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Work 4 Peace,Hold All Life Sacred,Eliminate Violence! I am on my mobile version of the door-to-door, going town-to-town holding readings/gatherings/discussions of my book "But What Can I Do?" This is my often neglected blog mostly about my travels since 9/11 as I engage in dialogue and actions. It is steaming with my opinions, insights, analyses toward that end of holding all life sacred, dismantling the empire and eliminating violence while creating the society we want ALL to thrive in

Saturday, October 15, 2005

every name in the book

Hostile utah – once again – flying j truck stop – the scarey one in utah is still scarey! As I’m sitting in my truck, navigating on my laptop, trying to find free wireless, I hear “why don’t you go live in iraq?” A huge white male is yelling at me across the parking lot.

I can’t really see who's yelling so I ask the air “why would I want to live in Iraq?” Then I see him, about 6 feet tall & 3 feet wide “because of that” he screams pointing to the side of my truck – then he starts calling me names & screams I’m not allowed to say such things. I should try living in Iraq & then I wouldn't be allowed to paint my truck. I’m yelling back, forced to meet his challenge because of all the folks standing around hearing his views. I decide to get closer so I don’t have to yell – but not before I get to yell “oh, I thought this is a democracy, fellow; you’d prefer a dictatorship where you get to decide what folks can or cannot say?

“You’re an idiot” he yells, “You’re an embarrassment to the country”. “Because I disagree with you, you think you can call me names & shout at me? You don’t know me” I say.

“I know you” he snarls, “that’s your truck. You don’t deserve to live here.”

“Oh, only people who agree with you get to live here?” I challenge. He’s retreats into his car & has slumped behind the wheel. “Most people in this country agree with me” I state. “Ha” he snarls trying for disbelief but I see a flicker of doubt cross his face.

A white woman, frosted blond shoulder-length hair with gobs of make-up on her face, gets between us, leans into the window & kisses him – the whole time he’s calling me names & yelling.

I ask her “do you feel the same way, that I don’t have a right to say what I want without being harassed by this man?” She politely turns to me and says blankly “I don’t know what you’re talking about”

I ask again, “do you think the same as what he just said?” “I don’t want to talk to you,” she says. “I’m busy working” – she gestures to a table a group of white folks have set up in front of the flying j on the side walk – I wonder if I should set up a cp table – “what is it you’re doing?” I ask as friendly as I can.

“I don’t want to talk to you, you're being rude to me”. “How am I being rude? I’m curious – I just want to know what the tablings for?” she refuses to answer as she tells me “you have a good day”. I smile & sweetly repeat the same to her.

I can’t get on-line – grrrrrrr - $4.95 for the day, or $19.95 for the month – might as well pay for my own monthly wireless!

Can’t wait to see how the rest of utah is thinking! In pink peace, sam

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