[Joe Wicked]

Scott,
Regardless of the fact that this is not a democracy, some will take the comments as racism. There are still people who feel threatened by anything that isn't a well spelled out helping hand. They have not had the opportunity to feel accepted by others and what I would take as a joke meant in good humor would cut them like a sword. Those of us who have not experienced the racism first hand, cannot even begin to understand the emotional side of it. It does not matter that there is not any intended harm, the perceived harm is enough that nothing further said will be trusted. Sad but true.