I go from the border here up to Odessa every three months- it's the nearest big city, about 250 miles. I get supplies, tools, get things repaired, spend the whole day there. One of the things I enjoy the most is visiting the bookstores. Odessa only has two, one a cat-ridden mostly paperback shop that I've found a few gems at, and a Hastings chain book-and-music store. I spend a hundred bucks or so each trip, technical books, detective thrillers, history, DIY, what ever catches my eye. I sure wish I lived close to a real city with culture and good bookstores, but we down here have to "make do". So I am in Odessa, all decked out in city clothes, nice Sunday Stetson, new jeans, shiney boots, big ol' belt buckle, just the way an old white Texas guy should look. Strolled the aisles, picked out a bunch a good lookin reading material, brought my stack up to the check out lane. On top was a book about American history, some obscure aspect of the Civil War.. Kid at the register looks at it, looks at me, and says with a smirk, "We have Obama toilet paper". Well. I was stunned. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Why the hell would someone offer up this disgusting piece of information to a customer? I said, "Do you really, now?" and my expression and tone of voice made him a little hesitant now. "Well, we did, anyway". I had my books and change in my hand. "I want to talk to the manager right now" He pointed out a 20 year old, or so, girl across checkout lane. She said to him, "Now, are you driving customers off?" He looked a little sheepish, then. He said, "So you are a fan of Obama?" I said, "He's the President of the United States, you can show some respect". He looked away, and I turned to the manager. I didn't really know what to say to her. I asked her if they really sold that toilet paper, and she muttered, "I think we did, a while ago". "Don't you know what patriotism and respect mean? What kind of person are you? Does this store have some kind of problems with race? Why do you think I needed that kid to tell me that?" I was pretty upset. "Why should I come in here and spend money at a place where you sell racist junk? I been a customer here for years and I always though you all were all right. Now I see you bein' just the kind of person who makes things worse instead a better." She was pretty upset too, after that lecture, and said "We just sell what the headquarters up in Amarillo sends us, I don't have no say in what we get." I asked for her card, with the headquarters contact info on it. she was relieved when I did so. Well, by the time I was back home the long drive had cooled my temper and tossed the card on my table. "Hastings Customer Service 1-877-hastings (427-8464)" "www.gohastings.com" I didn't do anything with the number. I figured I'd just get into a argument with an asshole who thought that that product was just fine. Or some cringing lackey who'd agree with me to shut me up. So there the card lays. The other thing that bothered me way, why'd he offer that information to me, in the check out line, any way? I know damn well it was because of my looks- he thought, "this good ol' boy'll appreciate it". Little nitwit. I don't like being stereotyped as a cracker, just because I look like I live in the texas borderlands. Kind of opened my eyes about how it feels to be judged by your looks, and, in this case, race.
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