Conversation in the Dollar Store today.

[trof]

I live in a rural Alabama town.
The manager of the Dollar Store is a pleasant lady about my age (mid 60s) who I usually chat with when I check out. Today while I shopped she was back in one of the aisles talking earnestly with an older gentleman. I say older, but I had a feeling he might be younger than me. His face and physique looked younger, but he limped along bent almost double. His head was level with my waist. Some debilitating disease or injury. He had a permanent sunburn and big gnarly hands. Obviously a guy who earned (or had earned) his living out of doors, probably doing manual labor.

Their conversation went something like this.
She: "I give him a twenty. He said they might have a layover somewhere and he might need to git something to eat.
He: "Some spending money. Thass good, thass good. I'll pay you back."
S: "NO YOU WILL NOT! How many spare twenties YOU got layin' around? You ain't even workin".
H: "I know, I know. Well...lemme split it with you. He's my boy too."

At that point I felt like an eavesdropper, and moved on. But there was more.

I finished shopping and stood in line at one of the two registers.
Followed by the old man, she went to the other register and said to me, "Come on over here hon. If it's check or cash I can take you here. No debit cards, though." I was paying cash.

As she rang up my purchases, she and the man continued their conversation.
S: "I cried all the way back from Mobile."
H: "I know, I know. He's so young. And he's hittin' Parris Island at the hottest time of the year. But he can take it. He's tough."
S: "He's a good boy. He'll be OK."
I couldn't help myself.
Me: "Sounds like you've got a boy going into the Marine Corps."
H: "Yessir. He's my grandson."
S: "My great nephew. This's my brother."
H: "He lived with me till my daughter...uh... his mom went. I couldn't take care of him by myself, so he went with my sister."
S: "I raised him for the last three years. He's like one of my own kids. He's nineteen."
This was definitely not a time for a discussion of the merits/debacle of the Iraq war/invasion.
M: "Yeah, it's pretty hot in Parris Island this time of year. But they take pretty good care of the boots. Can't afford not to. I'm sure he'll do fine."
S: "Was you a Marine?"
M: "No m'am, Air Force. But I have friends who are Marines. The training is tough, but it's probably the best combat training in the world. Is he going to Iraq?"
H: "He don't know yet. They said maybe not. I bet he does though."
S: "I just can't think about that. I'm just gonna think that he's still down at your house."
H: "Thass what I'm gonna do. Just keep thinkin' that he's up at your house. Not think about where he is."
M: "Is he flying out of Mobile?"
S: "Naw. They put them on a bus to Montgomery. Then they fly them to Parris Island...or somewhere...Carolina...something. He said he'll call us as soon as he can."
M: "I'm sure he'll be OK. I wish you and him all the best."
H: "Thank you sir."
And he shook my hand.

As I left the store I teared up.
Shit.
This is where they're getting recruits.
From the dirt-poor, and not quite dirt-poor, god-fearin', hard-scrabble, tryin'-to-make-ends-meet families of heartland America.
Kids with little or no future, no hope of a piece of the much vaunted American Dream.
And kids with a mistaken sense of "patriotism" fueled by the Bush administration and the Scaiffe-Limbaugh-Fox News propaganda machine.
I wonder how long it will take him to come to his senses?
Or if he even will.
And will he become another grim and useless statistic in the Glorious War on Terra?
God, I hope not.
I seriously and fervently hope this one south Alabama Marine makes it through.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. "From the dirt-poor, and not quite dirt-poor....."

And yet, they keep electing the neocons.

[trof]

2. go. figure.

[Grateful for Hope]

13. Often the "dirt poor and the almost dirt poor"

hold onto their religion desperately as a means of hope that there really can be something better than what they experience on a day-to-day basis. In addition, many of these people do not have the luxury of sifting through the MSM news, or of surfing the internet for the truth.

Since the republican party has marketed itself as the 'moral' party (church-going and all the associated trappings), it makes a lot of sense to me that their votes would go to this party.

[trof]

22. Obviously I have no idea how they voted, or if they even did.

My father-in-law was a carpenter.
Cajun, Catholic, lower-to-middle class economically and by education (or lack thereof), conservative. Six kids.
He never voted.
Not once.
And proud of it.
"It's all a bunch of crooks, anyways."

