My grandmother broke my heart last night

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

scheming daemons  (1000+ posts)        Wed Nov-12-08 10:35 AM
Original message
My grandmother broke my heart last night
 
She's 94 years old and is in a nursing home. She's not well and doesn't have much time left.

I went to visit her last night. During the visit, CNN was on in the background and an image of the Obama's at the White House the other day came on the screen.

My grandmother said, "Change the channel. I'm already sick of looking at those chimpanzees."

She is an old italian woman, born in Italy and came to the US when she was a baby. I have NEVER heard her say anything as racist as this. I had my suspicions of her racism over the years, but she pretty much kept it to herself.


My heart is breaking because she's dying... but it's breaking almost as much by what she said. I'm glad I didn't have my young daughters with me.

At her age, I felt uncomfortable confronting her about it...so I just pretended I didn't hear it.

I didn't sleep last night.



Part of me knows that attitudes like hers will go away as more of her generation dies off. But wow.... this episode was a shock to my psyche.


Sorry for the personal story, but how are others of you dealing with stuff like this?


 

I know I'm going straight to hell for laughing at this but I can imagine my late grandfather saying the same thing! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7854902

[Chris_]

I know I'm going straight to hell for laughing at this but I can imagine my late grandfather saying the same thing! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7854902

  If you're headed to hell, I'll save you a spot.  I imagine it's going to be packed to the rafters with the likes of us, once the Obamessiah gets done dividing the sheeple on his right hand from the "goats" on his left.

[BEG]

My grandma (my paternal) is racist too.  I'd wager a bet that a lot of elderly people are. 

Once I was shopping with her at a Target when my middle child was about a year old.  We were in the Barbie section of the toys and she saw a black Barbie.  She picked it up and said, "Why would anyone want a black Barbie?".  There was a black lady standing a little further down the aisle.  I KNEW she heard her so I mouthed "I am SOOOOOOO sorry" and shrugged my shoulders.  The lady was nice about it and gave me a little smile. 

Another time when my Grandpa was in the hospital with cancer she was staying at the hospital with him.  She accused this black nurse of stealing her ugly old lady top.  This nurse was young (in her early 20's) and there is NO WAY in hell she would have wanted her shirt.  She actually went to the administration and accused her of stealing her shirt.  It was so embarrassing.  My Dad apologized to the nurse over and over again.  My grandma was so sure she had taken it because "you know how "they" are". 

About 6 months ago she called me out of the blue and said, "Did you know we could actually have a black president?  I don't think that would be good for us because you know how "they" are.".   By the way, I don't know if she is a democrat or not but I know for a fact she voted for Kerry in 2004.  She is a little crazy and old though so I'll cut her some political and racist slack. 

[jtyangel]

Wow, so granny lived 94 years without doing anything that would be racist and had the oh lets say decency not to say anything disparaging ot someone in person or in the company of others, but one errant comment at the end of an old woman's life puts her whole life in suspicion. It reminds me of the Bosco affair on Seinfeld. 

[djones520]

My grandfather isn't racist per se, but he isn't afraid at all of being "politically incorrect" when it comes to race.  He calls it as it is, and I'm sure a lot of people would call him racist for that.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Well, call the frickin' whaambulance, already, DU.

 

[TheSarge]

If you're headed to hell, I'll save you a spot.  I imagine it's going to be packed to the rafters with the likes of us, once the Obamessiah gets done dividing the sheeple on his right hand from the "goats" on his left.

Save me a seat guys I'm right behind you. 

[Lord Undies]

My grandma (my paternal) is racist too.  I'd wager a bet that a lot of elderly people are. 

Once I was shopping with her at a Target when my middle child was about a year old.  We were in the Barbie section of the toys and she saw a black Barbie.  She picked it up and said, "Why would anyone want a black Barbie?".  There was a black lady standing a little further down the aisle.  I KNEW she heard her so I mouthed "I am SOOOOOOO sorry" and shrugged my shoulders.  The lady was nice about it and gave me a little smile. 

Another time when my Grandpa was in the hospital with cancer she was staying at the hospital with him.  She accused this black nurse of stealing her ugly old lady top.  This nurse was young (in her early 20's) and there is NO WAY in hell she would have wanted her shirt.  She actually went to the administration and accused her of stealing her shirt.  It was so embarrassing.  My Dad apologized to the nurse over and over again.  My grandma was so sure she had taken it because "you know how "they" are". 

