OK - I was followed to a friend's home last night by a whacko in a red pickup truck because he hated my anti-war bumper stickers. For over 10 miles, he continually harassed me, riding my ass and zipping ahead of me to cut me off and slamming on his brakes. While riding behind me, he kept making a gun sign with his hands and "pulling the trigger."
I'm guessing peace can really piss some people off.
Seriously, this guy followed me for 10, probably closer to 15 miles. ON HIS WAY HOME on a Friday! I spent most of the trip amazed that he lived so close too my friend. What are the chances? And since I had my 2 young daughters in the car with me - I was getting a bit nervous, and pissed. But when he turned behind me into my friends neighborhood, I realized he was stalking me - so pulled off into the community center parking lot, turned the car around and pulled up nose to nose with his pickup. We sat there for several minutes, then he rolled his window down - as if he had something to say. I could not wait to hear what he had to say: what could be worth adding 30-45 minutes to your trip home on a Friday. Get this, he said that since I was traveling with kids, I should avoid pissing people off... after all, he could have a gun.
My bumper stickers: WAR IS NOT WORKING. END THIS WAR (move on)
So... what do you say to some whacko like this? I told him "It's a Friday afternoon... go home and enjoy the weekend... relaxed... whatever... just go away." He brought up the idea that he could have a gun, and that pissing people off on the road is really dangerous. So I asked how dangerous he thought stalking people to their homes might be. After all, I guess I could have a gun, too.
My daughters asked me why the odd man was following us. I said, that as hard it is to believe, some people love war (and their own opinions) enough to attack their fellow Americans. How very American.
I guess the most amazing thing was that I had expected this nutcase to try and pick a fight with me, or pull a gun, or something. But he didn't. Instead, he seemed to try and find a logical explanation for what he did (and a moral of this story he wanted to share with me.) He wanted to tell me something important, I guess... but he had nothing to say, or he couldn't put it into words... or he was shocked at his own actions once he had to try and explain what he was doing.
So, I'm now torn between the realization that there are true nut cases out there, and no one really wants to attract that kind of attention... and the overwhelming desire to add more bumper stickers to my car.
Thoughts? Suggestions?