It’s amazing how the minions of hell come down upon you, if you have the temerity to do something nice for someone else. And too many times, those cowards who spit nails are unfortunately related to you in some way, either by blood, marriage, or through your neighborhood or work environment. Mean-spirited reactions include the truly idiotic, such as wrapping rope around the undercarriage of a car and fastening the other end to a neighbor’s palm tree. Then there is the public cursing of you in supermarkets, and the buzzing of your home on a raucous motorcycle. Silent phone calls are too banal to follow up on, but they happen, even being made to a work number.
In fact, just speaking up in behalf of someone who’s being unfairly treated, can bring the ugly worms right out of the woodwork. But it’s said that if you have no enemies, you may not have done much with your life. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so to speak. As one who has been kicked in the gut too many times to list, I have no tolerance for social injustice, even when it’s directed at others. Turning the other cheek may get you the greater reward in Heaven, but judicious pushing back at spiteful kickers, grabbers and other abusers is the best way to handle the reality of the here and now. Forgiveness is indeed Divine, but only a fool lets the same individuals continue to stomp all over him or her without biting off their feet at the knees. Of course, doing so puts one at risk for catching some filthy diseases, so at times, bringing in a bigger ally is the best approach. No gutless wonder is going to argue with a 6-foot 9-inch athletic cousin, one who can physically hold shut a door against a deranged co-worker.
So, since you perpetrators are fully aware of who you are, you have now received your 15 minutes of fame. Perhaps your next stop should be your counselor’s office, where you might learn about social responsibility, anger management, and what being humane is all about.
Women Writers of the Desert hold their annual conference – Write On! 2006 — on May 13 in Phoenix, Arizona. “Learn what it takes to put your book on store shelves, from selling what you know, to what you DON’T know about publishing.”
Write On! 2006 is for you!
Location is The Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona.
Cost is very reasonable. Great speakers, raffle prizes, and more!
Also, click to receive details and forms via e-mail: info@wwdonline.org.