About 6 months ago she called me out of the blue and said, "Did you know we could actually have a black president?  I don't think that would be good for us because you know how "they" are.".   By the way, I don't know if she is a democrat or not but I know for a fact she voted for Kerry in 2004.  She is a little crazy and old though so I'll cut her some political and racist slack. 

I took my blind and elderly aunt grocery shopping at Albertson's.  "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" started to play through the sound system.  My aunt asked, as if speaking to a crowd, "Is that n****** singin'?"

It was always an adventure taking Aunt Polly out in public. 

[BEG]

I took my blind and elderly aunt grocery shopping at Albertson's.  "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" started to play through the sound system.  My aunt asked, as if speaking to a crowd, "Is that n****** singin'?"

It was always an adventure taking Aunt Polly out in public. 

I have a worse Albertson's story.  I took my grandma to Albertson's once (the same grandma) and she found this young (and cute) stock boy and asked him loud enough that people on the next aisle could hear where the "Replens" was.  The kid didn't know what it was (and neither did I at the time).  Then she goes into what it was for (vaginal dryness) and explained to him why an elderly lady would need to correct a dry vagina. 

On the same trip she also asked where the FLEET Enemas were while farting all the way through the grocery store.    My poor brother (the one that lives with my Dad and it almost 50, he is a perpetual victim type liberal but in this case he is an actual victim) has to deal with her the most.  He calls me sometimes and tells me of all the ways he thinks of knocking her off.  Of course he is kidding but I swear I couldn't handle messing with her all the time.  When she comes for a visit I am ready to off her after only about 20 minutes. 

[Lord Undies]

I have a worse Albertson's story.  I took my grandma to Albertson's once (the same grandma) and she found this young (and cute) stock boy and asked him loud enough that people on the next aisle could hear where the "Replens" was.  The kid didn't know what it was (and neither did I at the time).  Then she goes into what it was for (vaginal dryness) and explained to him why an elderly lady would need to correct a dry vagina. 

On the same trip she also asked where the FLEET Enemas were while farting all the way through the grocery store.    My poor brother (the one that lives with my Dad and it almost 50, he is a perpetual victim type liberal but in this case he is an actual victim) has to deal with her the most.  He calls me sometimes and tells me of all the ways he thinks of knocking her off.  Of course he is kidding but I swear I couldn't handle messing with her all the time.  When she comes for a visit I am ready to off her after only about 20 minutes. 

You win!  Just keep reminding yourself we do not get to choose our relatives.  They are a gift!

[Splashdown]

But it was fine for the last eight years calling the President a chimp?

Why, exactly, is it ok to do this:


But not make fun of Obama?

 

What a pack of assholes. But we knew that already.

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

But it was fine for the last eight years calling the President a chimp?

Why, exactly, is it ok to do this:


But not make fun of Obama?

 

What a pack of assholes. But we knew that already.

Toast whispers to Splash........Shhh! he's black!

[lastparker]

BEG, you reminded me of this:

[youtube=425,350]ZLXS7HQAdv4[/youtube]

I had "the" grandma too.  While visiting us from Texas, we had to hospitalize her for breathing issues.  While I was in the room with her, the pulmonary specialist came in to introduce himself; he was black.  I literally shook in my boots with dread over her reaction.  Thankfully, she was well behaved.

[mamacags]

What is that old lady doing in that video?

[BEG]

BEG, you reminded me of this:

[youtube=425,350]ZLXS7HQAdv4[/youtube]

I had "the" grandma too.  While visiting us from Texas, we had to hospitalize her for breathing issues.  While I was in the room with her, the pulmonary specialist came in to introduce himself; he was black.  I literally shook in my boots with dread over her reaction.  Thankfully, she was well behaved.

Ok I'm stupid, what is the old lady doing in the clip? 

My grandma has always been an odd person.  I have mentioned her here before.  I literally have never met anyone like her in my life.  My brother and I talk about how other people can't understand what kind of person she is.  They see a little old lady and feel sorry for her and think we are just mean grandchildren.  Schade will attest to that.  At my other brothers funeral she met her.  She was telling stories (which is one of the good things about her) and laughing.  Schade thought she was a cute old lady.  I warned her that she only saw the good side of her, she has a very evil psycho side.  One that treated my Mom like crap and told my mom that she (my grandma) was the one who gave birth to my brother  yet put down my brothers at every turn (she seriously screwed up my older brother).  She talked about people behind their backs and started gossip that wasn't true about just about every person in town (it is a VERY small town in Iowa).  It was embarrassing to "go to town" with her even when I was a kid.

