Two Men… Two Points of View… The Problem With The World!
WARNING: The language in this post contains profanity. This is an actual conversion between two men and I didn’t want to censor it. I have captured it to the best of my ability exactly the way it happened.
There were two men on either side of a gas pump, each filling their tank up with the cheapest gas available.
Mike was on pump 3, which was closest to the mini mart… he was filling up his Ford Explorer. Mike was a tall muscular man with short blond hair protruding from underneath his green John Deer baseball cap.
Gary was using pump 1 directly across from Mike. He was driving a Honda Civic Hybrid. Gary had long flowing brown hair and a body that looked chronically underfed.
This is the conversation that took place between these two men. It was in Wenatchee Washington… but it could have taken place in any town or any city across northern America.
“Nice bumper sticker… ” Mike said following himself up with a mumbled word that ended in “ssy”
(There was a peace sign in the rear window of the Civic, but no stickers on the actual bumper)
“You mean the peace sign?” asked Gary.
“Yeah, I mean the pussy peace sign” said Mike.
“What is wrong with peace?” asked Gary.
“I know your type. Your one of those fucking tree huggers that cost me my job at the lumber mill!” exclaimed Mike.
“I know your type also. You shoot first and ask questions later. Perhaps you can.. ” Gary was interrupted before he could finish what he was saying.
“Look at you with all that hair. You look like a sissy girl. I have a hunting knife in my truck…. could take care of that right now,” said Mike.
“I see you are a Christian by your bumper stickers” said Gary. He was now hanging up the nozzle to the gas pump.
(Side note…. the bumper stickers on Mike’s truck read: “Kill ‘em all and let God sort them out” “God is a conservative” “P.E.T.A. People eating tasty animals”.. and a forth one that said “US Marine Corp” but I couldn’t make out all the small words that were underneath it”)
“Damn right I am in. I know where I am going when I die and I have a pretty good idea where you are going too… you and all that long pretty hair,” laughed Mike.
“Jesus Christ had long hair too.” said Gary.
There was a long silence here. Gary was taking his receipt from the gas pump.
“You would have called Jesus a pussy and a tree hugger if you had met him. He would have loved you anyway,” said Gary as he opened the door to his car.
At this point Mike walked over past the gas pump and went up to Gary’s car. He looked really pissed.
“You listen to me you little shit. I served this country and fought in Vietnam. You owe me. People like me are the only reason people like you are even alive. ” Mike was now yelling in Gary’s face. His face was red and spit was coming out of his mouth and landing on Gary as he he yelled. I noticed that the woman inside the gas station was watching now and I saw her pick up the phone. Perhaps it was to call the police.
“When terrorist’s attack us see if your peace sign will save you then. When the bombs start dropping what are you going to do little man!” exclaimed Mike. “You are the problem. People like you make this country weak. ”
Gary was now standing next to his car with the driver’s door open. Mike had him cornered between the door and the body of the car. Gary had the look of a guy who was going to vomit.
“I’m not the problem…” Gary said shaking.
“You sure as hell are the problem” said Mike.
“It’s violent people like you that are the problem” said Gary. He sat down into his car but was unable to close the door to the car because Mike was standing between the open door and the car.
It was right then that a police car pulled into the gas station. That ended the argument before it could escalate further. The officer spoke with both men separately and he asked me what I saw, which is how I learned their names. No one was charged with anything and as far as I know everyone went their separate ways.
I am not going to take a side and say which one is right and which one is wrong, because that is a matter of opinion.
I would like to leave you with one simple question.
Would the world be a better place if it were full of people like Mike….
Or would it be a better place if it were full of people like Gary?
Be the change you want to see in the world.