[Grateful for Hope]

42. Your father-in-law sounds like a very wise man. n/t

[preciousdove]

44. Stop beating a dead horse

What's left of their base is suburban; these folks probably voted against Bush but had their votes stolen and don't think they can do a thing about it or think that they are the only ones who voted against Bush so they keep their mouths shut and never figure it out how sorely they have been swindled and organize.

No health care, no jobs, no money for education, no future. The military looks like a chance to get out, if you survive.

[Lex]

3. The tragic thing is

that these people you interacted with are the very people who vote for Bush in the first damn place.

It breaks my heart how horribly they've been deceived into voting against their own best interests.

[villager]

4. people who have to worry about their next double-sawbuck

while psychotic little Caligula rich-boys can start wars on whims...

thanks for posting. Shit, I think I'd tear up, too....

[stopbush]

5. Yep. I was visiting the local zoo yesterday and walked by

a Hispanic group (Grandpa had no front teeth and was walking with a cane) when I heard the mom of the group say to her 4-yr-old, "walk tall! How you gonna grow up to be a good American soldier?"

Scary.

[knitter4democracy]

20. How do you know his dad isn't over there serving?

The only people I knew growing up (in rural Michigan) who would talk like that were vets and vets' wives. His mom might talk like that to help with the loss of her husband right now (or worse, lost forever).

[stopbush]

27. I'm pretty sure that was dad holding his hand. Coulda been an

uncle, I suppose. Maybe it was dad, and maybe he's in the military but was out of uniform. Who knows.

[knitter4democracy]

28. There's just so much going on in our communities.

I used to be more judgemental until I had kids. Now, it takes a lot to get me mad at other people. It's so hard just to get through the day sometimes . . .

[stopbush]

30. I've got two younguns (8 &12) and the LAST thing I want to do

is to inspire them to throw their lives away in some bush oil war. I was just struck by that conversation at the zoo yesterday, like *that's* waht's on the tip of someone's tounge.

[knitter4democracy]

33. It is odd, I'll grant you.

I won't let any camoflauge anything in my house or guns or anything like that, as I don't want my kids glorifying war. I want them to know it's serious and that people die.

That said, my daughter learned at preschool how to make her hand look like a gun and pretend to shoot people. :eyes:

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. not to get invilved, but my parents tried that

I ended up serving as a medic, and have seen that other side of life... and quite honestly, to quote my dad, You try to raise them one way, but the streets truly do it... wise man my dad

[knitter4democracy]

43. Very true point.

I just don't want more influence at these young ages than good for them. I'll admit it: I want my kids to stay the cuddly, loving little ones they are. :blush:

[FlemingsGhost]

6. Same as it ever was ...

This must change.

[leftchick]

7. it is how they got my nephew

He was in a split-up, fucked up, dysfunctional family and yes, poor. He is very bright but had no scholarship to look forward to so no higher education. The Marines nabbed him at 17 in his Junior year. He is now 20 and ready to "go kill Iraqis". His words after basic....
I am sick... :cry:

[roguevalley]

10. I feel for these people. I truly do. Very sad story.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. ah yes, he has not been in the sand box yet

and he is full of piss and vinegar. That will soon change, as soon as he spends his first seconds of terror over there,

[leftchick]

39. I know full well what is in store for him

that is why I weep. For him and those he kills.

:cry:

[schrodingers_cat]

41. Just had our young cousin up for a visit with his mom.

She's Left Centrist, the Dad is Right. The cousin says that the recruiting office is right done the block from his lower income high school. A number of his schoolmates have signed up. There is a class -on the campus - that preps them for the military. IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL!!! The father says that he should go if there's a draft. The mother says that she will grab him and head for the border if that happens. I was asking him if he would go, and he said that he usually does what the adults around him tell him to do. I asked him if that even meant dying. He had no answer. I asked him if he believed that he wouldn't get killed over there. No answer. He's such a pup!! He isn't even old enough to have a sense of self yet!!! Oh, how I want to keep him from harm!!!

[nosmokes]

8. the boots don't come fromW's base of haves & have more

but those that are more easily victimised, those on the fringes of our great american dream. but with all the rest of the social programs being gutted the military becomes bout the only way government helps a poor citizen, if it don't kill ya first...

[AussieDave]

9. Unfortunately it may take many more deaths

in Iraq before those who voted for Bush come to their senses - but even then they'll never hold Bush himself responsible for any of it - to them he is The Second Coming and can do no wrong.

