There Is A Reason Why I Carry A Bat In My Car.

[DonRedwood]

In the early 80's I was a college kid walking downtown with my best buddy (who is still my best buddy). We were crossing the main street in Portland anda homeless looking crazy man was walking behind us. He was muttering to himself and sounded pretty scary. He started threatening us, "Fu**ing faggots, I'll get you. kill you". He was really freaking me out so when we got across the street I pushed my friend to the side so the guy would pass us. But just as he walked by I looked ahead down the sidewalk and there was a young lady eating an ice cream cone walking in our direction. A cute high school girl in a short skirt, having a nice afternoon, eating an ice cream... and I got a terrible feeling and bolted after the crazy guy.

Too late. He punched her in the face as hard as he could just as she took a lick of her ice cream cone.

That terrible confused look on her face before the shock of pain hit her. She went down hard and I couldn't get there quick enough to catch her.

The man ran. We aided the girl and some people pinned down the guy.

I learned that day that there are people who do terrible things.

I always felt terrible for that poor girl, and the fact that because we stepped out of the way, she took the attack that was aimed at us. Terrible people will target the weak, the young, those who can't defend themselves because, hey, it's a nice day for ice cream.

I can see her face clear as day. And I swore I'd be more prepared the next time. That next time was a few years later. I was driving down Santa Monica Blvd at 2 in the morning. The road was lined with prostitutes and johns. And as I was sitting at a light, a prostitute and her pimp started fighting. She was a little thing. He must have had 180 lbs on her. And he started hitting her. Slapping her head around like she was a bobble head doll.

And everything in me cried out to go help her. But he was bigger than me and probably had a weapon... I had nothing. Just a kid in plaid shorts and a t-shirt and so I didn't help. I ran the red light and stopped at the closest phone booth and called 911. (pre cell phones!)

I can still see her face too. She was a hooker. Dressed in revealing clothes. Make up. Terrible hair. Poor girl. He hit her hard but she didn't go down. She was holding the bus shelter and wobbling on very high heels...but she didn't go down.

The other hookers nearby just watched.

Nobody helped her.

And I swore that I would help the next time. That I would make the situation safer for myself so I could intervene.

And a few days later I was at a sale and there was an antique hardwood baseball bat. It was black but so old the wood was coming through. It was beautiful. I bought it and put it in my car...and thought casually..."I wish I'd had that on Santa Monica that night." And so it has stayed in my car ever since. It is part of my promise that I will step up and help when needed. I have made the situation safer for myself and, as a man, as a human, have sworn to help those who are being abused. (Because living with the faces of people you have not helped burned into your mind is terrible).

22 years later I am sitting here with tears pouring down my face thinking of her face. And ice cream girl's face.

And I think of Syrian neighborhoods of moms and dads. Grandmas and grandpas. Little kids eating ice cream.

And I could help them and still stay safe. In my personal life I've already made this choice. I will help and not look the other way when innocence is attacked or abused.

And now as a country we are facing the same decision. Do we stand up to the terrible person? Or do we stand up for the innocent? Or do we just go our own way, go eat some tasty ice cream. Try not to picture those gassed children. Not our business.

My heart hurts that man can be so cruel. My heart hurts not to help. My heart hurts because I don't want our country to kill more people.

Anyway, that's why I carry the bat. I know, someday, I might have to wade into a fight. And when that time comes I've spent my money for a weapon to keep me safer, give me better odds. That's why we buy such things, invest in such things.

And, hopefully, my aim will be true. And the fight will be over quickly.

But, regardless, I believe in the goodness of protecting the innocent against terrible people. But that's me, on a personal level. And we've had more than enough war.

I just wish we'd learn.

[PoliticAverse]

1. And are you willing to kill innocents in the process? n/t

[Warpy]

2. Are you willing to kill moms and dads and little kids?

That's what you're suggesting.

[Wait Wut]

3. This is it.

Although I don't carry a bat in my car, I sort of carry one in my heart. I've seen enough pain, suffering and death of innocents. I can't pick a side on this, despite a couple of attempts to nail me to a side.

I don't want innocent people to die. Not by our hands, not by Assad's, not by anyone's. If I could stop it all, I would. I want little Syrian children to be allowed to laugh and play in the sun. I want mothers to celebrate their children's birthdays. I want fathers to share stories with their sons.

