Herb’s Blog, Herbdate 22321 – 799:
Here’s the haps:
Prejudice. Merriam-Webster dictionary, my go-to dictionary, a direct line descendant of the original American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster, defines prejudice as, “an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics” and “an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.” This is one of the many causes of the burning hatreds that are rampant in the world right now. Some people think that the only hate in the world is in the United States and is black versus white. This is silly and ignorant. Our problems in the United States are well-known because of the freedom our press has to publish and broadcast them to the world. It also gets people talking. We’re not the only country with these problems by a longshot.
But, I am not going to address the problems in other countries. Not at the moment, anyway. Or even our problems, for that matter. Except for this one. I have a different bone in my throat, today. Actually, I described one type of scenario where this prejudice applies in my story, Dave Gets What He Deserves, back in August, but I have gone from being annoyed to somewhat seething.
I took Mrs. Herb and Daughter out to Walmart to do some shopping for some much needed items. We were blessed with a bit of finance just in the nick of time to get some stuff. There are some things I can’t just go and buy for them, however, and it works best if they get out and shop for themselves. Besides, it’s good for them to get away from the house for a couple of hours anyway, when possible. So, off we all went on our merry way, Mrs. Herb on my arm with her Oxygen and Daughter with her walker. By the time we got to the door from the handicapped parking spot, Daughter was tired and Mrs. Herb’s balance issues rose up against her. So, Daughter got an electric cart and Mrs. Herb used the walker and I took a regular cart(or buggy or trolley) and we set off to the various areas we had to go.
This is why I wasn’t around to hear the ignorant jerk make a sideways comment to another person about daughter in the electric cart. “She’s young and can stand up and walk. She doesn’t need that.” Daughter has been dealing with ignorant people for a long time now and just kind of blew it off for what it was, a prejudiced, ignorant statement. Like I said, I wasn’t with her or I would have responded more vocally. It’s probably good that it turned out the way it did, though. She is sweet and mild-mannered and the rest of her shopping experience included her meeting very nice people. I’ve been to blogs where the author was very outspoken about their opinion of people who use the electric carts. In my job I see people every day who need them and use them. They are all different ages, races, sizes and everything other kind of difference, but they all have one thing in common, they need a little extra help. In my retail experience (of way too many years), to even now, working the Entrance Door, I have only seen one or two times where there was an obvious abuse.
So, The blunt moral of this story is if you don’t know what you’re talking about, shut up be quiet.
Remember, the Good Book says: I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Act 20:35)
Comments
31 responses to “Ignorance Is Bliss To The Ignorant”
This makes me very sad.. people can be so mean…
Yeah. But she is quick to point out that she met more nice people than jerks which is a positive side.
Absolutely! However, the jerks need education and a hefty throat punch… just saying. Not all disabilities can be seen on the outside. Case in point, a lack of empathy.
Lack of empathy is the worst, I think.
I agree!
I am so sorry she had to go through that. Praying…. “he” cannot steal the blessings God has for you all.
She is pretty positive and she points out that she met more nice people than the other kind.
That is great….she is amazing, I am not surprised.
True
The world would be a better place if we could just learn to mind our own business.
Very true, sir. Very true.
🌷I’m sorry. You are so blessed to have one another.
Thanks. It just made me angry at the time.
I can see why. It would, me too!
Noone has said anything to me about using those motorized carts. I did one time while taking my short shorts to get one was passed by a spry 30-40 yr old who proceeded to take the last one. They then smiled directly at me and went on their way on said cart. Two people said something in objecting but the rider just laughed.
Later I saw said person with the cart full in the back of the store. The battery went dead. It may have been wrong but I made sure they knew I had seen, I laughed out loud. It felt great, someone was watching, we know who.
lol. Sounds like they had it coming.
I totally understand….
Yes
It’s great she has such a great attitude.
I couldn’t care less about how people use them, except when they ride them outside, and then of course leave them. It says right on them not to do that. It sticks in my craw. If you’re that helpless you need more than an electric cart in a shopping center.
That is true, but you have seen, it happens all the time.
Please allow me to say I’m sorry you have to deal with such things. AS the good book says, It is not mine to judge, so why should I care if someone is abusing a silly thing. I have dealt with a form of this my entire life and I have grown not only immune but snarky. Find good people and for get the idiots, there are so many more of them.
Laughter can move mountains
Yes sir, I agree. There are still a lot of nice people out there. I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your comment sooner but it wound up in my spam again, which hasn’t happened for a while.
You know, it’s no skin off my nose if someone uses an electric cart. I guessed I’ve never stopped to think that that’s something that should bother me.
Me either until someone made comment about it as though it were, as you say, skin off their nose.
People are strange.
Very true.
My heart goes out to your daughter and to you all, Herb. Stupid people like the one who made the wise crack about your daughter really make my blood boil. People really need to mind their own business. I see people using the electric cart all the time at walmart and it doesn’t bother me. And as to the ignorant people who like to trash the disabled, they’d better be careful because it could be them one day. Life’s just funny like that. God bless you and your family.
Thanks. I was ticked off when I wrote it but you’re right, you never know what could happen.
I have a wife and a daughter who have dealt with serious hearing loss for most of their lives. The ignorant comments from the occasional chuckleheads are different, but I know just what you mean.
Thanks JP.
Amen. People can be so judgmental and mean. Thank goodness not all of us are…