Sep
16
2008

The Bigots at 88 Broadway

posted by Liam Reed at 12:46 pm.

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Two weeks ago I walked to the farmers’ market in Urbana with some of my closest buddies. We were in need of some local produce and that is the place to be. We walked home with gains of fresh peppers, peaches, and this weird German vegetable called kohlrabi (which ended up being pretty delicious, even if it was a bit strange). On the way home we saw a trolley sitting outside of a place called 88 Broadway. I asked my friend/dude squatting in my house Jon about it and he explained that it’s basically this bar and/or restaurant that has dueling pianos. They play just about anything and when he went there it was a really good time.

The deal with the trolley is that they pick people up from campus and drive them all the way down to the bar. I assume they do this because 88 Broadway is way out in Urbana and that makes it difficult to get the frat boys out their way. The easiest way to do so is to give them a ride over there and make it fun along the way.

Last Thursday I was on Green St. waiting outside the fine establishment that is Murphy’s. We were waiting in line and this trolley comes galloping down the road with a bunch of drunken students inside of it. Everyone inside was rather smiley and a guy on a megaphone kept shouting at all of us to get in the trolley and ride to “88 Broadway!” When no one left the line to hop on the trolley he called us all pussies and faggots.

This, my friends, is not cool. It’s one thing if I hear another gay guy call someone a faggot. When a gay guy says it, it’s considered ironic.

“What, dearest homosexual friend, you are but a gay yourself! You saying the dehumanizing word is the opposite of what I expected from you, hence the term ironic. Oh, dear chum, how you fill me with questions to which I seek answers!”

This happens all the time. Usually verbatim.

It’s the same deal with that whole n-word situation. If I were to say it, if my ass isn’t kicked I will at least get a lot of people whispering about me. Calling someone a slur based on minority “status” is only allowed if you are of that minority group. Minorities usually call this “taking back Insert Slur Here.”

When the word “faggot” is shouted through a megaphone at a crowd of people on Green St., I’m not a happy person. If the guy on the trolley said, “Oh, you’re all just a bunch of niggers!” through a megaphone that would not be accepted.

I’m writing the people at 88 Broadway. I feel aside from not riding the trolley, that’s all I really can do. I encourage you to do the same. If you don’t, you’re just always gonna be a pussy and a faggot.

luke@88broadwaybar.com

http://www.88broadwaybar.com/

Liam Reed: 1987 model, runs fairly well, few dents, starts in cold weather, no baggage, loves flea markets and canned soup. Send all hate mail, love mail, and sexual advances to withtongue@gmail.com

Comments

Rob C Spreenberg (Rob C Spreenberg) says:
(Posted September 16th, 2008 at 3:18 pm)

Comment has been deleted by moderator.

Mike Consalvo (Mike Consalvo) says:
(Posted September 16th, 2008 at 9:51 pm)

First of all, dueling piano bars are the most fun places in the world, I’m trying to get a bunch of people to go for our birthday.

I’ve alway found derogatory words to be unacceptable no matter if it is being used within the minority group or not. Take the “N” word for example. I know a racist white guy who uses the term and his defense is always “Well, black people use it”. My thinking is that if you want somebody to not do something, you should lead by example; I’m a pretty firm believer in that way of thinking. Therefore, I never use any of those words.

Ok I must confess to using the term pussy. But, I don’t think people who are gay are pussies. I use the term pussy in the same manner in which I use the term dick.

Carl Newman (Carl Newman) says:
(Posted September 16th, 2008 at 10:32 pm)

Wait, am I not allowed to say “pussy” on account of having a dick?

Women. Always getting their way.

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