Moral courage at the grocery store

Donna's a good friend, a devout Irish-Catholic with a strong sense of what's right and what's wrong, and a willingness to speak out against injustice.

At a post- Christmas gathering she was bemoaning racism.  It's all around, she said, and told this story.

"Just last week I was at the grocery store.  Two customers in front of me was an African-American woman.  The cashier was having a difficult time scanning the items.  The woman in front of me became irate that the check-out was taking so long, and began speaking abusively to customer in front of her.

"When she ranted on and on I stepped between them.  'Excuse me,' I said, 'It is the cashier who is having a hard time scanning the groceries.  It is not this woman's fault.'

"The abusive customer then attacked me with her foul language.  I said, 'Your language is offensive, you're way off base, and you need to shut up (and I don't usually use that term) and find another line.'  The abusive words continued. 

"'Would you like me to call the authorities?' I asked.  Finally she shut up and left.

"The African-American woman was in tears, and thanked me.  'Did you say that because I was colored?' she asked.  'Oh,' I replied, 'Are you colored?  No, what's wrong is wrong.'

"When I finished checking out, a security guard appeared and said, 'I will escort you to your car.'  I told him he didn't need to do that.  Very firmly he repeated, 'I will escort you to your car.'  I thanked him."

Listening to her story, I was grateful to see the completeness of her unselfish interference -- in the presence of the security guard who saw her safely to her car.

I wondered if I would have had that kind of moral courage.  I told Donna she was very courageous.  Her reply?  "Somebody had to do something."

I pray for all mankind daily.  I trust that my prayers support and inspire moral courage where it is needed.  And I respect my friend for hers.