Homophobia and xenophobia have been the drivers of this administration, so as they approach the midterm elections, what else can the Republicans put their “special touch” to?
I know.
Muslims.
It is in that spirit that I offer up one of the short stories from my book EMOTIONS: Not your Mama’s ABC’s!.
The story is titled Incredulous and it is listed under the letter X. It illustrates the emotion xenophobia, which is a fear or hatred of people from other nations.
Incredulous
By Mark Diaz
Tony got out of his ‘68 Corvette and slammed the door as he turned his purple face toward the approaching taxicab driver.
“You idiot,” he bellowed. “What the hell is wrong with you? You saw me pulling in and you cut me off! Asshole! Oh great, a dumbass foreigner. I hope you don’t expect me to apologize you fuckin’ little raghead. Just have your terrorist homeland charge another couple cents at the gas pump! Look what you did to my car.” Tony was waving something overhead wildly.
“I apologize, Assan began. I meant no harm sir. I will be more vigilant in the future.” The dark brown man extended his skinny arm in a gesture of friendship.
“Get the fuck out of my way,” Tony said as he slapped away Assan’s hand.
Tony slung the front-left hubcap off his classic Chevy in Assan’s direction, and it landed at Assan’s feet.
“Hey! Saheeeb! Are you listening to me fool?” Tony was obviously drunk, high, or both. He was teetering and swaying as if he were ready to drop.
It was raining in the city.
Assan stooped to pick up the hubcap, the edges almost razor-sharp due to the peculiarity of the design, with dangerous silver spokes to boot.
“Here you are sir,” he said, offering the shiny hubcap as he approached Tony.
“Oh hell no, sandnigger”, Tony shot back. “You are buying me a brand new one to replace that bent piece of shit.”
“But sir, it was YOU who caused the….” Assan recoiled.
Tony raised his hand to silence the cabbie.
“Wait. I’ve got something in my trunk just for you.” Tony belched as he
returned to his ‘Vette. He pulled out what looked like a rifle and turned towards Assan. Tony’s eyes appeared to be rotating in his big head. He looked like the devil himself and he was chuckling out loud. He leveled the rifle and slowly lowered his eye to the sight.
“Sir, please,” Assan pleaded as Tony closed his left eye.
Assan stepped back and without hesitation, flung the hubcap at Tony like a Frisbee. The sharp edge of the cap sliced cleanly through Tony’s neck, severing it.
In a split-second his head fell from his shoulders and hit the greasy pavement with a sickening thud, blood gushing from his neck like a geyser.
When the head stopped rolling, you should have seen the look on his face.
******
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Every single one of our species has the same approximate lifespan on this planet and it is so short and goes by so fast.
Why waste time, energy, and resources on hatred and prejudice?
Stay well.
