Assholes, in general
.1. There was a couple I used to see together on a regular basis.
Then one day, I saw the woman standing alone and watched her watch this once-very-intimate part of her life walk past and make nothing more than an awkward nod in her direction, after which she stood alone, crying.
People stared at her, so I walked over and quietly asked her if she was okay.
She told me the story of what had transpired between her and thispiece of shit who can't actually be called a man who believed that it was proper behaviour...nay, necessary behaviour to get drunk and proceed to both verbally and physically assault her.
This had caused a break up.
But not for long.
I've now once more been seeing them together. Kissing. Cuddling. Feigning that sickly 'love' that makes me want to gag. Because, I know. Because I fkn know and because last week, I saw her with a bruised eye.
But I’m sure: He’s changed. And they’re in love. And she can’t help it. And he’s not a drunken fukwit. And she’s got all the self esteem in the world. And he’s going to change. And she promises to support him. And he’s sorry he missed another AA meeting. And she still loves him. And he’s sorry sorry sorry sorry for hitting her again. And it’s okay, because they’re in love, but I think I may have mentioned that already.
Just writing about it sickens me.
And it makes me wonder: What’s wrong with people?
.2. I never did get around to telling you what happened at the end of my most recent NYC trip – and I promise to eventually get around to it. But for now, let me share one moment that still boggles my mind.
We were seated in the airport – delays all over the god damn place. Delays without explanation and without (later we found out) merit. People were antsy and generally obnoxious and annoyed because the world revolves around them.
There was a woman seated on the ground and minding her own business. She was working on her laptop (as many of us were) and an older gentleman walked past and tripped on the cord of the laptop. She apologised profusely and…he didn’t accept.
Neither did his daughter (who may have been aged at around 45) nor his wife. In fact, they decided to sit across from this woman and berate her loudly and aggressively as she sat there quietly, alone in a waiting room filled with people staring and fkn doing nothing. After a few moments, things quieted down and then all of a sudden I heard the following, at which point I stepped in: “…she’s ugly. No wonder she’s gotta work…probably doesn’t have children. Look at her…who’d marry this bitch, anyway…dried up ovaries…”
And I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t sit there for another moment “minding my own business” because bullying at that level immediately made it my business. I am still shocked that no one else in that room thought the same thing, because trust me when I tell you these people were loud - and when that sort of ‘confrontation’ takes place, people generally stop to see where the noise is coming from. An audience to the ugliness and to the pain and humiliation of others starts to feed on the euphoria of not having to be that person.
I turned around and motioned to the woman on the ground, and asked her to come over and sit next to me.
The mother and the father and their pathetic, wanting, idiotic, dredge of a daughter stared at me as though I were some kind of alien. They looked insulted that I had stepped in. They were offended that I was involving myself in their business. And when the woman quietly packed up her things and came and sat next to me and started thanking me, the family started to mumble again, so I turned around (we were sitting back to back) and I very quietly said: “if there’s something you need to say, then you need to come around here and say it to the both of us. Don’t count this woman as being alone anymore.”
They didn’t say another word. When they were called to board (not on our plane, thankfully), we had a staring contest, that they lost.
People are fkd. Plain and simple, man…we are living in a weird and fkd up time...
.3. Finally. If you’ve still not done so, then I need you to please make the effort to catch War, Inc at any one of the following theatres….
COLORADO: THE ABBEY THEATRE
128 East College Dr. (970-385-1711)
COLORADO: LYRIC CINEMA CAFE 2
300 E. Mountain Ave. (970-493-0893)
IOWA: VARSITY II
2412 Lincoln Way (515-292-0450)
NEW YORK: HI-WAY DRIVE-IN THEATER
10769 State Route 9W
OHIO: CEDAR LEE THEATERS
2163 Lee Rd. (216-321-5411)
OREGON: LIVING ROOM THEATERS
921 SW Washington St. (971.222.2010)
TENNESSEE: DOWNTOWN WEST CINEMA 18
1640 Downtown West Blvd. (865-693-6327)
Then one day, I saw the woman standing alone and watched her watch this once-very-intimate part of her life walk past and make nothing more than an awkward nod in her direction, after which she stood alone, crying.
People stared at her, so I walked over and quietly asked her if she was okay.
She told me the story of what had transpired between her and this
This had caused a break up.
But not for long.
I've now once more been seeing them together. Kissing. Cuddling. Feigning that sickly 'love' that makes me want to gag. Because, I know. Because I fkn know and because last week, I saw her with a bruised eye.
But I’m sure: He’s changed. And they’re in love. And she can’t help it. And he’s not a drunken fukwit. And she’s got all the self esteem in the world. And he’s going to change. And she promises to support him. And he’s sorry he missed another AA meeting. And she still loves him. And he’s sorry sorry sorry sorry for hitting her again. And it’s okay, because they’re in love, but I think I may have mentioned that already.
