You DROP a pebble…
Circa: Way Back When I was a 25-year-old law student.
Setting: Ralphs Parking Lot
Parties Involved: My wife and I were on our way to pick up some groceries.
BACKGROUND:
While entering the Parking Lot, we were AGHAST to see 6 Ralph’s employees (all Caucasian) dragging a little African American youngster like a ragdoll towards the front entrance of the store. Man, it looked like a scene straight out of the Jim Crow era- they looked like an angry LYNCH MOB with ALL 6 grabbing a piece of the TERRIFIED youngster! Obviously, young Blood was poor, disenfranchised, and HUNGRY as hell. From where they caught him, he must have attempted to flee.
THE CONVERSATION:
MY WIFE: “Oh my god, what are they doing to that poor kid?”
ME: ‘Yeah, what the hell ARE they doing?”
MY WIFE: “They’re HURTING him!”
ME (Busting a move towards the ruckus & shouting at the employees”: “HEY! What y’all doing to him!”
RALPH EMPLOYEE: “We caught him stealing!”
ME (Having recently studied case law on the Shopkeeper's Privilege): “EASE UP, man- that’s just a KID! You have NO RIGHT to man-handle him!”
MY WIFE (seeing herself in the defenseless child’s plight, as she grew up dirt poor): “We have to do something…”
ME (To my wife as I jammed the car in park & jumped out): “Give me that 20…”
THE SCENE:
As the Lynch Mob entered the store, I sprinted after them towards the Managers Office. When I arrived, I saw the youngster sitting hostage on the floor, with several employees standing over him, like guards. The lad had tears streaming down his eyes. It was gut-wrenching to see.
A few of the employees attempted to block my access, however I physically forced my way passed them, and approached the young man. Without delay, I bent down and tossed a crumpled $20 dollar bill in his lap. ”Not everyone is prejudice, Blood…REMEMBER THAT!” I then counselled him (although trite as it seems), “Pay for the food and DON’T STEAL!”
Afterwards, I looked at the Manager who came out of his office, “He’s just a kid, man…I know he stole some food, but using excessive force will you get you & your company sued, and I’m a WITNESS.”
I immediately turned to exit the situation, and as I was leaving the store an officer was about to enter. I stopped the officer and advised him that the child is willing to PAY for the stolen food.
P.S.
The Ripple Effect metaphor: Where a small, initial action or event causes a chain reaction of larger and more widespread consequences over time.
“You drop a Pebble in a Pond, you get Ripples. Soon the Ripples cross the whole Pond".
- Bruce Lee
“Just as Ripples spread out when a single Pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” -Dalai Lama
B.P.S.
Throughout the years I have often wondered how far the Ripples or Realization emanated from the Pebble dropped into that young man’s Pond of Consciousness. Did the Ripples ever touch the Banks and effect change? But after much contemplation, I realized that the Real Lesson here, had nothing to do how powerful the Ripples are- But in the POWER that makes one DROP the PEBBLE. So don’t delay, Listener!...For your consideration…From the Lookout Post.