Wednesday I had to pick my son up at his school because the serpentine belt broke on my van which he had been driving to school. Yesterday I moved it from the school parking lot and took it to my sister's house till I can get it repaired. I'm depending on a couple of friends who are able to do such things.
Anyway, it reminded me of the last time a serpentine belt broke and a lesson that I learned along the way. My family and I had gone to Dauphin, Pennsylvania to attend a wedding near Harrisburg. We went to the wedding and, on the way to the reception the serpentine belt broke on this same van and there we were, in strange area, and on a Saturday afternoon. It got even stranger as we found we could drive for short distances and then, letting the engine cool, we could then drive a little further as we searched for someplace, anyplace where we might find repair.
We knew the way to the reception so as we proceeded we began to notice that all of the businesses had bars on their windows. It was a bit of a run down area, kind of dark and dingy, and we began to grow more and more uncomfortable, especially when we noticed that there were comparatively few "white" people seen. Most of the people that we were seeing were either black, Hispanic, or oriental.
When we pulled into a gas station to get some information about where we might get some help I noticed that the attendants were behind a steel cage. Now I really got uncomfortable and began to wonder what I had gotten my family and myself into.
The people behind the counter told me of an auto repair around the corner so I walked there (it was daylight) and asked for some assistance but I was told they were closing for the day and that they could not help so I returned and found everyone still in tact. The strange thing is that, as people stopped for gas, many of them asked if we needed help. They must have thought it was strange for us to be there. There were black people, Hispanic people, Asian people asking if we were o.k. and seeming genuinely concerned.
I don't remember exactly who brought who, but a fellow came by on foot and asked if he could be of help. He said he had a small shop in the community and did some repair. He looked the situation over and said he could help. By this time one of the relatives showed up and picked my family up for the reception. Now I was alone and at the mercy of people whom I did not know, whom I did not trust, and of whom, admittedly, I was a little afraid.
This gentleman took note of the year and make of my van and said he'd be back and, in about a half hour he was, with a new serpentine belt. He had brought some tools with him and proceeded to put the belt on. He knew what he was doing and the job was done in a very short time. He showed me the receipt for the belt, for which I did not ask, and then I paid him for the belt and what I figured the going rate would be for a certified mechanic, for which HE did not ask!
In no time at all I was on my way to the reception and amazed! I was amazed that people that I did not know, that I did not trust, and of whom I was uncomfortable, were some of the kindest people I have ever come across! I realized that, even though I had always considered myself unprejudiced and impartial, in truth I really was! I realized that had this been a totally white community none of the uneasiness and fear would have been felt. I realized that you can't judge a person by his color!
Now, as you read this you probably consider yourself to be an unprejudiced person as well. But if you should find yourself in a situation similar to what I have just described, you'll find out if your opinion of yourself stands.
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