On My Soapbox Again

I took some things to Ashley at her dorm this morning and stopped to grab a few things at the store that I knew she was needing. And yes, as a matter of fact, pumpkin clings for her window, a styrofoam jack-o-lantern and some candy corn are NEEDS.

While in line at the store a couple ahead of me caught my eye. They were late 50's or maybe early 60's and pretty gruff in their appearance and way of speaking. The checkout clerk swiped a book for the woman and said "Oh I've read this one, you'll really enjoy it". The man started in on a rampage "The only good books are one that are destroyed. This country went to hell as soon as people started reading books. There are books on everything now. No one can make up their mind for themselves anymore. They have to read a book and then they know what they believe. You all are so stupid for reading books. They should just burn all the books in the world and we'd all be a lot better off."

Both the clerk and I stood there for a moment in complete shock. The clerk said "Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree on that." and she smiled, trying desperately to end this, but he wasn't finished. He then said "Well that shows just how stupid you are. Course I already knew that because I got you workin' for me. I quit work a few years ago. It's easier to let you people work and pay for all my stuff. I let the government use your money to pay for me and my cable." and he laughed like he was so funny. I felt so bad for the clerk. She was so uncomfortable and in my opinion, she should have called a manager over, because she didn't deserve to be treated this way. She just kept totally silent and finished up their transaction and they left.

She turned me to me after they left and said "I'm so sorry you had to hear that." I let her know that I was sorry she had to endure that.

As I was leaving I had different emotions...
Shock - I just couldn't believe that someone would unleash on a stranger that way. This is America for crying out loud. We are entitled to our opinions, no matter how narrow minded they might be, and no matter how much you might disagree with them. But no one has the right to verbally abuse someone in that manner.
Sadness - I thought about this mans wife. She never said a single word throughout the entire time they were in line. What must her life be like at home with a man like that. They had some baby items they bought, so I'm assuming it was for a grandchild, and I felt sad knowing they had raised at least one child in a home environment like that, and that now another generation is exposed to that kind of hatefulness. I said a prayer for them all.
Fear - It scares me to think that this man is not the only one in the world that feels this way. He is under the firm belief that the government should just "take care of us" and they should be in charge of everything we say, think and do. We should not have opinions and should not be allowed to broaden or knowledge on different subjects. What does that remind you of???

It made me think about how many times I have heard people recently discussing the upcoming election. It irritates me when I hear someone saying "ah, I don't bother to vote" or that they claim they are voting for this person or that person because they are of the same party. Excuse me....God gave you a fully functioning brain. USE IT! To vote for someone just because you two are of the same party is ridiculous. If you believe the way they do, fine. But if I disagreed with the person in my party, I would never vote for him or her.

It really makes me wonder what is coming down the road. With narrow minded people wanting more government rule, some government also wanting more government rule, and a lazy attitude regarding voting. Have these people forgotten about those who are giving their lives right now, so they can continue to have the rights and freedoms they do? Have they forgotten how good they really do have it here?

Sad. Sad and scary.