Just like any other city in America, San Antonio — the nation’s seventh largest city — has its enclaves of economically well off individuals. Unfortunately, despite the predominant Hispanic population and plethora of vehicles with Mexican license plates, these folks are just as representative of the arrogant “yuppie” mentality as any other metropolitan area of America.
Most of my readers know that I am just a little bit different than the stereotypical six-figure income earner.
I’m not prone to mincing words and, although politically conservative, my faith in Christ and the changes He has wrought in my heart, along with serving more than ten years in overseas locations, allows me to see the vast differences that comprise the planet’s human population.
I’ve witnessed the extreme poverty of most nations, the result of violent death, and the heartbreak of families who have lost their children. Furthermore, having a severely disabled child myself, I know the tender hearts that abide within many of our fellow citizens and the citizens of other countries (Sarah Palin comes to mind).
However, I’ve also seen the worst in people. Xenophobia. Arrogance. Hate. Selfishness. Economic and ethnic prejudice. And a score of other labels.
Despite the broad cross-section that comprises the middle area of the two spectrums, I am still amazed at the response of the wealthy to a number of situations having to do with people.
This past Sunday was one of those, “I can’t believe it” moments.
Having need of a few grocery and home items, I took my disabled daughter to the “grocery store of Texas” to do a short shopping. While there, the children of the upscale neighborhoods were nothing less than rude. Despite having taken my daughter with me to the same store in different locations within the city, this was the first time that children actually stared at her and ran up beside me to get a better “look” at my daughter.
I was appalled.
Of course, I was the recipient of some blatant and condescending stares myself, as I had ridden my motorcycle that day and was wearing a sleeveless shirt that allowed my rather tattooed arms to show. So much for acceptance. And, although I could write a rather lengthy tome on strained Hispanic and African-American relations in San Antonio, the clientele of this particular store was definitely the home of “white bread.” The irony is that, had I been wearing my “work clothes,” I would have blended right into this yuppie store.
So what’s the “so what” of this little shopping trip?
A couple of things.
In this same area of town is one of the largest churches in America, whose pastor is nationally famous. I had to wonder what was being preached about the love of Christ in his church. I also realized that this section of town was just as possessive of the “entitlement mentality” that many of the residents complain about in others, and many are just as dissatisfied as Michelle Obama….which is really scary. And, since many of them have lived beyond their means for years (read “too much credit”), these same folks have the same mentality that leads John McCain to support buying bad mortgages. Thus, we have Yuppies among us who are “financially powerful” bigots, which is far worse than any “white trash” or ethnic bigot of the lower economic strata.
Relative to this rather eye-opening experience is a report I read a little over a year ago.
It seems that the further up the economic ladder individuals are the more prone they are to place work and financial success over people, while a poor American is far more likely to stop (regardless of being late) to help a stranded motorist, etc. The “Protestant Work Ethic” that dominates the middle class and upward tends to blind people to their fellow citizen’s needs. Of course, this is in direct conflict to the Gospel of Christ and is a rather broad generalization, but I think I understand the point the study was making: Economics plays a large role in an individual’s selfishness or selflessness.
This year’s election is also representative of the two polar opposites, and we are witness to mindless drones of the diametrically opposed economic conditions supporting a man who cannot frame a coherent answer to a simple question. Scary indeed.
Yes, this year’s election is all about change, but it’s not about changing the “you owe me” mentality at any level. Rather, it’s about the perception of which candidate is going to “give me” the most, which makes Michelle Obama the poster child of the 2008 presidential election.
I don’t think I will take my daughter back to that store and I know that I don’t want her to suffer what Obama has in store for America.
Filed under: Bikers for Christ, Economy, Faith, Freedom, Government, Harley-Davidson, Judeo-Christian Thought, Livin' Free in Christ, Media, Mortgaging Our Children's Future, Motorcycles, National Debt, Politics, Presidential Election 2008
Mark, I hate the fact the you and especially your daughter were subject to the cruel and stupid behavior of a deceived people. Sadly, this is the way I have to look at this situation, understanding that no one who has an ounce of good sense would ever swallow the rhetoric provided by the liberals in this country and the media that are falling all over themselves to see who can lift their banner the highest. There was a time in our history when good, honest, God fearing people behaved in a manner respectful of others and taught their children to do the same despite, spiritual, political or physical differences. Instances like this make my blood boil, and I see it happening around me with so called, intelligent people making asses of themselves. I believe when the Scriptures spoke of the latter days and said that “if it were possible, even the elite would be deceived”, they were speaking of these days.
I am fearful for our nation and not only for our nation, but for our individual selves. Knowing that we, as a people, are on a slippery slope in our commitment to the Lord and to the “Apple of His Eye”. We are about to make a choice for this country that will seal our fate as “one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all”. One nation? Which (god)/God? Liberty? Justice for whom?
Let us boldly walk together with the one and only Adonai, and all He stands for, hand in hand. We can’t assume that the United States of America is safe from Almighty God’s anger. We have repeatedly spit in His face as a nation.