Met a freeper at the gas station today…

[NightOwwl]

I was filling up my tank, when I became aware of a loud, obnoxious and very familiar voice coming from the other side of the pump. It was Rush, ranting on and on about Kerry the liar…blah-bu-de-blah-blah-blah.

The voice was emanating from a large white pick-up truck, it’s doors wide open. Next to the truck stood a man in jeans and t-shirt, ruddy complexion, mustache, about 6’4” 280-300 lbs. Big, but not fat. For comparison’s sake, I am barely 5’2” and don’t weigh enough to donate blood.

I tried to ignore Rush’s bellowing, but I thought of my fellow Du’ers. We aren’t going to sit back and take it anymore. It’s time to fight back! With these thoughts, and my courage bolstered I rounded the pump, looked at the big guy, and said, “You are polluting the air with that noise.” Instead of confronting me with “Oh, yeah, well that’s just tough” (which is what I expected), he asked whether it was the volume or the show that was bothering me. Without a moment’s hesitation I said, “It’s the show. Please turn your radio down, I cannot stand to listen to that man.”

Amazingly enough, he lowered the volume, but he wasn’t letting me off the hook without telling his side of the story. He told me lots of vets were mad at Kerry, then repeated the Rush mantra “because he lied about his medals.” I started to tense up, but counted to ten and responded, “I think the vets have a right to criticize Kerry, but they don’t have a right to lie about him.” His expression told me he could not comprehend defending and condemning a group of men with shared history and life experience. Seeing the world in shades of grey was obviously difficult for him. However, he recovered quickly and told me to read the book because I would learn a lot. But I had a comeback ready, “The military records support Kerry’s version of the events. Do you think the military lied?” And here’s the kicker. He looked me right in the eye and told me, “Yes. Yes the military lied.”

I must admit I was shocked speechless, but only for a few seconds. Then it was right back at him (and this is my personal favorite.) “Even if John Kerry came back with only a fingernail missing, he still served in Vietnam which is more than you can say about George Bush.” He didn’t even raise an eyebrow, just shrugged and said yep, that’s right.

As I was shaking my head in disbelief, he had a parting comment. “You know, the North Vietnamese think he’s a hero.” I’d had enough. I gave him a look that said, “You are one crazy mofo”, got back in my car and continued with my day.

We know such people exist, but it’s still a shock to confront one in person.

[bobbieinok]

1. unfortunately, this attitude is everywhere, in every state

[bahrbearian]

2. You are very brave, I can't wait for my next turn at one.

[imax2268]

3. Oh my god...

I am getting the same flack from a right winger on another site...about the same dam thing...some self-righteous blather that's lifted from Limbaugh's site...quotes from the book...etc...

And I ask the question all the time..."if the book is accurate then are you saying that the United States Navy is lying?...they usually don't answer...they just dance around the question...I don't care how big he was...that took balls to say that...being a vet my self(not Viet Nam)...I would have beat him with the gas hose...

when he said that Kerry's a hero to the North Vietnamese...you should have said..."That may be true...but the Swift Boat Liars are doing business with them...!"

Way to stick it to a dittofuckhead....!

[NightOwwl]

6. Thanks! For some reason I felt no fear.

Maybe it's because I'm secure in the knowledge that I'm one of the good guys.

[PA Democrat]

4. You should have asked him how many more names

he would like to see on that wall in D.C. Aren't 58,000 enough? Because without the courage of people like Kerry to speak out against the Vietnam war, God knows how many more there would have been.

[imax2268]

5. good point...

I'll have to remember that one...!

[physioex]

7. Good job Owl...

Two posts to 1000 welcome to the club... :toast:

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Bless you! You made him think for a second! Keep up the good work . . nt

[noahmijo]

9. You know what I want PROOF now that the NVA thought Kerry was a hero

Come on let's have it lay it out show me some proof I am so tired of hearing this shit. Why Kerry? not to downplay his actions in opposing the war but last I checked there were many other vets that gave speeches against the war as well, did the NVA put up special statues or anything for them too???

[snippy]

10. I have taken to telling shittoheads that the Swift Boat vets are just

supporters of Lt. Calley and what happened at My Lai.

[DaveSZ]

11. Are you a chick owwl?

I'm about 6 foot, and I still wouldn't fuck with a huge dude like that.

You have courage grasshoppa.

:)

[NightOwwl]

19. I am a chick indeed!

But between the two of us, I was the one with the power, the knowledge, and the strength of my convictions.

[masshole]

15. That was mentioned today!

I listen to THAT SHOW occasionally, It's either him, O'Lielly, or Jim Rome (he makes me ill) from 12-3 on talk radio around here.
Roger-something was filling in, and he actually took a call from a woman who REAMED him good for continually playing excerpts from Kerry's 1971 Senate testimony without also playing (or reminding the audience) that Kerry was relating OTHER vet's stories - not his own personal experience. She kept repeating "I was told of"... the words Kerry spoke that the repukes convienently leave out. She was great!

She also told of how her brother had comitted suicide after returning from Vietnam, and how he and his fellow vet's had related stories of atrocities they had witnessed. She said more than once how some people seem to think the ONLY atrocity in Vietnam was the My Lai incident.
She was great. I hope she's a DU'er.

[My Pet Goat]

12. Grace under pressure...excellent job. Congrats.

[gollygee]

13. Argh. I've been hearing this "North Vietnamese think he's a hero" garbage

too. Latest Rove hotline thing I guess.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

14. I applaud your courage and clarity.

It's easy to flip out and yell at people when you hear such nonsense, but you stood your ground, and confronted him with facts. I can't believe you actually got him to say that he thinks the military lied. Kinda undercuts his whole argument, huh?

[mitchum]

16. You should have told him that Limbaugh is a homosexual

I don't think Pigboy has provided that freeper idiot with a canned response to that truth (he likes to avoid the issue entirely)

[pbg]

17. My response would be

"You think so? I don't think the North Vietnamese think any Americans are heroes. I think they think we're all monsters."

[noamnety]

18. on my way home

I saw a guy with the official Army Veteran license plate.

He had about 6 antibush bumper stickers on his truck, plus on the rear windshield right behind his head, he had the "Bush Lied People Died" sticker, with a photo of the flag-draped coffins taped under it, and an 8x10 Enron/Halliburton '04 poster taped on the passenger side.

I made sure to let him in during a lane merge with lots of waving and smiling. And after we widened out again, I sped up next to him so he could see my Veterans for Peace and Kerry stickers.

[NightOwwl]

20. That is such a feel-good story.

Thanks for sharing.

And how about that. I just became an official member of the 1000+ club! :toast: :party:

DU'ers are the best!:grouphug: