A subject I have been minded to tackle a few times before, but an incident today (Sunday 3rd of February 2013) has fired me up a little. We had just parked up at Sainsburys, Burpham, Guildford. It was a busy Sunday as usual and we couldn't find a family parking slot. Our little two year old is quite alive and we need to hold her hand tight as we walk across the car park.
As we walked past the family parking as one slot became available it was immediately taken by a Fiat 500 with an older gentleman and younger man with child seat, but no child to be seen. Admittedly I gave them an evil stare. They got out and brushed past us making a few unsavoury remarks which I would dare not repeat in the presence of children or polite company. The younger fellow then said well I've got a car seat in the back so I'm all right. An answer to a question that no one had asked out loud. My retort was perhaps a little devils advocate as I said "well stupid is as stupid does". The older man, I presume the father of the younger walked up to me and put his face to mine as he produced a string of expletives. Be minded that my little girl was holding my hand and mummy was to her side. I told him that he was a 'deplorable human being'. He walked away calling me a "bloody foreigner" and then stood at the entrance to Sainsbury's and produced a Nazi salute. I imagine all the CC TV cameras would have got a lens full. My Grandfather who saw the second world war first hand and many like him will not have been too pleased that a countryman of theirs behaves as such.
It might be worth mentioning that am slightly olive skinned and have curly hair. I am the descendant of Celtic, English, Arabic and (we believe) Persian ancestors. I am a Welsh Rugby nut and see myself as whole heartedly British. Saying that it should not be relevant. What was a minor non vocal and non violent displeasure at something small turned into an unnecessary racist tirade.
Do we blame ignorance? Do we blame education or the lack thereof? Does anyone have the right to be ignorant in this age of information? So is it pure for the, sake of it, hatred? Questions I do not have the answer for. All I can say is my experience is real. Does the younger man feel ashamed of the older one's actions I wonder? He too is a father. So let's hope so. If you'd like to know how it feels then imagine your stomach being pulled out and someone starts to rummage in your guts.
I said at the start that I have been minded to tackle this subject before. Compared to many my experiences are very few. The sources of them are often more shocking to me and almost always the culprits have been over 55. Our children should grow up to a better place than this. But they wont if we just walk on by. Flush them out and shame them. Let everyone know who they are. If others cheer then we know who they are too.
