When times get tough and everyone is on the block, people who are not necessarily from the 'lower rungs' show their true colors. It becomes them over you and th

When times get tough and everyone is on the block, people who are not necessarily from the 'lower rungs' show their true colors. It becomes them over you and they will resort to code-words or sometimes, as in my case, plain out point out my immigration status in 2-3 standup meetings (once the rumor mill of layoffs got started). This person was an 'upper-rung' sort of chap too; after all, they got their degree from a Christian college/university in South Carolina (or was it North Carolina? - one of the Carolinas). Compassion, empathy and all that must have come as second nature. But not their first.