This is just a story. I have no idea if it's true. but it got to me, so I thought I'd offer it to you all, just in case you needed a break from all the articles.
--Kim
P.S. It had a picture of a man in a MAGA hat with it, but I guess it didn't copy.
*This story was shared in a private group. The author gave me permission to share but asked to remain anonymous .
"This just actually happened this evening. (Sorry for length)
I live in a blue city in VERY red Iowa and I was just at pharmacy picking up some things. The older guy in front of me in line was wearing *the* red hat. I, by coincidence was wearing my blue "LIBERAL AF" tee shirt. I minded my own business because I've dealt with all I can possibly deal with today & I just wanted to get home.
But old man maga couldn't keep his yap shut. When he turned towards me & read my shirt, he literally said, "you liberals are a cancer to this country." I mean, I was completely taken aback & the poor woman at the register froze.
I was going to ignore him, but I guess I had it in me to deal with one more piece of BS and I looked at him and said, "My daughter has cancer. Actually, she has it for the second time. I know cancer & what it's done to my girl in all the truly awful ways and what it's done to me and her dad and her brothers & sisters and my marriage and pretty much how I now white knuckle my way through most of my days, making deals with God to let me trade places with her. Call me a lunatic or crazy or fascist or whatever. But don't call me a cancer. You have no idea who you are talking to." I tried so hard not to, but I started to cry. In the check out lane of a store/pharmacy, I fell apart. Which pissed me off, so naturally I cry harder.
I almost felt sorry him. He went whiter than he already was and barely got himself together to apologize. Profusely. He was easily in his late 70's, so he surely has lived long enough to know or love someone with cancer. He babbled regret, apologies, shame and other words I barely heard.
The cashier hands me a kleenex and he offers to pay for the stuff in my basket. At this point, I'm embarrassed that I lost my nut in front of this guy and I just want to leave.
But then I asked him, "Do you think you would have ever said something so unkind and insensitive to a complete stranger ten years ago? Be honest."
He said, "no and I'm so ashamed that I just did that to you. I wish I could make you see how sorry I am."
So I looked at him and said, "start by getting rid of the hat. It's obviously changed you from who & what you used to be which was probably kind and decent."
He kind of sighed, looked at me funny and walked away. And then he threw his hat in the garbage bin right next to the register!! Just kept walking out.
The cashier & I kinda looked at each other and she said, "holy shit. I don't know what to say to you because that was $@&%/☆~ amazing."
She let me wait until he clearly left the parking lot and I paid for my stuff, including the emotional bag of m&m's I grabbed after blubbering and headed home.
I may or may not have truly made a bit of difference to this guy, who knows. But they don't get to hurl hate towards people and not be forced to see what it does to a person.
It felt good to say "not today man; not today."
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