Just writing about it sickens me.
And it makes me wonder: What’s wrong with people?
.2. I never did get around to telling you what happened at the end of my most recent NYC trip – and I promise to eventually get around to it. But for now, let me share one moment that still boggles my mind.
We were seated in the airport – delays all over the god damn place. Delays without explanation and without (later we found out) merit. People were antsy and generally obnoxious and annoyed because the world revolves around them.
There was a woman seated on the ground and minding her own business. She was working on her laptop (as many of us were) and an older gentleman walked past and tripped on the cord of the laptop. She apologised profusely and…he didn’t accept.
Neither did his daughter (who may have been aged at around 45) nor his wife. In fact, they decided to sit across from this woman and berate her loudly and aggressively as she sat there quietly, alone in a waiting room filled with people staring and fkn doing nothing. After a few moments, things quieted down and then all of a sudden I heard the following, at which point I stepped in: “…she’s ugly. No wonder she’s gotta work…probably doesn’t have children. Look at her…who’d marry this bitch, anyway…dried up ovaries…”
And I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t sit there for another moment “minding my own business” because bullying at that level immediately made it my business. I am still shocked that no one else in that room thought the same thing, because trust me when I tell you these people were loud - and when that sort of ‘confrontation’ takes place, people generally stop to see where the noise is coming from. An audience to the ugliness and to the pain and humiliation of others starts to feed on the euphoria of not having to be that person.
I turned around and motioned to the woman on the ground, and asked her to come over and sit next to me.
The mother and the father and their pathetic, wanting, idiotic, dredge of a daughter stared at me as though I were some kind of alien. They looked insulted that I had stepped in. They were offended that I was involving myself in their business. And when the woman quietly packed up her things and came and sat next to me and started thanking me, the family started to mumble again, so I turned around (we were sitting back to back) and I very quietly said: “if there’s something you need to say, then you need to come around here and say it to the both of us. Don’t count this woman as being alone anymore.”
They didn’t say another word. When they were called to board (not on our plane, thankfully), we had a staring contest, that they lost.
People are fkd. Plain and simple, man…we are living in a weird and fkd up time...
.3. Finally. If you’ve still not done so, then I need you to please make the effort to catch War, Inc at any one of the following theatres….
COLORADO: THE ABBEY THEATRE
128 East College Dr. (970-385-1711)
COLORADO: LYRIC CINEMA CAFE 2
300 E. Mountain Ave. (970-493-0893)
IOWA: VARSITY II
2412 Lincoln Way (515-292-0450)
NEW YORK: HI-WAY DRIVE-IN THEATER
10769 State Route 9W
OHIO: CEDAR LEE THEATERS
2163 Lee Rd. (216-321-5411)
OREGON: LIVING ROOM THEATERS
921 SW Washington St. (971.222.2010)
TENNESSEE: DOWNTOWN WEST CINEMA 18
1640 Downtown West Blvd. (865-693-6327)
posted by just a girl at 10:00 AM
10 Comments:
I'm going to start wearing a fucking bracelet that says: WWMD
What Would Maha Do
Fucking love you, I swear to God. -lily
a) what happens when you see that woman now? Do you talk to her, does she talk to you? I don't understand how you would be able to react, it's so brutal!!
b) good for you, Maha! Good that you called her over when everyone else ignored that she was being bullied. THAT;S THE PROBLEM today......if it doesn't affect people directly, they ignore it!!!!!!
c) War, Inc.........too bad this movie didn't get more general rrealase it was such a fantastic film!!!!!
hugs,
Maria
Bravo to you for sticking up for that woman. I try to set a similar example for my children, as I do not want them to grow up to be the insulated, atomized, narcissistic individuals I see so often. Narcissism, and its handmaiden, sadism, seem to be on the rise. And that is what these 'people' seemed to be engaged in, a group act of sadism.
marc from mass.
wow.. what gives people the right to do this (.2.) I just came across your blog from hijabman.. gonna add it to my blogroll if thats ok? thanks
This is why I like you, Maha. I would have done the same thing regarding the woman in the airport. I have been known to stand up for others before (and I have quite a little mouth on me) - I take crap from no one.
You're such a caring person towards others; I hope that there are more people like you out there in this f-ed up world! While we may standing alone or sitting alone, we ultimately are NOT alone due to the caring stranger nearby.
wow, a whole family of assholes! i can't believe they sat there and berated her solely, for tripping over a power cord. what a waste of space and resources!
ay yi yi.
This is some pretty impressive manoeuvering on your part, Maha ;)
Keep up the good fight. It's people like you that give meaning to the word hope............
x
This is why I love you (okay, that, and you have amazing eyes....and you're the most prolific & talented blogger I know....and you have the fortitude & charisma to lead an army into battle, and win). You inspire me, ma belle.
Peace,
Chantal
Sorry that was me up there, first time back commenting after summer holidays....good grief. :)
Chantal
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