Very disconcerting

[lovetriangle]

On Sunday, I was scheduled to meet some friends for tea at a local tea room. My daughter and I were the first to arrive and the first to find that the place was closed for a private party. The manager was very nice and let us wait inside until our friends came and we decided on an alternate plan, since it was chilly and windy outside.

While we were waiting in the main tea shop, a gruff middle-eastern man came in. I thought he was very rude in that he pushed past me and almost knocked Claire over while looking around. He then barked at the manager, "What is this place? What is this?"
"It's a tea shop."
"Tea shop? What is this? Tea shop?"
"We sell tea and tea items, and you can also have tea here with sandwiches and scones, pastries..."
"You Jew? Are you a Jew?"
"No sir."
"What are you? You not Jew? What are you?"
"I'm Indian, sir." He was very polite but clearly did not want to reveal anything to the very rude man.
"But what are you? Not Jew? What religion?"
"I'm a Christian, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"You own this place?"
"I'm the manager."
"The owner is Jew? Is the owner a Jew?"
"I don't know, sir."
"You don't know! How can you not know if you work for a Jew? Owner is Jew. I'll bet owner is Jew." And he left muttering to himself that the owner was a Jew.

I know that anti-semitism is on the rise again around the world, but I must say I rarely see such racism of any kind in Los Angeles. It was extremely disconcerting to witness, and I also thought as I left the place that it was a very nice tea room and would probably be burned down within a week. The idea that I thought that at all makes me very sad indeed.

Comments

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

The movie "Crash" would have you think otherwise about LA, of course.

But ack! What a chilling experience. Scary... :-(

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

Yessssssss, I heard a lot about that movie. *sigh* I've lived in LA for almost 20 years now and I must say I have never seen it portrayed in a movie like it really is. I guess I should say, the entertainment industry makes money by selling the idea that the entire city is like the worst neighborhoods, and evey cop is on the take. It ain't like dat. :-)

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, I really hated that movie! :-)

[sewphisticate.livejournal.com]

Re: Crash--operative word is "movie." A fine (and really riveting) work of fiction (I liked the movie, incidentally). If that were a true depiction of LA I wouldn't be able to leave my house in the morning. LA has many many problems, racism and prejudice among them, but it is one of the more tolerant places, in general, that I have been. And that episode that love3angle recounts truly is unusual.

[colleency.livejournal.com]

OMG! That is so creepy! Do you think he was just going from business to business doing that?

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

I have no idea! it was really wacky... like he had been wandering down the street and was drawn into the place because it was nice, then once inside something tipped off his "Jew-meter" and he had to know before he gave them any money.

Sorry Mr. Bigot, but if you want to avoid doing business with Jews in Los Angeles, you're going to have a very tough time. I suggest moving elsewhere 'cause we don't want you!

[sewphisticate.livejournal.com]

Sounds like he was crazy, in addition to being a total a**hole. I'm just glad I wasn't there; I suspect I would've shot off my big fat trap. That sort of thing puts me into a blind rage. Actually, I'm even gladder that the EH wasn't there. He would've said, "Well, I don't know about the owner, but I'm a Jew." And then there would have been a fight.

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

I would have enjoyed watching the EH kick his a**, and would have gladly held his coat. :-)

Alas, I don't think he was "crazy" in the muttering-drugaddict-guy sense... just crazy in the I'm-a-racist-pig sense. He seemed very clear in his intent and not at all scattered. :-(

[sewphisticate.livejournal.com]

I hope it didn't upset Claire.

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

She had no idea what was going on, thank God, other than that guy bumped into her getting by her. The shop manager was cool as a cucumber and never escalated the situation and the a**hole was intense but never loud.

She hasn't mentioned it since we left the shop and she always repeats anything that makes an impression on her.

Speaking of which, she keeps talking about your lovely home and her new-found culinary joy, the cocktail weenie. :-) She LOVES them and I love hearing her ask for them! LOL!

[laurenmonkey.livejournal.com]

Gah! People are dumb :(

[chartreusekitty.livejournal.com]

Oh how incredibly nasty! I had no idea that you had such a run in first thing in the morning.
Good for the manager that he was able to keep the situation from escalating.
Let's go have tea there soon, just to be sure it's still there and give them some much-deserved business.