Even though The Fear was there, I never really let it get to me. I used to think that that was then and people aren't that stupid anymore. I had heard of neo-nazis and I had heard of the KKK. My family was here since the Revoloutionary War and have been fighting for Civil Rights all along. Therefore, I happen to know quite a bit about the situation. But, I'd never actually incountered anyone.
You know who I did encounter, though. I encountered several racist Blacks, Latinos, even Asains. But, I never encountered a racist white person. I guess that comes from growing up in San Francisco, where they're so liberal, you can't even be honest. Except my pop. He never gave a damn about that crap. He wasn't racist, really. He just called it like he saw it. Anyways, I had an uncle who was an undertaker and he owned a cabin down at the Russian River near this little village called GuernVille. I had this bestfriend living with me at the time: Porky, and we would spend Summers there, walking to and from GuernVille and the cabin. We always ate at the same eatery: Big Berthas, and we always sat on the same corner (there were only three and the other two were occupied by gangs).
Most of the people there were white, sure, but you'd be surprised, because they had a very large homosexual community. They had about three or four gay bars and only about two straight ones! So, I sort of figured there weren't any skin heads around there. That's when we met Pat and Pete.
I grew up in the San Francisco barrio and - at the time - had never dated a white guy in my entire life. I'd dated a few Jews but mostly Latinos since they were all around me. But, these guys seemed nice enough and we got to talking. They were brothers or something. Pat had red hair and Pete had blonde hair and they both had very trim crew cuts. But, I didn't give it a thought, since it was Summer and hot and all. My kid brother shaves his head when it's hot weather!
They went and got us some beer and took us into the backwoods. I'll admit I got uneasy about going into the backwoods after dark with two guys we'd just met, but we were on vacation and they really seemed very nice. Then we got to this place, it was sort of a small circular clearing about twelve feet in diameter bordered with large wooden pegs, like stools. In the middle of the circle there was what looked like a pyre and we sat down on some of the spools and drank a while.
We'd been drinking a while and flirting some when (I don't know how) we got on a racial topic and suddenly Pat stated thus:
"Fuck kykes, fuck spics, fuck niggers, fuck chinks." Immeadiately, I was called to attention. Pete was cheering him on.
"Yea. Fuck those bastards." Peter seemed to echo and I had to ask.
"So what're you guys, like, "skins" or something?" I kind of laughed when I said it, though. Mainly because I thought - or, at least - I hoped they were joking.
"Damn-fucking-straight!" Pete opened his shirt and pulled up his wife beater. Right there, point blank, a big fat black swastika.
"Klansmen." Pat echoed directing my eyes to behind is right ear. He had a little on, right there, and on his upper right arm he had two lightening bolts symbolizing the Blitz Krieg.
Of course, I made like I was tired and insisted on going home right away. My excuse was was that I didn't feel comfortable in the middle of the dark wood with two guys I barely knew. So, they walked Porky and I back to our cabin. My mum was outside. And they were friendly enough to her, considering my mum has red hair and paler skin than Michael Jackson. They introduced themselves and shook her hand and told her how much they'd enjoyed our company and when they left my mum asked me:
"Why didn't you invite them in? They seem like nice boys!"
For a moment, I didn't say anything. But, once they were gone, I let her know.
"They were nazis!"
Mum was disgusted. She could barely believe it.
Ever since then, I've had this incredible facisnation with them. What gets me the most about them, though, is how much they value blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. That's they're ideal beauty and that just about there discribes me: blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. I couldn't possibly be more Aryan looking. But, if I had told them, that night, back there in those dark wood that I was Jewish, who know what could've happened to us!
