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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

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Go buy yourself a life on one of them there shelves!

Mid-Indiana - at a greyhound bus stop too - for the bus driver is calling "all aboard" as I enter the store

Pulling into a trucker's stop so I can make coffee, I stand by the hot water machine as my cup fills up with the real gut stuff. An older white man that has already passed me once giving off angry white male vibes, comes back for a second time. I guess he has gathered his 'courage'.

"Why don't you go buy yourself a life on one of those shelves over there" he shouts at me. I am curious to know which shelf is selling life but I calmly ask him if he'd like to have a conversation or if he just wants to yell.

He seems to hesitate as he's making a bee-line to the door and then retorts negative, no conversation.

There are several other white folks standing around, making sure they're not looking, as if this man & I are in the store together & they are trying to give us 'space' - far from California that we are...

I feel grateful to Turner from the Clarksville protest, cause I am able to shout after this white man "it is LIVES I'm trying to save, son" including my life I muttered under my breath.

Now people are staring directly at me. I turn and repeat to them, I am trying to save lives - all of us working to end war are trying to save lives.

They all look a little blank. I ask them rhetorically but hopefully "do you know which shelf he was taking about that is selling life?"

Go, get on your way! to be continued

I’m always cautious and slightly apprehensive when approaching a business I need something from while I’m traveling. Sometimes my apprehension is right on and I have to deal with belligerent white males refusing to change my tire or replace my cracked windshield because I’m “unpatriotic, a traitor, anti-president!”

Often I am relieved and even surprised at the warmth and giving that awaits me.

This happened this morning when I sought out a locksmith to help with the padlock on the door of my truck.

Yesterday, in Louisville, while waiting for Jody to appear, I called myself ‘fixing’ my padlock key – it had bent over the years and I had a small hammer so I tried straightening it out.

The results were the key was straight but wouldn’t work in the lock. This morning, I had to get the lock off as I’m picking up a load to bring back to sunny California!

I drive into the cul de sac that houses the locksmith and park in front of the large locksmith sign. A middle-age white womon with lemon custard blond hair, plucked eyebrows, and a broad expressionless face is sitting in front of the door, puffing on cigarettes and eyeing me as I get out.

“You’re lucky you have that on your truck” she yells gruffly at me. I’m not sure I hear her correctly until she adds: “I’ve half a mind to get up and get right in that truck with you.”

I grin and tell her to come on!

To be continued…


Her husband fixes the lock, makes me 3 new keys, and then sends me on my way – WITHOUT charging me!