If you guessed that he was going to render selfless service to a family in need….you’d be correct.
Channnn is the Twitter name of a young AA woman, who was with her father and younger sister when a tire on their car blew whilst on the freeway
They couldn’t change the flat, as they were dealing with a broken jack. To make matters worse, they didn’t have the money for a tow service to do it.
After 5 minutes on the side of the road, they noticed an older car that was adorned with confederate flag stickers drive by them. It drove past them in the fast lane, and slowed down to get over enough to get off at the next exit.
So he could get off, drive three miles down the road, get back on the freeway...and three minutes later pulled-up to the distressed family.
His first words were, “Hi. My name’s Cody. Can i help you?”
Says Channnn on her Twitter feed where she posted photos (and where there’s some interesting feedback),
"So my dad's tire blew up on the freeway and this dude, with a confederate flag tattoo, wearing a confederate flag t-shirt, with confederate flag car stickers, stopped and changed our tire. My mind is blown, don't judge a book by its cover y'all.
As Cody changed the tire, he overheard that the family didn’t have a decent spare, didn’t think that they could acquire one soon, and he couldn’t help but notice the poor condition of the one he just installed.
So Cody told them that he could get them one if they needed it. For free.
Writes Channnn, ”What I’ve learned though is not everyone sees it that way. Y’all associate the flag with different sentiments, not necessarily racist ones. Cody is a great guy and my dad and I are grateful for his help. Do I agree with his flag supporting? No. Is he a nice guy? Yep.”
For every deplorable act that ‘they’ perpetuate on someone that is deemed different, i would venture to guess that there are hundreds of acts of just plain neighborliness and kindness.
Just like this.
Whilst in the deep south and areas that Trump holds sway, i have been treated mostly with courtesy...and due to my yarmulke...curiosity.
I’ve actually had more anti-semitic tinged hostility directed at me in bastions of progressive thought like Portland and Seattle, then in Birmingham or Stone Mountain.
I was judged.
So this small act of kindness...confederate flags and all...comes as no surprise.
Over the years, i’ve been friends with who at first appearance looked like fierce punk-rockers but were actually incredibly gentle, and apparent skinheads who were thoughtful intellectuals.
The kindest man i’ve ever met had a swastika tattoo that he had put on decades before, in a very troubled childhood. And never had the financial ability to have it removed.
Two things i know for sure:
-That most if not all of my preconceptions have been incorrect misconceptions.
-And that far and away....most people are good.
Like Cody.
Just a gentle reminder.... Don’t judge a book by its cover, y’all.
Well, not entirely anyway.