So, the Evolutionary didn't quite make it to Davis today. I am now on crutches, but that's another story. My Wife came upon tickets today to go see the Trans Siberian Orchestra (TSO). If you've never seen TSO, check it out next year. It's sort of like Christmas music, done by a mix of Pink Floyd/Metallica/Frank Sinatra, with lasers, fireworks, flames, and actual snow from the inside ceiling of Arco Arena. We see this nearly every year (it's a Christmas thing).
So, my Wife and I drove over to what is now called, "The Power Balance Pavillion", which we still think of as Arco Arena, home of the Sacramento Kings. I crutched my way up there, found that the floor seats we had wouldn't really accommodate the crutches and the knee brace. My Wife convinced one of the people there to let us use seats higher up with no one else around, but close to the stage. So, I crutched my way up to those seats, and was helpfully, and courteously helped by an older man - serving as sort of security. His station was the entrance near where we were seated. He mentioned that the show was started slightly late because TSO had to come across Donner Pass, from Reno to get there, and it's been snowing heavily up there. I mentioned that I work for a certain state department that works on that part of our nation's infrastructure :). I told him what I do, and he asked if I were interested in speaking (I do public speaking and training) to "SIRS", or Seniors in Retirement. I told him I might have time in between other engagements. He asked what they were, and I said, "the Occupy Movement".
Shit meet fan.
He asked, "You're involved with those protesters?". I said, "absolutely, our lives and our country depend upon it".
He says, "You're one of the protesters?" I said, "absolutely, definitely".
The man says, "You people are going to destroy our country", while sticking his finger in my calm, smiling face. "This is all Obama's doing" he says.
I said, "You first wanted me to speak to your group, still interested?" He says, "I don't think so".
Then, he says, "You people have no right dirtying up our public parks with your Marxist garbage". I replied, "I don't recall ever having been a Marxist before, and don't feel like one now". He says, "well since you already admitted you get government welfare, you don't care do you? You already get free taxpayer money."
I calmly said, "Actually I have a very difficult, challenging, and technical job to do that I am nearly positive you could never handle. I work hard for every penny I get".
He says, "I am 82 years old, and I work for a living because you liberals are destroying my Social Security and Medicare". (He really said this).
More below the Fleur de Kos
I said, "Well, it is partly true that there are some Democrats that think that way, but for the most part it's Republicans that would like to take that from you".
This guy was shaking mad at this point.
He says, "At least the Tea Party cleaned up after themselves and didn't cause trouble".
I replied, "Well firstly, the Occupy Movement is very tidy, and the parks they inhabit are now cleaner for it, and secondly, the Tea Party members were walking around with fully loaded AK-47's, and also stomped on people's heads".
He says, "You're a liar. They didn't have guns, I was one of the organizers, and one of YOU people just tried to assassinate the President".
I said, "Sir, I was there. I saw a man walk in front of me with a loaded weapon at one of your rallies, and the story about the bullets fired at the White House plainly points out that the person couldn't have been at the Occupy rally". Okay, 82, white, angry, so I asked the next inevitable question -
"Sir, you have been watching too much Fox News". WOOOOOOOO!!
The man turned beet red and shouted, "Fox news is the only station telling the truth..." he was ranting.
I didn't get loud or angry, I just said, "Sir, you do realize that the full name of Fox News, is actually Fox News Entertainment, because it isn't really the news, and they admittedly lie to their viewers, because it entertains them".
Attempting to change the subject to calm the guy down (I felt bad arguing with this really old guy), I said, "So you're 82 years old, really? You look pretty healthy!"
He says, "Yeah, I'm 82 and doing fine, and I fought in Korea, and you should respect me".
I said, "I do respect you Sir, I thank you for your commitment and service to our Country". He says, "Us Veterans know more than you Marxists".
So, I took the bait. I said, "Sir, being a Veteran, I'm sure you've heard about United States, Marines Veteran Scott Olsen in the news right?"
He says, "Never heard of him. Where did he fight, or was he really a Veteran?"
I said, "Marine Veteran Scott Olsen served two tours of duty in Iraq, and millions of people around the world have been talking about him".
The guys says, "Well he isn't on the news". I said, "Oh, he is very much the news. He was almost killed recently. A gun with a 2-pound steel projectile was fired point blank at his face, and it fractured his skull. The doctors aren't sure if he will be able to talk again".
The man says,"WHO DID THAT TO A VETERAN???" He looked pretty mad. I said, "The Oakland Police Department did that to him, Sir".
He said, "So he's one of your socialists then". I said, "No idea, Sir, but he is a Purple-Heart, Decorated Marine Combat Veteran, so I doubt it".
The guy says, "If the police did that to him, he was probably attacking them".
I said, "No Sir, he was standing quietly next to a uniformed Seaman First Class, holding a flag, and had a bold T-shirt with the word "Veteran" on it. They shot him anyway".
He says, "You are a liar, and that isn't true". He was getting pretty angry.
I said, "No Sir, I'm not a liar, but I forgive you your ignorance if your only source of information is Fox News." He was shaking his finger in my face again.
He says, "Us older people don't like what you kids are doing. We are scared for you and what is happening to our country."
I said, "Me too Sir, people are dying everywhere. Speaking of seniors, have you seen the news about Dorli Rainey? She is of your generation. She's 84 years old".
He says, "I have never heard of that person either. I think you are a liar and making things up".
I said, "No Sir, I have seen video (film) of the incident with Veteran Scott Olsen, and I have seen film of the recent attack on senior citizen Dorli Rainey in Seattle".
He says, "Who attacked an elderly lady?".
I said, "The Seattle Police Department, Sir. They sprayed pepper spray in her eyes when she got off the bus, and had to be saved by and treated by those protesters you dislike so intensely".
He said, "If it isn't in the news it isn't true. You are a liar and a socialist and you work for Obama, and he is funding all this crap".
I said, "Sir, again you are badly misinformed. You need to watch some other news".
He says, "What do you watch, NBC?" (I guess NBC is the enemy of all things Tea Party now?)
I said, "You mean people like Tom Brokaw, one of that last real journalists?".
He said, "Tom Brokaw is a marxist". I said, "Wow, I bet that would be news to him".
I said, "I don't really watch much television".
He said, "Then how can you say you watch the news?" - still mad and red faced.
I said, "I'm sure you've heard about the Internet, Sir. You seem smarter than that".
He said, "I'm smarter than you are. There's no news on the Internet, just bunch of pornographic trash, video games, and socialist liars".
I said, "So you've never heard of "Red State?" He said, "This is a Red state! You liberals are in the minority!". This is California. I think not.
The man at this point gave up the argument, he was pretty mad, and he knew I was his customer this evening. I will not mention his name because he doesn't need any grief from anyone. He's 82.
Five minutes later, two Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputies appeared in the booth just to the left, and behind where I was sitting, accompanied by the elderly man I spoke with. It probably didn't help that I am wearing a black hoodie with the image of Guy Fawkes on the front and back in white, made up of repeated sections of the words that say, "We do not forgive, we do not forget, expect us". The old guy never made the connection, but the Deputies sure did. They watched me and my crutches (and my Wife who told me to shut up and be quiet and watch the show), like a hawk for about ten minutes.
I got up with my crutches and went out to a restroom. The Deputies followed, and then apparently lost interest and went out a door. Two purple-shirted "Event Security" guys did follow me and took up station outside the bathroom.
I came out, walked up to them, and said, "You are dismissed, gentlemen, I'm not dangerous on these crutches". They totally laughed and walked off talking to each other.
I enjoyed the rest of the fantastic light show and music, and went home. Am I a marxist?