I had an entirely different essay well-begun, but then was prodded to change canoes altogether. Both were somewhat based on the totally unacceptable lawlessness this country is experiencing in this day and age, whether it's the fixation on the wrongdoing of a presidential candidate as well as the rampant murders of those who have chosen to put themselves in harm's way to protect and serve. Then today I learn of a young man who has the manager at the fast food place where he works tell a police officer that he was refusing service because of the customer's occupation. Searching the internet to make sure the story could be verified, I found a sound bite from a local TV station and the worker (paraphrasing) says it's not worth talking about; the customer was a cop and he was of a minority group.
Let's skip the obvious increase in my blood pressure from his actions and statements and narrow this down. The right to refuse service is something I thought dried up and blew away a long time ago. If it's posted in some of these places who now claim it as current policy, it must be stored with the Braille menus for the sight-impaired (an announcement made in writing that I fail to grasp the relevancy). Is this proclamation posted at the drive-thru menu bank where the officer in question placed their order so that there was prior notice? Is there notification on the pick-up window to that effect? Or did someone, like way too many rogue elements out there today, decide at the last minute not to provide service to this customer because of their line of work?
Funny how the employee and the store manager backed away from the issue so quickly when it was brought to public attention. It's just a joke; I was kidding; our company wouldn't do that. We hear these oopsie comebacks from those who disrespect others all too often. It's something I would expect from a toddler, not someone of adult status.
Billy Joel released a song years ago called, "We Didn't Start the Fire." To me, the song speaks of each successive generation coming on the heels of the last, swearing these things will never happen again, but guess what? They do. And they seem to be getting worse.
How much of what is in Joel's lyrics is actual fact and not my projection? History does tend to repeat itself, don't be fooled. There's always going to be someone who inappropriately pushes a boundary and the result is hellacious.
In today's super-sensitive society, there are certain groups one does not work to offend: ethnic and religious groups, persons of race other than your own, even just the pudgy lady sitting here typing this piece if you want to tell her how fat she is (she knows, thank you, the turnip truck dumped me off quite a while ago).
Why then, with raw nerves exposed all over the place, would someone bait a cop who knows there's a target on their back, who knows they're tired and yet have to stay on point all the time, who just stopped at the drive-thru for a bite to eat?
"Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand, put a little love in your heart. You see it's getting late, oh please don't hesitate, put a little love in your heart." Jackie delShannon sang this years ago, when we thought we had achieved equality among men as God intends. Maybe we need to read that sheet music one more time.
Let's skip the obvious increase in my blood pressure from his actions and statements and narrow this down. The right to refuse service is something I thought dried up and blew away a long time ago. If it's posted in some of these places who now claim it as current policy, it must be stored with the Braille menus for the sight-impaired (an announcement made in writing that I fail to grasp the relevancy). Is this proclamation posted at the drive-thru menu bank where the officer in question placed their order so that there was prior notice? Is there notification on the pick-up window to that effect? Or did someone, like way too many rogue elements out there today, decide at the last minute not to provide service to this customer because of their line of work?
Funny how the employee and the store manager backed away from the issue so quickly when it was brought to public attention. It's just a joke; I was kidding; our company wouldn't do that. We hear these oopsie comebacks from those who disrespect others all too often. It's something I would expect from a toddler, not someone of adult status.
Billy Joel released a song years ago called, "We Didn't Start the Fire." To me, the song speaks of each successive generation coming on the heels of the last, swearing these things will never happen again, but guess what? They do. And they seem to be getting worse.
How much of what is in Joel's lyrics is actual fact and not my projection? History does tend to repeat itself, don't be fooled. There's always going to be someone who inappropriately pushes a boundary and the result is hellacious.
In today's super-sensitive society, there are certain groups one does not work to offend: ethnic and religious groups, persons of race other than your own, even just the pudgy lady sitting here typing this piece if you want to tell her how fat she is (she knows, thank you, the turnip truck dumped me off quite a while ago).
Why then, with raw nerves exposed all over the place, would someone bait a cop who knows there's a target on their back, who knows they're tired and yet have to stay on point all the time, who just stopped at the drive-thru for a bite to eat?
"Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand, put a little love in your heart. You see it's getting late, oh please don't hesitate, put a little love in your heart." Jackie delShannon sang this years ago, when we thought we had achieved equality among men as God intends. Maybe we need to read that sheet music one more time.
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