I am a DORK! Redux

Apparently I need to take a couple lessons on whispering. And perhaps a lesson in think before you speak. Or perchance distinguishing between the inside voice and the outside voice. Why, you ask? Simply put, it is because I was a dork yesterday!

It all started with the monthly fun run at Momentum. And yesterday was the Cuatro de Mayo Fun Run. Besides the usual suspects of runners, Garth from Australia was there as well. This is the first time I have seen him since his return to the United States a week or so ago. If you don't know him, well, he has a knack for winning things! Case in point: The multiple winnings he had scored during his first Chicago visit at Crapple. {Crap! Crap! Crap!}

Anyway, as usual, after the fun run, we had the ruffles giveaway. And Garth won one of the free pairs of Brooks running shoes! Of course, knowing how Garth wins everything, Katie said, "He has not been in America that long and he is already winning things again!" And of course, being a news junkie that I am, and deeply involved with specific issues, *and* being the funny guy in the crowd, I yelled, "Damn immigrants!"

Oops! I realized I had screamed that out loud in the entire store for everyone to hear. It would have been funny if I had kept the voice low so just the few of us could hear, cos then it would be funny within the group. But for those who did not know me, I am sure it sounded like I'm one of those crazy minutemen in the news. And on top of that, I used a swear word while the store owner's daughter was there. What was I thinking?!?

Not that it matters now, as the damage has been done, or that the ship has already sailed, I'd like to take a moment to explain myself. Something what we call in the corporate world lingo as "doing a postmortem." {Gosh, I hate corporate speak.} First of all, you must be a caveperson if you don't know that one of the biggest issues in Washington is immigration reform. And as such, I am well immersed in this issue.

Secondly, I am not for kicking out illegal immigrants who have been in the United States. After all, they are already paying taxes and social security, both of which they do not get to reap the benefits of such social programs set forth by the great presidents of the past. Hell, even a legal immigrant while still on her/his permanent residency but not a full American citizen may not even get to enjoy the benefits of the tax they pay or the social security deductions in some states! So if you get rid of the illegal immigrants, you are also getting rid of a big portion of the influx of money going into these programs. Of course, it is not fair, but getting rid of them is NOT the answer.

Thirdly, I myself am an immigrant. Of course, everybody else besides the group of friends I was with knew that. I just hope that the many strangers who were there realize that I was kidding, as the joke was a blurt in sarcasm, intended just for Garth, in light of the current political debate in capital city.

So there you have it. My "postmortem" on the damage I have done. Now maybe I should listen to Kelly's advice and remember not to say it out loud when it is supposed to be an inside voice. =)