I don't want them to die. I don't want to watch fathers cry over dead children. I don't want to see the faces of terrified children made orphans.

My father once told me when I was little, 'Sometimes a hundred people need to die to save a thousand.' Pretty strong words aimed at a 6 year old. But, he made his point. It was a statement that I twirled around in my head for decades. I still can't tell you if he was right or wrong. I do know what he meant.

I don't have an answer. I just have an empty prayer and a broken heart.

[DonRedwood]

4. I was fine staying out of it until the chemical weapons

Now I don't know what to think. He gets away with it he will do worse and worse.

And the rest of the nut jobs now know that poison gas is back on the table.

As the arms companies in Britain sell them the chemicals...and we probably sell them the weapons.

It is heartbreaking on so many levels.

And, like I said, I don't know what to think.

[Wait Wut]

5. The chemical weapons made little difference to me.

Yes, it made it more urgent, but it didn't make it an easier choice.

It's times like this when I wish I could be one of those people who have no clue what's going on in the world. People who only pay attention to the latest TV shows, what's in fashion, which neighbor was out too late. I'd be dumber, less compassionate, but probably happier.

I want to be a shallow moron. Just until this is over. Then I'd like my brain back.

[Hekate]

6. I understand, Don, I really do. nt

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

13. Are you fine when civilians are killed with conventional weapons whose only crime

might have been being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Lately, we've been killing thousands to avenge hundreds

I don't like that calculus.

[backscatter712]

7. A crass attempt at emotional manipulation.

The real truth is that America's the tweeker on the world stage that is punching random people in the face.

[cliffordu]

15. You DO have a point.

Well said.

On the other hand, we are empire.

And empire demands blood. Every fucking time.

[HipChick]

20. I was almost sucked in there for a moment..

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. +1.

[CoffeeCat]

8. You sound like an incredibly sensitive person...

...who just wants to do the right thing.

Like you, I always try to help and my heart goes out to people who are hurting. I give money to the homeless and teach my children to care and do the same.

This is why I am totally against going into Syria. We will kill innocent men, women and children. We will do it randomly and recklessly. Just look at what we did in Iraq. More than 100,000 Iraqis slaughtered. Those were innocent people. They might as well each have been innocents standing on the corner eating their ice cream.

So mourn 100,000 times over--for those innocent souls--and realize that there is something you can do to help others, going forward.

SPEAK OUT AGAINST WAR. DO NOT SUPPORT DEATH, DESTRUCTION AND TRAUMA.

We were told that Iraq would be a piece of cake, that we'd be out soon. We were bamboozled. Nearly a trillion dollars later; thousands of soliders' lives later; and more than 100,000 Iraqis dead. War is not the solution to problems. How can we trust our government again when it comes to bombing and killing in the Middle East. Enough. Please.

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. It was prudent of the rest of the world to reject the title of "tough guy"

They don't feel obliged to absorb all the punches and guilt for the ones that landed elsewhere.

Not all problems are our problem, except the ones that affect our citizens.

Until someone can explain to me how military action will save lives at home and abroad, count me out.

[shenmue]

11. At last, someone who knows that waves of emotion aren't going to be enough

Sometimes you have to, you know, go somewhere and do something, namely fight. If we hadn't done that 74 years ago, none of us would be sitting here having this discussion; we'd all be living in one of those Harry Turtledove stories where the Axis won.

[Scootaloo]

12. If you had the bat on Santa Monica...

Would you have beaten the pimp to death... then the woman he was hitting, then the other women and men in your line of sight? Maybe start pulping the EMTs when they show up?

Because that's sort of the effect a bomb has. Except people could run away from your baseball bat rampage. Somewhat harder to run away from a tomahawk missile.

[pnwmom]

14. Another touching piece.

And I'm just as conflicted as you are.

[flvegan]

16. Has it been proven beyond doubt that it was Syria's work against it's people?

I apologize for not being 100% read in on this, but I've seen threads recently about how it was mishandling of chemicals, the beating of war drums by oil companies and various other reasons that aren't maybe what we think. Having said that, in the erm, examples you've given, you witnessed the crimes and wanted to intervene. You weren't told that so-and-so did this, you saw it happen. So I have to ask, do we have that proof? Otherwise, you are just using that bat to beat the shit out of whomever twisted you to do it.

