We carry hundreds of titles on DVD where I work. We have quite a few excellent movies, and quite a few really bad movies. A woman walked up today, ready to check out, holding what I think is the best trilogy in existence: The Godfather Trilogy. I love these movies. I own these movies on both DVD and VHS. I have seen these movies more times that I care to share with you. When I asked if she was ready, she simply said yes. As I was about to point out my great love for these movies, she followed with, "...since you don't have Fahrenheit 911." In shock, I pointed out that we did have it, and showed her where it was. She quickly said, "Oh thank God, I can put this back." I stared at her for what seemed like forever, not comprehending why anyone would pass up an opportunity to watch two of the best movies ever made (..and a third staring the same actors) for a piece of political propaganda. Don't get me wrong, I have not seen Fahrenheit 911, but we are talking about the Unholy Trilogy here.
Completely unrelated, but something that I have been meaning to post about for awhile: solicitors. Our company will let anyone stand outside the front doors and beg for money. Sure there are some stipulations to that, but even with those, during the weekend I can not go in or out of my store without being annoyed by someone about giving money. This has always bothered me, but it was only about a month ago that I realized why, but giving these people money, we are passively promoting vagrancy. While not a big deal with the adults and some of the teenagers, I almost worry about the young children. These kids are wondering around in people they don't know, constantly being told by their parents that they need to "beg from that guy" or "make sure you talk to that lady" or my favorite "hey, get that one before he gets through, you almost missed him". These kids are being encouraged to beg from money from strangers and as a the reward for their vagrant behavior they are allowed to by uniforms for their football team, or camping supplies for their scout troop.
Anyways, now that I have gone through why I don't like beggars, I will tell you about todays beggars, a cheer leading troupe. There were five or six girls, all about 13, all in their cheer outfits (not looking very cheerful), and all with their coffee tins hoping people will stuff them with money. As normal, I walk past, ignoring them, and hit the food stand that is set up outside. The food stand has a few people from work cooking food for people, with all the profits going to whatever charity they are sponsoring that week. When I reached them, the guy on the grill laughed and nodded to one of the girls. I glanced over my shoulder and noticed she was looking at me rudely. He then asked me if I was going to give them money, which caused a laugh from me.
I ordered a bratwurst, and I went through a similar vagrancy rant that I just inflicted upon you, then a woman, apparently the mother of one of the cheerleaders, started to yell at me. She was going through all this nonsense about how they needed to raise money for new uniforms and how else where they supposed to get money? It took me a couple of minutes to get a word in because she kept interjecting comments about how I had no school spirit, about how I would feel different if they were my kids, etc. Once she finally shut up, I looked at her, held up three fingers, and told her that if she really wanted to know what I thought about it, I would tell her.
"First," pulling down a finger, "cheer leading and academics don't have anything to do with one another. People go to school to learn, not to hop around in little outfits yelling people who are yelling at people playing a sport. Second," pulling another finger down, "if the girls can stand in front of a building for several hours begging for money, in their uniforms they thought were presentable enough to be within several inches of passers, they they were probably presentable enough to wear on the field or court where they were several feet from the nearest people. And Third," closing my fist and lowering my hand, "they can work for their money. There are things magical things called car washes, and there are also things called back sales, or they could set up food stands. Oh look, we are at one now." I looked back at the guy at the grill and asked, "Who they were earning money for?" ...and I don't remember who he said...probably Riley or United Way. I thanked him, paid for my bratwurst, and started to walk away. I stopped, turned around, she was still staring at me. "You know, I guess I could always pay them to do flips or handstands...but I am not a pedophile."
