Strangers

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James_Tyler

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I do miss being a child sometimes for the simple reason that almost everyone shows love to children. Do you miss people being so kind to you. Generally speaking of course. Some people are mean to kids as well.

I can still remember being confused as left behind youth and went into my 20’s and then 30;s. I didn’t understand why people seemed to treat me more and more unkindly. Boy was I a slow learner. Of course I did come to understand that there is much less taken for granted for an adult and many people can dislike you just what your face looks like or what clothes you wear, your sex. nationality, race, ethnicity, gross annual income, your accent, your home state, your occupation, your physical bearing, what you believe, the way you drive, the way you walk, the way you talk, and on and on. There is no shortage of reasons. But they can like you for the same reasons. But as a child, most adults will like you just for being a child because you just plain are not responsible for any of that stuff yet. Yes, i do miss most nearly every face being a friendly face just when you look upon it. I have accepted and gotten quite used to nearly every new face having trace suspicion in it as a 40+ white male. And i hear I have it easy.

Two black males came to work at my store as temp labor for an afternoon. My white manager and black co-supervisor apparently treated these guys like they were scumbag thieves. My manager came and told me after they left that they were looking for me because they, having finished their job, they were going to bum a couple of cigarettes and see if i could give them a couple of dollars for gas. I would have given them the smokes but I carry no cash these days. Well, my manager told them “NO!” and ran them out of the store. I remember one of the black guys’ face. When he started his shift I looked at him as I was giving him some directions. He looked permanently angry. He passed me on the way out too after my manager ran them out. He looked the same but more fresh. I didn’t really trust them either. With two new guys working in the back I made sure I had all my belonging picked up from the back room. I did stop short of arriving at the conclusion that they were thieves being that there was no reason for it. I was just taking precautions as I did not want to lose my phone primarily.

Well, that one guy, whose face I remember, I don’t know if he fully understands that his face represents so much possibility and we are apparently more keenly aware of our fear of him than any promise he might hold. It’s a hard world for him if he has to put up with it on regular basis and I bet he does. He is still quite young though and if his experience matches mine it’s only going to get worse as he gets older. People are afraid of strangers.

edit: I probably should have put this in social justice. sorry!
 
I couldn’t quite understand your complaint - it was rather rambling. But I’ve noticed that how people treat me often hinges on how I treat others.

Had a conversation once with a friend. She said her husband found our town (which we all moved to around the same time) very unfriendly. Which I thought odd until I thought about it. I smile at everyone - he frowns. So who is going to be treated better?
 
You have to treat things in the context of what is going on.

Yes, some people are just mean too, but most are nice until a reason is given them not to be nice.

If your employer did a background check on the temp workers, there was no reason to treat them as theives. They picked up on this. Then when they were run out of your place of employment-you are also a representative of this employer and they looked upon you the same as the supervisors.

The temp workers should not have asked for money or cigarettes on their first day either, but there is a polite way to say no. People generally treat others as they are being treated.

Some people also have bias-but based on what you wrote it seems like the above was the situation here.
 
I guess I find a current of distrust and prejudice under the layers of your post and a sense of guilt. These days we must be wary and ever present to danger, but you did judge them as you packed up all your stuff to keep them safe from people predators If I walked into your store would you worry about weather I was going to steal from you or your employer? Maybe you should because “white woman and white men” steal, too. Maybe that is why the call it “white/blue collar crime.” OK, so I am Irish. At one time the Irish were banned from housing with signs that read, “No Irish or Dogs Allowed.” In the 50’s it was the Puerto Riccans, the Vietnesse, now the Muslums; what group is next, I wonder?

Every society has a hate group: blame it on “them.” For us, we seem to be an “equal opportunity” dislike or hater society. As far as money is concerned, I think it would be wise to carry a few dollars in your sock because plastic is not accepted every where. Rant finished. Peace.
 
Jesus taught us to welcome the stranger – Welcome can be in a smile, in a gesture of kindness and in offering food.
When I am asked for money I usually never give out any funds because usually it goes to drink or drugs but I go back into the store and get them some kind of food or if at a restaurant or fast food place I go and buy them a meal. A priest taught me that who worked with the homeless at the train stations years ago. Give them something but not money –

I’ve thought about that and what if I gave money and in the end it was their last fix which killed them – no thanks to that! It might take a few extra minutes to go get them something but it is worth it in the end. I have even had someone refuse the food and just wanted money–
:gopray:
 
The bible claims our war is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces and rulers in the high places.

Shalom,
Jerry
 
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