foreigners

Someone I'm a little bit acquainted with online used the word 'foreigners' about people of color in California recently. The only thing she knew about them was that they were not white.

I'm not a very diplomatic person, and I was probably not too careful when I pointed out to her that her word choice could be perceived as hostile. Her friends told her that she hadn't done anything wrong.

I think it's amazing. Dan, my partner, is not white. But he is the second generation in his family to be born in California. Foreigner in the US? Not so much. Think about it. Should he be expected to travel to Mexico and demand a Mexican passport? He hasn't spent any time in the country.

In Mexico he'd be a foreigner. Where we live, he is in the majority: 70 percent are not white in Santa Clara County.

what makes me nervous

What makes me nervous is when little old women out walking big dogs tense up when they meet another dog on the trail. They get scared and throw all of their non-existant weight on that leash. I sprint past them as fast as I can.

pet peeve (and I do it myself)

When journalists, commentators, pundits, and teachers use the expressions "that being said", or "having said that" (followed by that swift breath in) it's just a sneaky way of not letting anyone else speak.