So, I was chilling in the Las Vegas airport waiting for my flight when I hear a small commotion behind me. By commotion, I mean a woman in a wheelchair yelling at the wheelchair pusher. At first, I thought this was one of the contract wheelchair pushers for the airport, as she was speaking at him so condescendingly. But, alas, it was her husband.
I went back to writing and tried to bury my nose in my laptop and zone out of the sounds of Vegas.
Not even two minutes later, I hear the same woman talking to random passengers sitting across from her, asking if they will watch her cats so she can go to the restroom. Apparently the husband had gone off to fetch her some food and she could not wait for him to return to go to the restroom. She introduced herself to the other passengers and began grilling them on their life story. Where were they from. How did they meet. Did they lose a lot of money in Vegas. What were they doing in Vegas. All sorts of things which were none of her business, and the couple answered uncomfortably. Then the husband returned.
Oh my! And this is when it got cra-cra-crazy.
This woman began to reprimand him for leaving her. Then commanding him to move her around. Then proceeded to tell him he needed to be more "normal". In bed.
As much as I did not want to turn around and see what the hell was going on and why this woman was getting all crazy in a public forum. Like those around me, I could not help myself.
Train wreck ensued.
I looked.
She began to cry and shout. Spewing about all his habits and asking repeatedly, "why can't you just be normal". It occurred to me at that point, "what is normal?"
Then she says, "I know what you want."
At this point, I begin to gather up my things because I cannot sit here for one minute longer listening to this awful display of public insanity.
But, before I can get my laptop back in the bag and my cord wrapped up and into my carryon, she hisses, "You want to gamble."
Ha! I thought I might die laughing.
She went from evil, to sad, to mean, to all-knowing within a 15 minute period and I am not exaggerating one bit. This is when any "normal" person would suggest medication, and perhaps a short stint at a "resort" if you know what I mean.
She needed serious help. Then I thought, how does she have a husband? Who puts up with this kind of crazy?
I hustled out of there as fast as I could, trying not to make eye contact with anyone in the vicinity.
Scared, really. Those are the situations that go from zero to sixty in two minutes or less, and you don't know why. I'll tell you why and I'll tell you how. Some people are just a little crazy.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Collateral Damage: politics and the breakdown of every community
Reading one of the most powerful articles I have read in a decade, today, I am acutely aware of where I stand in American politics, and what I despise about the insolence of this country.
I wrote a blog about collateral damage in relationships a while ago. How people don't even acknowledge collateral damage because that's part of the game right? How to win the war right? In every good fight exists, some, if not necessary trauma and death. Whether death be, human and physical ending of life, or the death of spirit of community, and concept.
Today, this quote stood out to me in an article that was was so blatentely accurate and informative, I feared for the writers backlash and future. Americans hate to hear, or acknowledge the truth.
But, this:
"Then again, no one wants to feel like a bad person, and there's no need to apologize if you are oblivious to the harms done in your name -- calling the occasional ones you notice collateral damage (“stuff happens”) -- or if you believe that American force is always applied righteously in a world that is justly divided into winners and losers." Jeremiah Goulka (Full Article)
is TRUTH.
We, as Americans, have a sense of self that far exceeds the value of human life, and morality, around the world. For whatever reason, we believe that whatever we do, whomever we kill, in the name of justice and freedom, but actually in the name of capitalism and pure greed, overlapped by fear of anything not cloaked in our own generic value of what an American is supposed to look like, is A-OK.
This mode of thought is what has a majority of the world mocking and disdainful of the average American stereotype. All of us.
What we have become is a monster of mass destruction. Incapable of even adhering to our own parents values; childrens right's, and sense of self. The issues have become shadowed by media interpretation and vulgar masks of prejudice and classism. Blatant disregard for human life and rights, in lieu of concept of money - of which we have none. Our country is broke. Wake up!
War is not the answer.
Oil is not a life threatening and freedom bearing issue.
The taxes of one man, who "opts out" is none of our business. The only reason these are popular issues is because it divides our society. The politicians and the media in this country are insidious manipulators.
Making the pie pieces smaller neither enhances the flavor nor multiplies the amount of the pie itself. It simply makes smaller pieces for the few that get to taste it.
Collateral Damage: affects everyone.
I wrote a blog about collateral damage in relationships a while ago. How people don't even acknowledge collateral damage because that's part of the game right? How to win the war right? In every good fight exists, some, if not necessary trauma and death. Whether death be, human and physical ending of life, or the death of spirit of community, and concept.
Today, this quote stood out to me in an article that was was so blatentely accurate and informative, I feared for the writers backlash and future. Americans hate to hear, or acknowledge the truth.
But, this:
"Then again, no one wants to feel like a bad person, and there's no need to apologize if you are oblivious to the harms done in your name -- calling the occasional ones you notice collateral damage (“stuff happens”) -- or if you believe that American force is always applied righteously in a world that is justly divided into winners and losers." Jeremiah Goulka (Full Article)
is TRUTH.
We, as Americans, have a sense of self that far exceeds the value of human life, and morality, around the world. For whatever reason, we believe that whatever we do, whomever we kill, in the name of justice and freedom, but actually in the name of capitalism and pure greed, overlapped by fear of anything not cloaked in our own generic value of what an American is supposed to look like, is A-OK.
This mode of thought is what has a majority of the world mocking and disdainful of the average American stereotype. All of us.
What we have become is a monster of mass destruction. Incapable of even adhering to our own parents values; childrens right's, and sense of self. The issues have become shadowed by media interpretation and vulgar masks of prejudice and classism. Blatant disregard for human life and rights, in lieu of concept of money - of which we have none. Our country is broke. Wake up!
War is not the answer.
Oil is not a life threatening and freedom bearing issue.
The taxes of one man, who "opts out" is none of our business. The only reason these are popular issues is because it divides our society. The politicians and the media in this country are insidious manipulators.
Making the pie pieces smaller neither enhances the flavor nor multiplies the amount of the pie itself. It simply makes smaller pieces for the few that get to taste it.
Collateral Damage: affects everyone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)