Herb’s Blog, Herbdate 22321 – 799:
Here’s the haps:
Prejudice. Merriam-Webster dictionary, my go-to dictionary, a direct line descendant of the original American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster, defines prejudice as, “an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics” and “an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.” This is one of the many causes of the burning hatreds that are rampant in the world right now. Some people think that the only hate in the world is in the United States and is black versus white. This is silly and ignorant. Our problems in the United States are well-known because of the freedom our press has to publish and broadcast them to the world. It also gets people talking. We’re not the only country with these problems by a longshot.
But, I am not going to address the problems in other countries. Not at the moment, anyway. Or even our problems, for that matter. Except for this one. I have a different bone in my throat, today. Actually, I described one type of scenario where this prejudice applies in my story, Dave Gets What He Deserves, back in August, but I have gone from being annoyed to somewhat seething.
I took Mrs. Herb and Daughter out to Walmart to do some shopping for some much needed items. We were blessed with a bit of finance just in the nick of time to get some stuff. There are some things I can’t just go and buy for them, however, and it works best if they get out and shop for themselves. Besides, it’s good for them to get away from the house for a couple of hours anyway, when possible. So, off we all went on our merry way, Mrs. Herb on my arm with her Oxygen and Daughter with her walker. By the time we got to the door from the handicapped parking spot, Daughter was tired and Mrs. Herb’s balance issues rose up against her. So, Daughter got an electric cart and Mrs. Herb used the walker and I took a regular cart(or buggy or trolley) and we set off to the various areas we had to go.
This is why I wasn’t around to hear the ignorant jerk make a sideways comment to another person about daughter in the electric cart. “She’s young and can stand up and walk. She doesn’t need that.” Daughter has been dealing with ignorant people for a long time now and just kind of blew it off for what it was, a prejudiced, ignorant statement. Like I said, I wasn’t with her or I would have responded more vocally. It’s probably good that it turned out the way it did, though. She is sweet and mild-mannered and the rest of her shopping experience included her meeting very nice people. I’ve been to blogs where the author was very outspoken about their opinion of people who use the electric carts. In my job I see people every day who need them and use them. They are all different ages, races, sizes and everything other kind of difference, but they all have one thing in common, they need a little extra help. In my retail experience (of way too many years), to even now, working the Entrance Door, I have only seen one or two times where there was an obvious abuse.
So, The blunt moral of this story is if you don’t know what you’re talking about, shut up be quiet.
Remember, the Good Book says: I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Act 20:35)
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