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Posted on 06/28/06 @ 9:46 pm
One thing I don't like here is how everything is all praise God this and Lord Jesus that. Now I'm not a Christian, but I'm pretty tolerant of a lot of organized religions unless they start getting fanatical and forcing it down people's throats. On a recent project, I was tasked to put together a calendar to go out to our clients. I pulled together some important dates and holidays and sent it out to the staff for proofing. Immediately, I get back e-mails like the following: "What is ros hashannaha? do we need to include this?" "I don't know what Ramadan is. Take it off, please." "Cinco de Mayo — which is Mexican Independence Day — should be on May 5, not September 16." First of all, May 5 is the Battle of Puebla…you know, I won't even go there; y'all are smart folks. I go through the throes of explaining how we should cater to all of our customers and that most modern calendars would have these same dates. I even show them my At-A-Glance desk calendar with the holidays all listed out. Micro-Manager says, "Well, I guess since we do have some Jews that work here and as some of our clients — you know this — we should include Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. But what is Ramadan?" "It's the month of fasting for those of the Islamic faith." "Really? How do you know that?" Because I graduated from college, you ingrate. "Who doesn't know that? Islam is the second largest religion in the world. I think we should include when Ramadan begins, which this year happens to be on Rosh Hashanah." "Well what do the Ramadanians do during that time?" she says while giggling. Yes folks…Ramadanians. For this reason alone, I should smack her upside her head, but instead I roll my eyes and say "It's a time of worship. They fast and they visit family and work in their community." "Oh, so it's like Easter?" "No…it's like Ramadan." "But if you were comparing it to Christianity…" "Why would I compare it to Christianity? They're two separate religions!" "Well, I don't think we should include it — we have to think about National Security." "National Security? It's a calendar, not a manifesto." We went back and forth about this for a good 10 minutes before she stormed out of the office growling. Ramadan never made it to the calendar. Filed under: Jobs and Work Comments:
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Name's Karsh. 27. Country-born, city-raised, 
damn while this is funny, it reminds me of how ignorant people are about others' religions and personal beliefs if they are not spoon-fed and presented to them in pretty packages. i mean, if they did not know what the damn religions/observances were, should have googled the damn things and found out!
i swear, mothafuckas get on my damn nerves…
Said by kristen — 6/28/2006 @ 10:06 pm
I agree in whole with the comment above!
Said by J_Most — 6/29/2006 @ 6:58 am
You work with insane people. Insane and remarkably stupid. (I know, that's not news to you, but I think it's good to reaffirm that you are not the crazy one.) How you can look these people in the face is completely beyond me. I'd say get another job–immediately–but my fear is that every workplace is turning into a sheltered workshop like this, and that all we can do is try to maneuver ourselves into the one that pays better.
Fun summer idea: Get an aquarium for the office, fill it with water, get a cheap toaster and immerse it in the aquarium. Plug it in. Tape a sign to the wall above that says "Stick your head in here." Pull up a chair. Wait and watch.
Said by David — 6/29/2006 @ 9:14 am
What the bloody fuck? (can I say fuck on your blog, karsh?)
You work with some dangerously ignorant people. Situations like these make me wonder why I moved to the South. Sure, stupidity is everywhere but I swear I never had these kinds of incidents in Chicago. I was pissed after "Well, I guess since we do have some Jews…" Is she descendant of pharoahs?
Said by j. brotherlove — 6/29/2006 @ 10:02 am
I can understand not knowing the dates of Ramadan or not knowing how to pronounce Ramadan, but just taking a xenophobic stance on the whole thing? That's wrong and that's just plain ignorant.
Said by kevin — 6/29/2006 @ 3:45 pm
We couldn't get our Jews (2 out of counts on fingers 11 staff members) any holidays off. "That's what vacation time is for," I recall my boss saying.
I really didn't care what days we got off as long as there were multiple instances of three-day weekends on the calendar, but all the same I came away from the event with a bad taste in my mouth.
Said by Tiffany — 6/29/2006 @ 4:44 pm
Random Linkage, Pt. II…
Funny, until somebody gets hurt…
Trackbacked by thebrotherlove.com — 6/29/2006 @ 6:03 pm
"Fun summer idea: Get an aquarium for the office, fill it with water, get a cheap toaster and immerse it in the aquarium. Plug it in. Tape a sign to the wall above that says "Stick your head in here." Pull up a chair. Wait and watch."
i second this idea. any thoughts on who may be first to stick their head in…?
Said by kristen — 6/29/2006 @ 8:14 pm
Barf
I feel for ya, Karshie… get outta there quick!
Said by Colin — 6/29/2006 @ 8:47 pm
Folks in the Bible Belt wonder why we New Yorkers make fun of them.
That's some scary shit.
Said by Bernie — 6/29/2006 @ 9:26 pm
. . … researching . . . .there has to be a law against such ignorance !!!
Said by zenitra — 6/30/2006 @ 10:36 pm
In honor of The Devil Wears Prada, a characterization.
Said by j. brotherlove — 7/3/2006 @ 9:45 am