how to work with racist idiots, or idiots just in general

Ok. I know this sound mean and it´s probably totally unfair.
I still don´t know how to handle occurences such as

a) a coworker you´ve been friendly with suddendly offers you a glimpse of … his /her well, pretty awful racist dumb idiotic view.

b) you overhear a conversation that is nothin but racist chit-chat

What is the best way to handle this situation?

In case you´re comfortable with it- that is a problem. Because you´re dumb and stupid yourself. But then you do not need to handle the situation.You have to handle yourself.

Otherwise – one is ashamed, shocked and appaled. But , what to do?

Being calm and sophisticated? Telling myself “People will never change”

or is it better: Persons will never change, in most cases?

But then – in my case : I explode, or worse implode.

Rewards of waiting

The New Yorker has an article on the rewards of self-control. Read here

After having read the artice I wondered, how I would have had behaved as a child.
I could, of course draw conclusions from my “adult” life, but the outcome for me is kind of twofold.

Anyway. It was interesting.