This is way off topic. Way, way off topic.

As an expat, you get used to two things about politics: first, the politics of all other expats are very similar (liberal socially, moderate fiscally, free trader), and second, all the weird stories from home about political extremists seem to be about other folks. Everyone you talk to on a daily basis seems reasonable, and the people at home are so very far away.

Which brings us to this story, which concerns the mayor of the small California town where I went to school. Hard to see this guy as one of those "other folks" far away, since this is where I grew up. Anyway, this is bizarre:

The mayor of Los Alamitos is coming under fire for an e-mail he sent out that depicts the White House lawn planted with watermelons, under the title "No Easter egg hunt this year."

Local businesswoman and city volunteer Keyanus Price, who is black, said Tuesday she received the e-mail from Mayor Dean Grose’s personal account on Sunday and wants a public apology.

"I have had plenty of my share of chicken and watermelon and all those kinds of jokes," Price told The Associated Press. "I honestly don’t even understand where he was coming from, sending this to me. As a black person receiving something like this from the city-freakin’-mayor – come on."

The Orange County Register first reported the e-mail on its Web site Tuesday night.

Grose confirmed to the AP that he sent the e-mail to Price and said he didn’t mean to offend her. He said he was unaware of the racial stereotype that black people like watermelons.

Emphasis is mine. I could have also added "!!!!!" and a few "wtf???"

Some context. Despite this town being small, it is in Orange County, just south of LA. In fact, it is part of the LA megalopolis and should in no way be thought of as a small town. This guy has no business sounding (and acting) like an idiot redneck. Moreover, this is not inland Orange County (i.e. Reagan Country). To give you an idea of how close this is to the coast, when I was in high school, some of the kids used to go surfing at lunchtime.

I don’t even know where I’m going with this post. You just don’t expect this kind of thing sitting right there on your own doorstep, particularly when that doorstep is in California.

After reading the article, I naturally forwarded it to my sister, who still resides in Southern California and also attended school in Los Alamitos. Her response was a classic rant, which I thoroughly enjoyed. She graciously allowed me to share it:

what the fuck?

that would be Los Alamitos, Alabama?

you’ve got to be kidding?

he should have sent, what was it that Luther Burbank grew? not turnips, not rutabagas, definitely not watermelon

what an asshole

next he’ll invite the New York Council of Rabbis to his Easter Ham dinner: "but, honestly, they told me the pigs were killed by a Kosher Jews for Jesus butcher."

asshole