So I'm exiting the highway and the traffic signal is red at the end of the ramp.

[Pacifist Patriot]

A man who could have been anywhere from 30-50 was standing on the corner in 85 degree heat holding a sign that said, "just hungry." I rolled down my window, beckoned him over and gave him the three dollars I had on me. He smiled and said, "God bless you" and the light turned green.

I turned left under the overpass where it's two lanes headed west. The car that had been behind me on the exit ramp pulls up on my left as we stop at the next set of lights. The woman waves over at me so I rolled down my window assuming she was going to either ask for directions or ask if I'll let her over into my lane so she can take a right soon.

She started screaming, "What the hell do you think you're doing?! You realize he's just going to go get drunk or high, right? That's all we need is more bums on that corner!"

I was planning on ignoring her and rolling my window back up but then noticed the big chunky cross swinging from the rear view mirror.

I smiled sweetly and said, "What am I doing? I'm sitting here thanking Jesus I have the good fortune to have a few bucks in my wallet so I could help out one of God's children in need. What have you done in the Lord's name today?"

Okay, this was NOT my finest hour...considering I'm a non-theist. And no, I do not think all Christians behave as this woman did. Not remotely. But if she's going to advertise herself as a Christian with a public display of her faith and have the gall to lecture me against charity? I'm going to call her on it. I felt a wee bit less guilty when she squealed out of there and I saw the Catholic Radio station bumper sticker on the back of her car (a decidedly conservative station), the Choose Life license plate, and the Mario Rubio campaign sticker in the window.

Anyone surprised she was driving a Mercedes 550?

Okay, now that I've probably irritated enough people with generalizations I'll just say I'm so weary, so very very weary with respect to a lack of compassion. So yes, I'm lashing out at this one woman, but no, I'm not assuming anything about Christians in general or Mercedes drivers. Bleached blondes with bad face lifts? Yeah okay, I'll be harsh there. ;-)

I really hope the 99% movement continues to raise awareness with respect to human dignity. Thanks for humoring my rant.