Pretty much everyone was laid off from IBM, they closed their plant here in 2003... kind of shocking to local residents because IBM was founded here. My dad was a year off from retirement when it happened so he had the option of retiring instead of being laid off (better pensions and all that, or so I was made to understand at the time). I didn't know anyone locally was still employed by them actually, the massive IBM plant was converted into some other business, I'm not sure what though.
The gunman was Vietnamese, so I wouldn't rule out racism as a motive. Perhaps it was racism toward him or something? Not sure. Nothing is really clear yet, so I don't want to jump to conclusions or anything, but if he experienced racism at an immigration center, that's an extremely serious problem... hopefully not a systemic one.
I've never really seen racism here before. You see it in New York City sometimes, the place is a melting pot and all that, but not in Binghamton. I remember a kid in high school getting beaten up by a few white kids because he made a racial comment about a black girl, and I guess I always viewed my community like that... racism isn't tolerated by anyone here. If it comes to light that there's some form of racial motive involved, it's going to change my entire perception of how Binghamton's residents ignore race. But you never know, maybe it's just that I don't associate myself with those sorts of crowds. Of course, my mom is black, so I'm sure that if there is a racist crowd here, they don't exactly want to be chummy with me.
Quote: "p.s. It is okay that I call you that, right? *Sir*"
Prez, Mr. President, Sir, El Capitan, Commander in Chief, your Majesty, Sire... all acceptable
. Just no putting your hand on my back, that's a huge no-no.