[Lars39]

11. And no way in heck they could buy armor for him.

Hope he comes out OK. :cry:

[Ripley]

12. trof...I'm tired of fighting for my nephews in SC

16 and 14 and my crazy sister is trying to "recruit" them.

I can only cry at night any more.

[trof]

17. Damn, Rip. That's just so sad.

The more I thought about today, the sadder I got.
I tried to read my post to Miz t. and just lost it about half way through. Now she's bawling.
crap

[emdee]

14. I'd say those are good people

Those are the kinds of folks who need a break in this world - not the huge corporations who are rewarded for moving jobs overseas. That boy would probably have a hard time finding a decent job and didn't have much of a chance to do anything else (legal work, that is).

:cry:

emdee

[trof]

18. They are the proverbial salt of the earth.

Yes, they are good people.
I imagine they respect our president because...well..he is our president.

And if I could sit down and talk to them...really talk to them...I like to think I could make them understand.
But I'll never have that opportunity.
To me, it would be an intrusion.
Probably to them too.
:-(

[emdee]

21. You did the right thing...

you were able to comfort them and that's what they needed at the time. I'll think about that boy often.
emdee

[trof]

23. Yeah, the kid needs karma...or whatever.

If you're religious, then pray.
I just sit here and shake my head and wonder "Why?".

[emdee]

29. I am religious and I do pray....

but I sit and shake my head and wonder why too.
emdee

[faithnotgreed]

26. youre right trof

but giving them some kind words and asking about him when you go there again will be very appreciated by them im sure

keep us posted

i feel for them as well
nothing good can come from any of this nor anything bush touches

[deadparrot]

15. My friend's boyfriend is scheduled to go to Iraq next year.

They both hate BushCo, BTW...saw F9/11 and everything.

They're planning to get married after college...please keep them in your prayers.

[Eloriel]

16. Nominated...

thru a lot of tears.

[trof]

25. It hit home for me today.

Like it never has before.

[knitter4democracy]

19. This is why I don't hate the troops or think less of them.

Many of them choose to go into the military for economic reasons, and they're betting that they won't get killed. They're hoping they'll get some good training for a better job when they get out or that it'll pay for college. The recruiters know that and push all that, making them think it'll all be okay.

My step-brother was in the Navy starting in '91, and he ended up getting trained as a medic for the special forces. He was in Korea the last time everyone was talking war on Clinton's watch. He went into the Navy out of pride for our country and to avoid college (didn't want to go, and family pressure to go). He sure didn't think he might die, and he got out as soon as he could after Korea after seeing that one mistake by one ruler, and he and his buddies are going in.

He also almost killed his wife a couple of times in his sleep--got her in a headlock in his sleep (he's always slept-walked), and one snap, she's a goner. Both times she managed to wake him up and talk him out of whatever he'd been dreaming. That stuff is more serious than most average people think.

[trof]

24. Exactly. Understandable motives. Bad war.

[GreenPartyVoter]

31. :^(

[Libby2]

32. This post got me too.

It's just heartbreaking.

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. Same as always it is those kids who have foghti in EVERY war

this country has ever fought... and now some of the girls are going over there as well

Now they vote (when they do) for pukes, because pukes speak the language they can undestand... we need to learn the simple plain spokne language of populism and be comfortable with it...

By the way they also come from the cities

[Kire]

37. The Salt of the Earth

http://www.bartleby.com/59/1/saltoftheear.html

[Tsiyu]

38. I don't mean to kill the anti-poor buzz

but assuming that the poor "always" vote for ** is absolutely ridiculous.

The poorest county in Tennessee went for Kerry.

Look. I live in Appalachia. I talk to the poorest of the poor. They don't like ** any more than my self-professed "liberal elitist" Connecticut SIL. But I suppose it's easier to blame them for the problem than to look at all the snotty Well-To-Do who truly ARE **'s base.

I'm so fucking sick of assumptions made here about the poor.

But anyway, it's a sad story you tell, and it's one repeated all over this nation.

[evilqueen]

40. agreed

A lot of why a person joins the military is economics and has nothing to do with political beliefs. And they don't and didn't all vote for Bush. There are a LOT of democrats in the military and to just dismiss them like that is... well, not very nice.