[jtuck004]

17. Why don't you carry a gun? That would provide more protection than a bat. n/t

[GreenStormCloud]

19. He appears to be in California, likely Los Angeles.

Very hard to get a permit there to carry a gun, unless you are very wealthy, famous, or well connected.

[JaneyVee]

18. I empathize.

[ZRT2209]

21. "Tell Merrill to swing away."

[DebJ]

22. +1,000,000 n/t

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. Why do I feel like I just saw the movie "Taxi Driver" again?

[Hutzpa]

24. Don I'm not sure how to respond to this

on one hand I empathize with your emotional turmoil, on the other hand I stand on the side of the weak while I breath vengeance on savages around the world.

The question is though, aren't we savages too if we are willing to massacre a nation to rescue the few?

Just as you took your time to find the right bat for protection against future savages, doesn't the people of Syria
deserve that too? Yes, Assad is a f*&^ing savage, true, but he deserve to face the guillotine by his own people not
by us going in and destroying their country further. We should instead provide and empower the people of Syria
with the necessary tools to defend themselves.

[Taitertots]

25. I saw two kids fighting on the playground....

One of the kids threw dirt in the other's eyes, so I smoked him in the forehead with my baseball bat. After all, I had to help the one with dirt in his eyes, I had to protect the innocent from terrible people. [/facetious rant

[Arctic Dave]

26. Ahhhh, Hero Syndrome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_Syndrome


http://squarewheels.com/content2/hero.html

[defacto7]

27. Just wondering if this is sarcasm

because the definitions in both articles don't match. Also neither matches the OPs statements. So I guess this is sarcasm. I don't pick up on it very easily.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

30. You'd be better off just ignoring that poster

"Asshole Syndrome" I think they call it.

[Travis_0004]

28. Would it have been acceptable to track the homeless guy down and shoot him?

After all, he is a bully. Why not buy a gun, and wait outside the homeless shelter?


The US doesn't need to get involved in somebody elses war.

I see it like an NHL ref.

If two players get into a fight, the ref says, "its not my battle". He watches, and when the fight is over, he will give out penalties.

Or I'll put it this way. How would you feel if during the Civil war some country decided to help the south. You might be upset. The fact is there are about 10 civil wars going on right now. Should we get involved in all of them?

[last1standing]

29. More calls to use gut reaction over reason and logic. Count me out.

You can make all the bouncy ball arguments you like but killing innocent Syrians with no plan and no proof is not something we should support as a nation.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

31. It's okay to be conflicted

Ignore the usual suspects here for whom there is only black and white, and if you aren't with them you're a murderous cowardly tough guy....blah blah blah.

[Downtown Hound]

33. Sorry, but bad analogy

Going to war is not the same thing as helping a damsel in distress. It's WAY messier.

I've hear this bullshit before. They said the same kind of crap before we invaded Iraq. "Oh, do we just turn away and allow Saddam to terrorize his people?" They said the same thing before we got involved in Somalia. And even though I wasn't alive then, I know they said the same thing about Vietnam too.

At some point we have to realize that we can't fix everything through military force. Yeah, it would be nice if we could, but we can't. If there's anything history has taught us, it's that we're just as likely to make the problem worse than better.

Do you know why the Federation on Star Trek has a non-interference policy? It's because the writers of that show recognized the folly of always butting your nose in where it doesn't belong.

A lot of the Syrian population still supports Assad. Just how many of them are you willing to kill to make it better?

[Blue_Tires]

34. I have bats in my trunk because I play baseball on the weekends...

[Romulox]

35. If only Assad could use his weapons in Detroit, perhaps we could refocus your "compassion"...

There are people suffering in your community, right now.

[IronLionZion]

36. There is no right solution with these types of problems

Our party generally takes military action based on humanitarian reasons and does it with fewest civilian casualties possible. Doing nothing seems worse. Most former Democratic leaders have stated their biggest foreign policy regrets were not doing enough to stop atrocities.

People like to say the US is not the world's police. But there is no world police. The UN has little power to do anything. And there's always going to be terrible people.

[Egalitarian Thug]

37. Boy did that lesson fly right over your head. n/t