Maybe the recent Christian-Fundamentalist attacks on our Democracy, free speech and science are just getting under my skin. Maybe it's just because I'm adamantly pro-God and anti-dogma. Maybe it's because I'm an a**hole. However when I took my 3-year old son to the public playground this afternoon, I didn't expect it to end in an arguement over balloons with people I'd rather just ignore. It probably helps to know I was raised Jewish as well.
If you care to read, it's on the flip.
So it's a beautiful day here in Chicago. As nice as a hot mid-summer day in the city can get. I spend the time working in the garage, and get around to fixing the flat tire on my son's bicycle. Of course, as soon as it's working, he's demanding a ride to the park.
I was more than happy to go.
On our way we find a street festival going on. We spend about 10 minutes waiting in line to get a balloon tied into an airplane and listening to Mariachi music. I press on to our goal, making him have to miss the helium balloons they were passing around. For three, he took the matter supremely well.
So we leave the festival and go on our way. At the park he's well engrossed, jungle-gym, slides, sandbox and I'm happy to be showing him how to do bucket sandcastles and chasing him around so he won't terrorize the pidgeons.
And after about twenty minutes, three people, two adults and a teen (I'm assuming about 14-16...and this is strictly a children's playlot) come into the playground with about 30 white balloons between them. Nice, I think. Now might be a chance to get my kid that balloon he missed out on. Good Karma.
He hadn't noticed them yet, but I kept watching to make certain they were giving out balloons, and not just walking around with them. And yes, kids ran up and they smilingly offer the balloon to every kid who approached. It was then I noticed the balloons more closely. Each one was printed with 'Let JESUS lift you up.' in real big letters on one side and details on the other side. I didn't get the fine print.
Talk about your subversive attempt to propagandize BALLOONS! I was instantly infuriated. Here's my kid, who is desperately going to want one of these things, which they had to exploit with an agenda. There was no way I was going to let my son go walking around with this message on a balloon. I'd just as soon consider letting him walk around with a pro-Bush flag. At the same time, it's completely unfair to him. How in the world to I explain this to him?
It was another five minutes until he noticed the balloons being handed out. Before the statement "Daddy, I want a balloon" was even finished passing his lips he was running over to get in line. I had to stop him short and tell I wasn't letting him get a balloon from these people. I know it's only a balloon but it broke my heart just a bit to do that. I'm sure it broke his heart more.
He pouts and wants to know why. I explain because these people had to put words on the balloons that weren't very nice. I told him that these people were making an advertisment in a mean way (I'm a graphics guy so he knows I do ads and a little bit about what they are.) I regrettibly I told him that they were mean people for doing so. I ask him if I can get him a balloon later and try to draw him back to the sandbox, when the older woman of the three approaches my son offering a balloon. I went off.
Let say first that I'm proud for myself that I didn't shout or use a single dirty word. I let me voice get loud so that other people would hear me, but didn't want anyone to misconstrue what I was doing for yelling or raging.
"Stay away from my son! How dare you." I said.
I'm not surprised I caught her off guard. The puzzled half-smilied told me she was really oblivious to what she was doing.
"I can't believe you'd have the nerve to come in here and do this with your propagandized balloons." I said, "You put your agenda on it, making my son have to be excluded. Thanks. Now I have to explain to my child why he's left out."
"You think it's because it says something positive about the power of Jesus that it's propaganda?" She asked.
"Of course it is," I replied. "Just because you believe something doesn't mean everyone is so blinded. And doing it like this just isolates the kids like mine. I can't believe someone would be so rude and impolite!"
And by now, the other two started actively walk around the playground, giving the remaining children a balloon. How was my son not to get jealous?
"C'mon buddy," I told my son, "We'll go to the other park."
I've been angry at them and myself the rest of the day. Anrgy at them for exactly what I told this lady, and myself because I let them drive me out of the playlot.
Now, sincerely take a poll.......