Been a long week for me, stressful at work. Pouring down rain all day and backyard is now a mud pit for the dog after the freeze/thaw. Between storms took her on a walk around the neighborhood to potty and get some exercise.
About 5 houses down female neighbor is unloading groceries from her car. Stop and chat for a bit and she's like "Mike hasn't been doing well. Been diagnosed with a heart condition and recently developed clots in his leg." To put into perspective, very active and fit early 60's and over the summer was rollerblading in the neighborhood. He was always walking, running or jogging and keeping fit.
I said oh no, so sorry to hear that. Any idea what is going on? She said it must be genetic but I can't figure it out as his parents lived healthy as a horse until age 93 and 96 respectively.
Putting two and two together I asked if he was vaxxed. "Oh we both have been triple vaxxed with boosters....."
I just flat out said "well there is your problem." She literally dropped her grocery bag in her driveway and went on a rage, calling me everything but a white man. "How dare you question the science" and incoherent rambling cursing after that. Mind you, cordial neighbors for years, not friends. Friendly Hi and wave here and there.
When she started cursing me I felt the anger raising inside of me and said look bitch "you demanded that I have a vax and a shot card to prove just to enter a fucking grocery store or Burger King. You demanded I wear a mask even outside or go to a car wash just to wash my vehicle. It is fair game that your husband's vax status is questioned and what you are doing to yourselves...."
She then slammed the car door, picked up her groceries and promptly told me to go fuck myself and that I am a moron and science denier.
First hand account.... 4-6% will never wake up....from their dirt nap.
It's really tough, when the cork has been in the bottle a long time. I can understand that it just kinda blew up, and her too.
Cognitive dissonance is a bugger, but there's no doubt that she's stressed, fearful, and probably full of some unresolved pent-up negative emotions. That's what the psyop does to people; it mucks up their internal world and locks them into all sorts of bad places.
I hope you can find a feeling of forgiveness for her, and for yourself. These things NEED to come out, and simply from the description you've shared, it's clear that you also really felt the pressure (all the demands they placed on folks like you and me).
Either things come out slowly, or they come out quickly. What's important is that they come out, because otherwise they fester.
It will be a brilliant opportunity if you can find it in your heart to approach her next time you see here and apologize for your own behavior. (That doesn't mean glossing over or ignoring hers, but if you feel like you could have handled it better, then tell her that. It may be something that will just help her to realize that the propaganda is bullshit and that those who stood firm are decent, honest humans, not morons, science deniers and tools.
And whether she is able to receive it or not, you'll be all the better for being prepared to be an honest person with your neighbor, and owning your own actions.
Anyway, some thoughts. Maybe next time (with whoever) it won't be so explosive, because you've cracked the cork...
"It may be something that will just help her to realize that the propaganda is bullshit and that those who stood firm are decent, honest humans, not morons, science deniers and tools."
100% this ^^
I get where the anger comes from. I was fired from a dream career job I pursed for 10 years and was doing extremely well at - for just simply stating I was not going to take the shot.
But at the end of the day - we need to maintain our position, which is to help others out of the fog we were spared or released from.
Lifeguards. Morpheous. - however you want to look at it. Those are the types of missions we're ultimately on.
I say this full well understanding the PTSD a lot of us have from what They did to us for the last almost 3 years - it's been a very rough journey for me to go from focusing on vengeance to instead understanding what real forgiveness means - gaining a new appreciation for that - and understanding we're supposed to do that for others. (Jesus in the Bible).
Anyways - not a judgement - an encouragement.
Def if you can - risk it - for the possibility of helping her - and just go show her you're not the stereotype that they LOVE to think everyone who isn't them, is.
Best of luck and all the love to you!
This response just made my day.
Fully agree.
OP, make it obvious the attempt at atonement is your foremost goal. I'd maybe wait until a later time to bring up any rational discussion on the subject, as she may not be ready and possibly not for quite a while. Bring up it too soon or too strongly and you're right back where you started.
I am going to....I should have understood her anger and what she is going thru. In hindsight could have handled better.
It's all good man - think of it this way - if that burst didn't happen - You wouldn't have this opportunity now.
And this is really the bigger opportunity in all of this.
See how God weaves opportunities.
Consider yourself blessed to be involved in them! <3
Very nice friend. Forgiveness is always the key 🙏🏻❤️