The other part of my weekend

[hadassahchana[$]]

I couldn't decide where to put this, but something else happened this weekend. I had a run-in with a complete moron, and ended up blogging about it over on Marine Corps Moms.

I think that like many of us who support our troops, I'm worried that the day will come when the anti-war protesters fail to keep the troops separate from the war itself. Maybe this should be in the Symposium? Anyway, it was ugly, it made me angry, and I hope it isn't a trend.

[phoenixx]

An asshole is an asshole no matter what ideology they claim. This guy was being an asshole long before he discovered what #1 was doing, and I'm sure he didn't stop being one the rest of the day on any other subject either. I wouldn't worry about the rest of us who support the troops, and not the war - for example, I can't see my self changing a conversation about a parking space (already something I wouldn't do anyway) into a weird accusatory rant about war.

[theworm[$]]

what Leslie said.
What kind of jerk would get out of his car and harrass anyone over a parking spot? This has nothing to do with anything other than the guy is a putz.
You're proud of what #1 is doing, and you should be.
I'm not an anti-war "protester" but I do want this war to end soon. I do want our guys home. I'm also just as proud as you are of #1 and think he's a wonderful candidate to be a marine.
Jerks are jerks. Don't let one a-hole taint your view of the truth. Our troops deserve our praise and our thanks, and even those of us who really want a speedy end to the war recognize that.
Sorry you had to deal with that guy. I think you handled it well.

[mtomm[$]]

Did I know he was going to be a Marine? My dad was an accidental Marine.

I'm glad that loser was smart enough to get away while he could. How much stoopid could he muster up in just those few minutes? That was absolutely amazing!

[hadassahchana[$]]

Accidental Marine? That sounds interesting- how did that work?

[mtomm[$]]

Okay, I'd love to share the story.

My dad grew up very poor. I mean poor! So when the recruiters came to his school and had nice new clothing and new boots for the guys to look at he was hooked. Marine reserves here I come.

He went off to college in northern Montana and didn't think much about his enlistment. I think he went to a couple of weekend orientation things before he left for college. He would get letters saying he needed to be in Shelby for weekend duty. But Shelby was a long way for a college student with no money and no car to go so he just ignored it.

The summer came and the US declared war on Korea. My dad was working as some sort of gatekeeper (pamphlet hander-outer) on the Canadian border. When he heard about the declaration he knew it was over. I think it was just a few days later when he received the telegram demanding his appearance someplace (I can't remember now). He showed. He served in Korea and has a purple heart.


I say accidental because he really had no idea what he was getting himself into when he joined the reserves other than he thought a new pair of boots would be really nice.

I'd say he grew up to be a much wiser man.

[hadassahchana[$]]

Yikes - Korea?! that's a cool story, but wowza!

[MiracleMax]

Ugh, I'm so sorry you had to deal with that man, but I'm glad you stood your ground. Some people are just complete idiots.

[thinkerlady[$]]

My dad is a former Marine. He was a drill seargent at Paris Island. I was a Marine Brat. My dad had an accident--HCl acid explosion, in his face. He was fine after recovery, and no lingering scars. But it is what kept him out of Korea.
Assholes are assholes. I dislike this war just like the next person, but we cannot disrespect or forget about our troops away from home. There is a difference between supporting the war, and supporting our people. I hope Americans do not lose sight of that.

[mtbat]

Cindy, that guy-he was looking for reasons be be a jerk. And you won. You were a better person than he will ever be.

[hadassahchana[$]]

And I almost caught him, too!


Angie, that's neat that your dad was a Marine. It's so cool to keep on learning interesting things about each other here.

[lynnzop[$]]

Holey crap. I stand up and applaud you, Cindy. There's no way I could have been that controlled and calm!