American Soldier says,
Last night AS and I went out to do some shopping. It was a spur of the moment “let’s get a sitter and go out” thing. We haven’t been out alone in a few weeks so we were both looking forward to the time alone.
So the sitter arrives and we leave. It’s a nice drive to where we are headed. We each talk about our day, the upcoming weekend, and the kids.
At the store AS does his thing. He’s getting ready for this job he’s been praying for so we’re out getting some new clothes (he hasn’t got it yet but is very close.) Anyways, he gets measured and picks out some pants and shirts. Then decides he would like a new pair of shoes and maybe a belt. Then he goes for the gusto and gets some ties and a blazer too. He’s looking sharp!
We were in the store for about an hour and a half. We head out to the car. We are the only car in the parking lot since all the stores, except one, were now closed. As we come out I notice a pudding cup on the ground on the driver’s side of the car on the ground. I think nothing of it- just of how some people are to lazy to put things in the trash. As walks to the back of the car and lets out a sound of astonishment. When I get there I can’t believe it, That pudding cup on the other side of the car is all over the side, back end, and read window of his car.
We were both very shocked. Was it a random act from some toad of a teenager or was this the deliberate defacing from an anti-war person? AS have a purple heart license plate with a very noticeable war related vanity name.
We went into the one store still open and asked for a roll of paper towels. I explained why and she handed us a roll. AS went to work cleaning it off the window and rear as best he could. We were going to find a car wash on the way home.
On that drive we were kind of quiet. Each of us wondering why someone would do that, was it on purpose, was it just some teen being stupid? If it were because of his plate and status it’s a heart sinking feeling. I mean, this man went away to help a people who do not know how to help themselves. He helped try to better a country and it’s people and he would do the same here in his own country if he had to. Heck, he did. He was in New Orleans for Katrina.
We talked about this. Was it an act of prejudice or just some random occurrence? How could someone be some judgmental if it were on purpose? What would AS have done if he had seen this happen? He would have just about jumped the person who did it.
All I know is that it saddens me to think that this could have been some anti-war person. That it was my husband who was there and was changed from his experiences. The look in his eyes on the way home broke my heart. He was very hurt by this act and the possible implications of them. You know, if you’re a long time reader, about the anti-war protesters he passed on the road. You know he does not hold a grudge. But this was something aimed directly at him, defacing his personal property.
How people can be so rude and disrespectful is shocking to me. Especially towards people who have given so much for others.
