeutic. Like taking a walk outside the cult compound. >They shouldn't, on top of that, be forced to emotionally validate their customers. Well, the point is to describe how they do, whether or not intentionally; do you have a proposal for how they should stop gratifying customers? You're entitled to find the picture painted ugly, but if it's really shocking, then writing the article may be worthwhile regardless.