OPINIONS

Editor: Maria Odenbaugh viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com OPINIONS September 15, 2022 7

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY I VIEWPOINTS Protestors try to intimidate festival goers at the entrance to Riverside’s Inland Empire Pride festival at Riverside Municipal Auditorium on Sept. 4.

Far right stokes extremism

Local political organizations, public offcals endanger public safety

ZACH REYNOSA STAFF REPORTER

Fascism is becoming an increasingly dangerous threat in modern-day America.

With recent remarks from Joe Biden, the United States president has been able to acknowledge the ever growing “semi-fascist” ideology that is being embraced by a dangerously high number of Americans.

Recent downturns in the American standard of living, due to policies from both political parties, have made people turn to these right-wing ideologies as a way to express their anger towards a system they believe has deserted them.

With that belief in mind, many of these right-wing individuals have made their way into the halls of Congress where they can effectively take their authoritarian ideology and do what they deem is “Saving America.”

This, of course, is a lie.

What the right ends up doing is endangering the lives of those who already face hardships day by day and encouraging an “us vs. them” mentality that creates political instability not only within the Republican Party but throughout the country.

The effects can be seen all over with an alarming rise in domestic terrorism throughout the US and a rapidly expanding polorized political climate.

This has caused a backward social decline in America as there has been an ever growing dismantlement of rights for women, LGBTQIA2+ members, and people of color due to right-wing policies enacted by these elected offcials.

Many more of these fascists have started to become more “mask off” with their bigotry, mostly due to recent conservative victories such as the reversal of Roe v. Wade, causing the right to actively dismantle progress that has taken decades of grassroots struggle to achieve.

For example, a recent Pride event in Riverside, which hasn’t been held since 2009, was met with fascist protesters from the local Southern California area donning shirts and signs with designs that attributed members of the LGBTQIA2+ community with being child groomers.

Their presence was met with anger from event-goers and was also met by Antifa counterprotesters who were able to scare the protesters away after brief brawls between each other.

The presence of these rightwing demonstrations shows a willingness to spew hate to a crowd of people who are only there to celebrate the love between human beings.

This unprovoked attack on a historically disenfranchised group of people is only perpetuated by elected officials who have the power to end these demonstrations of hate and protect the community they are meant to serve.

Offcials like Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco do nothing to aid the ever-growing fascist threat to public safety and even receives campaign money from right-wing political action committees such as the American Matters PAC as an elected offcial whose seat should have no partisan bias.

Accepting money from fascists is one offense, but speaking at

With no video or transcript of what Chad Bianco said to the crowd of donors that night, one can only believe that it was nothing but encouraging his followers to keep on with their bigotry.

They’re in our own backyards.

So what can we do?

These right-wingers must be met with resistance at every turn because letting them continue operating as “business as usual” only advances the worst-case scenario.

Educate, Agitate, Organize.

Educate one another about social issues to lend an eye into worlds one is unfamiliar with and to understand that our struggles are not so different from each other.

Agitate the fascists so that they show their true colors to the people. This agitation could come in the forms of protest or even something as simple as a poster on a wall.

Finally, Organize.

There is no greater factor in any successful movement than the organization of the people within it. Even if we have differences in how we see certain issues, we must all understand, unite, and show solidarity against the everincreasing threat of fascism not only in our community but wherever oppressed peoples may be.

Protestors block the entrance with threating signs distrubing Riverside’s Inland Empire Pride festival. right-wing fundraisers is another, which is one of the many ways Bianco has helped the right-wing movement grow. In April of this year, Bianco attended a political fundraiser for another far-right PAC called the Inland Empire Family PAC, which wishes to “restore parental rights taken away by the State” claiming that California’s education system is pushing “critical-race theory” and “forced LGBT+ acceptance” onto its students. Bianco was one of the three speakers of the night alongside right-wing British political commentator Katie Hopkins who is staunchly anti-Muslim and antiimmigrant. “ ...the right to actively dismantle progress that has taken decades of grassroots struggle to achieve. ”

Editor: Maria Odenbaugh | viewpoints.opinions@gmail.com

8September 15, 2022

Mind your manners, tip your server

Service industry staff face society’s worst patrons

A server at Yardhouse manages their customers on a slow happy hour in Riverside on Sept. 13.

PHOTO BY STEPHEN DAY I VIEWPOINTS

JENNIPHER VASQUEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I love my job. I love my job. I love my job.

How often do many of us fnd ourselves reaffrming affrmations while taking a deep breath and turning the other cheek?

I am a waitress. I started working in the restaurant industry in 2019 as a hostess, which I hated. I later transitioned into serving, which I dreaded.

I’ve been a server for a couple years now and realize I actually enjoy what I do. But it’s complicated.

Why the hate?! Why the dread? Well, if you’ve ever worked any job where you’re dealing with hungry or drunk people, you know why.

When I was hosting and also working as a cashier for the servers, I was often utilized as a listening ear to each and every complaint they had about serving tables.

I didn’t want to walk out after quitting in the middle of my shift like they did.

I didn’t want to work profusely to make my customers happy only to be left a “zero” tip.

I especially didn’t want to be ridiculed by my managers for making a mistake.

I learned along the way, picked up the tips and tricks to make my life easier every shift, but nothing will prepare you for that first awful experience with a customer.

I was yelled at a few years ago over a fried chicken sandwich by a patron who called in to place an order and was left on hold by the new hostess in training, she never returned to the phone to take his order.

He eventually hung up the call and came into the restaurant, furious.

I was belittled by this man, yelled at and had my intelligence questioned.

He got his sandwich after throwing his tantrum and walked out happy while trying to calm myself down in the restroom. That day I had worked a ten-hour overtime shift, I was pregnant at the time and doing everything in my power to avoid getting infected with COVID.

Not every experience is emotionally draining.

I love my job. I do. I also need the money. But at what cost?

It’s not like a desk job, where I can hide my frown in front of a screen. I have to put on a smile, leave my problems at the door and give the best service to my ability.

It isn’t easy. I have many sweet customers. I often end their dinner with a sincere, “It was a pleasure serving you, I’ll see you next time.”

However, I’m also subjected to blatant disrespect by entitled customers who often forget I’m human just like them.

I’ve had customers apologize for their friend’s behavior toward me, which softened the blow of being called a “b—.” But when I walk away I still hear, “I’m not leaving her a tip,” followed by “b—,” again.

What did I do? Cry it out in the bathroom, walk back out, and pick up a tray after wiping my tears because, yes, I’m still going to work for the tip.

My duties as a server are to be friendly, welcoming and to make sure you walk out the door happy and full. Putting up with your atrocious attitude, lack of manners and impatience isn’t in the description.

Here and there I have to avoid giving parents the side-eye for not addressing their child’s behavior toward me.

And I won’t apologize for it.

It is never acceptable for me to have arms full of dirty, heavy plates and for you not to blink an eye when your daughter ran in front of me and hit my stomach while I’m trying not to drop everything.

As servers we don’t make the joke of crying or screaming in the freezer for no reason, there are many. I have been harassed, nearly sexually assaulted and even had money thrown at my face at previous jobs – which is lucky compared to my coworkers having hot plates thrown back at them after setting it down on a table.

Again, it is not easy.

I appreciate each and every customer because their patronage keeps business going and in turn helps me stay afoat. Especially while I’m in my mid-20s, trying to make my dreams come true.

I’ve heard people say, “well, how hard is it to take my order and bring me my food when it’s ready?”

No, Karen, it’s not that simple.

I have to serve you chips, salsa, napkins and water as soon as you get in.. I then have to greet you, introduce myself and promote specials. Then drinks and appetizers. . Once that’s done I’ll take your entree orders and the rest is a breeze.

Seems simple, right?

Now, let’s throw in being interrupted by children or others at my table of 12 trying to order at the same time that I’m writing down someone else’s order. Add in repeating what beers are on tap to every other person at the table, crossing out an order three times because a customer keeps changing their mind, then running to put in the order and later having to yell — regrettably — at my cook to stop making the plate because the customer changed their mind yet again.

I’m not exaggerating or complaining.

It’s my job to do things for you, but please understand that I am only one person with two hands just like you. I can’t get eight reflls, put in 10 entree orders and bring out your appetizer with extra plates all at once. Odds are you aren’t the only person waiting for something.

Not too long ago, a customer requested that my boss send over a different server because I didn’t play into his offensive “joke” about my age.

Well sir, more power to you.

I’m sorry that it made you “uncomfortable” that I didn’t respond nicely to the insult, thankfully, I am very grateful that my boss has my back and will also acknowledge if I’m in the wrong.

That isn’t the case for many. It wasn’t the case for me when I was hosting and serving at my frst restaurant gig.

I was called a liar at the first restaurant by my “human resources manager” in front of customers during a hectic karaoke night and ignored by the co-owner and shift managers when a pot of boiling menudo splattered all over my chest and arms. I get chills as I write this and remember how awful the burns and blisters felt and looked.

I quit the following week. It isn’t only servers who are put in these situations. This is why I try hard to be extremely polite to anyone at any place that I am a patron. I know how diffcult it is to deal with angry and disrespectful customers.

I need to work and love to serve you but shouldn’t be disrespected.

I am not a servant as I’ve been called, I’m not your “pretty little thing” to stare at and cat-call nor am I your nanny who tends to your tantrums.

One more thing, to all the older men telling me to “smile,” as I walk by with either heavy plates of hot food, dirty plates or trays full of drinks – please stop.