At times I feel sorry for her then she will call me up and piss me off all over again.  For example one time she accused my Dad of stealing $70k from her.  My Dad may be a lot of things but a thief is not one of them.  Then when she is confronted with it she accused my Uncle as the one who took the money.  She accuses everyone who helps her of stealing from her. 

BUT if you don't laugh you will cry so that is the way I look at it now.  When I was younger it was impossible to laugh at it.

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

What is that old lady doing in that video?

She pooped and stopped and shook her pant leg to get the poop out!

[BEG]

She pooped and stopped and shook her pant leg to get the poop out!

I gotta go watch it again.   

Edited to add:  LMAO I just saw it.  HA HAHAHAHA  That is my GRANDMA!!!!   

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

I gotta go watch it again.   

Edited to add:  LMAO I just saw it.  HA HAHAHAHA  That is my GRANDMA!!!!   

The funniest part is that she stopped and did it right behind the guy standing at the checkout!

[GOBUCKS]

My grandmother said, "Change the channel. I'm already sick of looking at those chimpanzees."

She said it in private to a family member.

It is a sentiment that tens of millions of us privately agree with.

Where is the problem?

[Lord Undies]

She said it in private to a family member.

It is a sentiment that tens of millions of us privately agree with.

Where is the problem?

The problem is we are all human beings who deserve not to be equated with hairy animals.  It is way past simple policy disagreement and falls into a hole of racist degeneracy most decent people would find disgusting.

[Wineslob]

I have a worse Albertson's story.  I took my grandma to Albertson's once (the same grandma) and she found this young (and cute) stock boy and asked him loud enough that people on the next aisle could hear where the "Replens" was.  The kid didn't know what it was (and neither did I at the time).  Then she goes into what it was for (vaginal dryness) and explained to him why an elderly lady would need to correct a dry vagina. 

On the same trip she also asked where the FLEET Enemas were while farting all the way through the grocery store.    My poor brother (the one that lives with my Dad and it almost 50, he is a perpetual victim type liberal but in this case he is an actual victim) has to deal with her the most.  He calls me sometimes and tells me of all the ways he thinks of knocking her off.  Of course he is kidding but I swear I couldn't handle messing with her all the time.  When she comes for a visit I am ready to off her after only about 20 minutes. 

I don't care who ya are, that there's funny!   

[GOBUCKS]

The problem is we are all human beings who deserve not to be equated with hairy animals.  It is way past simple policy disagreement and falls into a hole of racist degeneracy most decent people would find disgusting.

You obviously have a vastly higher regard for dems in general and Obamas in particular than do I.

I didn't catch your DU screen name, but can't say I'm sorry to have offended your sweetly liberal sensibilities.

Hope you find happiness with your messiah.

[Chris_]

scheming daemons  (1000+ posts)        Wed Nov-12-08 10:35 AM
Original message
My grandmother broke my heart last night
 
She's 94 years old and is in a nursing home. She's not well and doesn't have much time left.

I went to visit her last night. During the visit, CNN was on in the background and an image of the Obama's at the White House the other day came on the screen.

My grandmother said, "Change the channel. I'm already sick of looking at those chimpanzees."

She is an old italian woman, born in Italy and came to the US when she was a baby. I have NEVER heard her say anything as racist as this. I had my suspicions of her racism over the years, but she pretty much kept it to herself.

At 94 years old there's a chance she doesn't see too well. She might not have known it was Obama. She might have thought it was W. Doesn't that make it all better.

[Splashdown]

You obviously have a vastly higher regard for dems in general and Obamas in particular than do I.

I didn't catch your DU screen name, but can't say I'm sorry to have offended your sweetly liberal sensibilities.

Hope you find happiness with your messiah.

Have you MET Undies? 

[USA4ME]

You obviously have a vastly higher regard for dems in general and Obamas in particular than do I.

I didn't catch your DU screen name, but can't say I'm sorry to have offended your sweetly liberal sensibilities.

Hope you find happiness with your messiah.

Wha....????

.