The Random Thoughts

I have had a lot on my mind these last couple of runs. Yesterday was no different, but, I was able to take my favorite trail up to the lake and back. It’s about 6.25 miles give or take a tenth. It’s been a long time since I have been up this one. It feels like almost a month or more. It could be. Anyhow, I have had some ideas going through my mind and this is what I have come to.

Recently, a work colleague went to her 20th high school reunion. She said it wasn’t bad, but what was shocking was a girl had come in and went to all of the people around her and told them what horrible people they were for doing those things to her or made her to feel a fool of some sorts. This got me to thinking. I didn’t have the greatest time in school, but, I don’t think that holding onto that kind of anger and resentment for so many years is a healthy thing. So I wanted to do something different. In my life time, I have been able to have a series of wonderfully power moments that have helped and shaped who I am today. I can call upon these moments now and be so grateful for the cheerleaders I had growing up. I wanted to do something about that so they knew how much something they likely don’t remember has helped me make it through some hard days. I wanted to say thank you for making that day easier for me. For being my cheerleader. My best thought was to do this as a book, which I may do, but, for today, I wanted to do it as an open letter. I may do a series of them and it may just be today.

However, the one I need to write today is not to anyone one person I have met. I wanted to do this for someone I love a great deal. They are a veteran, they are trying to help the world be a better place for our kids. This particular person happens to have an accent, suggesting he’s from another country. Make no mistake, he’s born in California, raised on the ocean, served our country. He joined because he saw serving this country as a duty as well as a privilege, not during a time of war either. I served with many people who weren’t from the United States and were on the path to becoming a citizen of this country. This whole thing makes me wonder how they are getting along in our country right now.

An Open Letter to the Korean Veteran and Staff and Manager at Wal-Mart in Payson Arizona.

Dear Manager,

This past Friday, the 16th of August 2019, my friend was at your store in the afternoon. He was standing in line and when and older couple approached the same line, he told them to go ahead of him in line. The gentleman was with his wife. He was wearing a Korean Vet ball cap and my friend says “Thank you for your service”. Due to my friends very thick accent, he was asked why thank me if you’re not from here? My friend explained he was born here, he was raised with a family who wasn’t from the states originally. They being to chat about where did he serve, did my friend serve, the older gentleman’s wife served, my friends’ wife served as well, how do you feel about combat. Then the conversation turned to politics and the gentleman asked my friend what did he think of the president. My friend simply stated he wasn’t a fan and they began to talk about how the gentleman voted for him but he is regretting this decision. They go on to talk about how they, the couple, remember this happening when they were young. They remember.

At this point, as a lady in front of both of them goes to leave, she looked back at them all and told my friend to go back to whatever shit hole country you came from. I was shocked as I was being told this and I felt like I knew what would happen next, but I was surprised. The older man stood up straight and told this woman off. Rightly so. As a veteran myself, I find it incredibly offensive for others to think it’s ok to talk like that to anyone. This is the 6th time in 2 1/2 years that he’s been told to go back to where he came from. When your CSM was called over to help with the situation, I was again surprised to hear that the woman in question, who made the remarks, was asked if she was finished with her transaction and that she was asked to never return. She was no longer welcome and that Wal-Mart does not tolerate that kind of treatment to anyone, let alone those who have signed a contract up to and including your life. The lady becomes increasingly angry over this. After all Payson isn’t a huge place with many places to shop. The manager is called over and repeats what the CSM had told her.

I was shocked to hear that this happens, but, it happens a lot to my friend. No doubt it happens to the ones I served with who also have thick accents suggesting that they weren’t born in this country. First, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you so much for standing up for my friend. Thank you for seeing this happen and doing something about it. I was so angry to see this man cry when he has told me about the treatment he gets simply because he has a foreign accent. Six times this has happened. This is six times too many. But, for the first time, someone was there to stand up for him and to be able to do something about it.

To the Veteran and his Wife: Thank you so much for your service. Words cannot adequately express how grateful I am to hear about your reaction to this whole thing. I have been blessed to have worked with veterans, a few who served at the same time as you. You have my undying gratitude and respect. Thank you!

To the Store Manager: Thank you. I know that it cannot be easy, dealing with the amount of patrons that come to your store. Dealing with the public can be exhausting at times, but your reaction and handling of this situation is worthy of notice and praise. It says a lot about the integrity of your employees. They didn’t tolerate that kind of behavior nor should anyone have to deal with it. They were marvelous and deserve recognition for taking a stand against the hatred that seems to permeate our small communities. I cannot tell you how much it is appreciated to know that I can shop in your store and that won’t be tolerated. Thank you!

Think about it. To have wanted to join the military, to get to serve in the military, and then to be treated like garbage because of the way he talks. The current administration has made similar comments to other people, and as the leader of the free world, he is the head of our country. He has made it ok to be an asshole with no thought to consequences or backlash. To be told 6 times to go back to where you came from. I realize most where I live think California is a foreign country, some would say that about Texas is as well. When does it end? When did we stop the spread of hate? When do we realize that we really are all the same? I don’t know. I don’t see an end in sight.