The supermarket parking lot was packed, so I took out my handicapped sign and parked first row.

My basket fully stocked, I noticed all the check out stands were slammed, while the express lane only had 2 people waiting. I had way more than 15 items, but got in line anyway.

The cashier was chatting away with the old lady ahead of me, who took out her checkbook, and began to write. CASH ONLY! I interrupted. Both glanced at my basket. Exposed as having no right to be in the lane myself, I stared down the two of them. When my turn came to check out, there was no banter, only silence.

On the way out, a car was parked right outside the store. It looked like the driver had pulled up to the front to load groceries, instead of doing it in his parking spot. Still annoyed from the express lane, I walked over, ready to comment on his behavior. HEY, NUMBNUTZ! I spat at him when I noticed he was loading up a wheel chair. Apparently, all handicapped spaces were full.

Mumbling, I faked a limp all the way to my truck. Filled with rage, and self-loathing, I pulled out of the parking lot. As I was gathering speed, I suddenly had to slam my breaks to avoid hitting the car in front of me. Fuming, I leaned out my window and gave the driver the finger as I yelled FUUUCK YOU in righteous anger. In the car sat a woman, two little kids in the back looked at me in horror. Terrified, one of them started crying.

Now I felt like an asshole.

It wasn’t very long however, until the guilt subsided.
Shrewdly, my ego negotiated with my conscience. “Come on, if I had less then 15 items, the hag would still have held me up. Everyone uses handicapped parking. And the woman was endangering her kids driving like that. Stop beating yourself up, the ego said. FUCK them. They had it coming”. My ego is articulate.
The handicapped guy never even entered my head.

By the time I got home I was over reflecting on myself, and ready to relax.
I turned on the TV. All the news channels carried the story of a guy in Texas that shot and killed two burglars, while on the phone with 911. A recording of the operator pleading with the homeowner not to go outside was played over and over.

Presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity, the guy couldn’t resist. Unable to bear watching them get away carrying a bag of loot, he went outside and shot them in the back with righteous anger. Guilt ridden, he exclaimed “I had no choice!”.

Soon, the story of a hero, attacked in his own home by illegal criminals spread, and prompted Lou Dobbs to recommend the guy for a medal.

CNN broke down the event to a suggestive yes or no question of the day:
“Do you believe Americans are entitled to use deadly force to protect their homes and the homes of their neighbors from burglars?”

With the home beyond protecting, and the criminals on the run, the question could just as easily have been: Do you believe Americans are entitled to execute burglars on the spot?”

The homeowner never got a chance to self-reflect.
When Lou Dobbs volunteered as negotiator for his ego, his conscience didn’t stand a chance. “Come on, these burglars were illegal aliens, had criminal records, and broke into a house in broad daylight. PLEASE. They had it coming. The actual definition of self-defense never entered Dobbs’ head.

In the future as seen by Nostraboris:

Lou Dobbs’ head will actually explode on live TV.
Minutemen branch out to drive-by shootings at Home Depot without getting prosecuted.

I will continue to be unforgiving to those that trespass against me, but as long as I have an articulate ego, I am humble enough no to pull a gun on ‘em.

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