The Supermarket Can Teach Us So Much....

The last two times I've been to the supermarket (the Succasunna Shoprite, cause I know you were all curious), I've learned so much more than I normally do.
Usually, I'll pick up the latest details on the Bat Boy, the migration patterns of Elvis, and the fat content of Edy's Ice Cream Sandwich Ice Cream (you don't wanna know).
The last two times have been much more informative.
I've learned that one of the key reasons that the agenda of the ignorant and mean-spirited continues to advance is because the carriers of that message are just so darn outgoing. Seriously, these people have no problem talking to the person in front of them at the checkout (me, natch). The first real eye-opener was an older couple (60s + - well out of my dating range) where the wife was commenting how it's always a delay when one of those people is running the checkout. She was referring to the Indian (or Pakistani, I didn't ask) woman who was doing her job. The bigot managed to ignore the couple in front of me, who split their cart up into three different orders, and questioned the price on every item as it scanned. Obviously, it's all the checkout lady's fault. I was waiting for a bad tsunami comment when I finally escaped.

Which bring us to yesterday. Another light bit o' shopping, and I'm on line and this woman gets behind me in line saying, "Hey - I think I'll join ya!" Now I'm a fairly genial person, so I smiled back at her and gave her as much space on the conveyor as my aluminum foil and chicken breast ($1.99/lb!) would allow. I'm nothing if not a considerate shopper. She proceeds to read all the horrible headlines off of People and whatever, and after mentioning the most recent school shooting, she says, "And you know, it's all because of them."
"Who?"
"All of them PC people who are so worried about everyone's feelings."
"Yeah - those people are just awful."
"Like you shouldn't hit your kids! That's ridiculous! Now who's going to teach these kids respect!? No wonder this American Indian shoots up a school thinking he's a Nazi.!"
"Wait. What? You lost me there."
"That kid in Minnesota."
"You don't think maybe his grandfather could have been a little more safe about his guns and bulletproof vest?"
"You want to blame his GRANDFATHER?!"
"Well, no. But I certainly think he could have-"
"Well who are you to blame his grandfather?!"
"Oh look, I'm all done... Have a nice day!"

New Jersey is a melting pot all by itself...