Racism...Alive and well in 2011

I guess it's my fault for expecting more of people. Maybe my expectations are too high. I just find it amazing when I stumble across certain people in the world. I'm currently "taking care" of a patient with let's just say pain. He tried to make small talk with me as I'm starting his IV. "Busy night?" he asks. "No, not really." "Oh, none of those "spaniards" raising hell tonight?" I said, "Wow, that was a really racist thing to say!" You see, I believe in just calling it like it is. He says, "What? I said "spaniards." Meanwhile his friend in the room says, "We're not exactly politically correct, you see." "No, no it doesn't like you are. I'm just gonna go ahead and ignore those statements. I think it will be better for everyone." Then they say, "Well, any good Americans like you and I...blah blah blah..." "I really don't know what else he said because I had to stop listening. If I really wanted to get under his red skin, I could have shared that the doctor caring for him had a black partner whose primary language is Spanish. How do you like them apples?