So, those of you who frequent this board probably know what line of work I'm in, and yes I'm white. In light of recent events (and I hope this doesn't end up getting locked) I wanted to share a story that happened to me Friday afternoon.
Driving to a basketball tournament for a couple of hours. On the east side of Des Moines, near the state fairgrounds we stop at a Subway so son can eat lunch. We walk in, and there was an African American male probably 25-30 years old, ordering ahead of us. I wasn't hungry, so I handed my son a credit card, and went outside to grab my phone charger since my phone was almost dead.
I return into the Subway a few minutes later, sit down, and plug my phone in and wait for son as I check my email. I hear son say "Thank you," and figure he's talking to the Subway worker, but not paying a lot of attention as there's a whole 5 people in there including me.
Son sits down, and tells me, the African American man bought his sandwich, and told him to do something nice for someone else. By the time I hear this, the male has left the parking lot and is gone.
Simple "Pay It Forward" story???? Not so sure. In light of recent events, especially Dallas, I wore my white "support blue" shirt Friday like the picture below. These were sold a year ago when Kerrie Orozco was killed
Before I handed my son a credit card, I made quick eye contact with the man, and he had to have seen my shirt. Makes me wonder if he knew what that shirt meant, and if it made him decide to buy my son a sandwich? Also wonder if he thought I was possibly in law enforcement (I try to not look like a stereotypical cop), or just some Joe with a shirt? Would have been interesting to find out had I realized what was going on.
The timing and circumstances just make me think this wasn't a random pay it forward deal. If it wasn't, I bet he and I could have had a heck of a conversation. Maybe we could have shown people what I've always said. We may not be alike and agree, but doesn't mean we can't be respectful.
Driving to a basketball tournament for a couple of hours. On the east side of Des Moines, near the state fairgrounds we stop at a Subway so son can eat lunch. We walk in, and there was an African American male probably 25-30 years old, ordering ahead of us. I wasn't hungry, so I handed my son a credit card, and went outside to grab my phone charger since my phone was almost dead.
I return into the Subway a few minutes later, sit down, and plug my phone in and wait for son as I check my email. I hear son say "Thank you," and figure he's talking to the Subway worker, but not paying a lot of attention as there's a whole 5 people in there including me.
Son sits down, and tells me, the African American man bought his sandwich, and told him to do something nice for someone else. By the time I hear this, the male has left the parking lot and is gone.
Simple "Pay It Forward" story???? Not so sure. In light of recent events, especially Dallas, I wore my white "support blue" shirt Friday like the picture below. These were sold a year ago when Kerrie Orozco was killed
Before I handed my son a credit card, I made quick eye contact with the man, and he had to have seen my shirt. Makes me wonder if he knew what that shirt meant, and if it made him decide to buy my son a sandwich? Also wonder if he thought I was possibly in law enforcement (I try to not look like a stereotypical cop), or just some Joe with a shirt? Would have been interesting to find out had I realized what was going on.
The timing and circumstances just make me think this wasn't a random pay it forward deal. If it wasn't, I bet he and I could have had a heck of a conversation. Maybe we could have shown people what I've always said. We may not be alike and agree, but doesn't mean we can't be respectful.
