The Warrior
In a world that is upside down and full of falsehoods – five ordinary people try to live their lives according to their principles and carefully researched choices. Mocked, scorned, and abused by a tidal wave of humanity that refuse to open their eyes to the depravity that is upon them.
It is now up to those that accept the burden and weight of the task ahead. They must become reluctant warriors for this cause in the hopes that more will join and recognize the clear and present danger. Will humanity wake from its slumber in time to stop the Orwellian menace or will we consent to our own destruction?
Our cast of characters include five shoppers, a unnatural grocery store, flying monkeys, and our dependable men in blue. Continue reading to get a first hand account of a second rate store and a third rate police force.
Preface
Ladies and Gentlemen… Welcome to the big top! In the center ring we have The Texan, The Preacher, The Protector, The Warrior, and Baby Face. They stand here before you on trial for their audacious crimes. They have defiled the sanctimonious etiquette of novel society – they walked into a unNatural Grocers store with a complete face and a healthy glow. I know, just take it easy, take another drink of your latte. We got this. The flying monkeys dispatched them quickly and they were met with an adamant denial of service and, oh, so much more.
Other shoppers in double masks and face shields, sprinkled with fairy dust, rainbows, and fetid bacteria watched in horror as these selfish bastards breached the produce section and headed for the wall of cookies. Shit ya, it was as terrifying as it sounds. Take a moment and catch your stinky breath. Only the strong of stomach should continue reading the rest of this horrific tale. One autistic cherub and four middle aged adults are serious threats to the health of the nation, nay, to the planet. They refused to check their brains and rights at the door and that is not tolerated in the new nonsensical normal.
To be fair…
There still exist some “essential workers” or real human beings that, for the sake of employment, unhappily don the filthy muzzle on their face. They do this in full awareness of the damage it is causing them both physically and mentally. Yet, somehow, they still manage to treat their fellow humans with dignity and respect. We understand each other. I respect them and I feel their sense of powerlessness and resentment. I have great empathy for this. They are not delusional about it. They know it sucks and they know they have no right to ask another person to wear a useless ritual symbol over their mouth or threaten harm if they don’t.
Whereas, there seem to be far too many that enjoy this role – let’s call them the flying monkeys. They leap into action at the first sign of danger. Those holes in your face are poisonous orifices that need to be covered at all times – so says the cashier. Apparently ignorant of anatomy and respiration (fresh oxygen enters, filthy carbon dioxide exits, blood requires oxygen, etc…) they feel entitled to force you to obey these asinine discriminatory pseudo-scientific rules.
Speaking of asinine. Now we have moved into a new space – the anus. Yes, that’s right, since people won’t speak up about all of this authoritarian overreach the experts have decided no hole in your body is off limits. The “Asians” wear masks and anal swab so what’s your problem? The flying monkeys giggle at this prospect and think it won’t ever happen to them.
Act One:
Five maskless shoppers enter the store. They were under the impression that mask rules had shifted back to accommodating medical exemptions. It’s a pesky civil rights law that we hoped the store realized they had to respect sooner or later.
Scene One:
[Enter flying monkeys]
Flying Monkey One: “Would you like a mask?”.
The Five Shoppers: [politely] No, thank you. [Continue to cookie aisle]
Note: I don’t know where “The Texan” is at this point.
[Flying Monkeys swarm the remaining four members and one Decent Human did the talking]
Decent Human: “I don’t want to do this but I have to keep my job.” “Please, if you don’t wear a mask you must leave”.
The Protector: “Yes, I understand. I understand you don’t want to do this and I’m sorry. We’re leaving.”
Decent Human: “Thank you”.
Note: “The Texan”, upon entering the store, bee-lined to the restroom. As a senior, you gotta heed the call of nature quickly.
Scene Two:
Four of the Five shoppers are beyond the registers now at the front of the store. “The Texan” shows up with some items to buy [doesn’t know we were asked to leave].
Flying Monkey One: “You can’t buy that food unless you wear a mask.”
The Texan: “What?? I don’t think so!”. [Drops items from her arms on the grocery belt and leaves the store]
“The Preacher” and “The Texan” are outside in the parking lot waiting for the rest of the gang. “The Warrior” is talking with two flying monkeys at the register asking them to explain “the policy”. “The Protector” and “Baby Face” are standing at the door waiting for “The Warrior”. “The Protector” waits with “Baby Face” to soothe her anxiety and keep an eye on the conversation at the register.
Note: “Baby Face” is very attached to “The Warrior”. “Baby Face” has a neurological injury caused by vaccine damage. She can not care for herself. They are sisters and “The Warrior” humbly assumed full responsibility for her sister many years ago.
The Warrior: “Why are medical exemptions not honored in this store? Do you understand what you are doing? Infringing upon and discriminating against the civil rights of another human being?”.
Flying Monkey 1 & 2: “It is store policy” “You don’t know what you are talking about. You need to leave. You are making our customers uncomfortable. We will call the police if you don’t leave.”
The Warrior: “Okay, call them… whatever”. [These words are spoken as she exits the store]
Note: Being sarcastic is not a crime. Oddly, “The Warrior” was thinking that we still live in a country where civil liberties and the rule of law still exist.
Act Two:
The five shoppers are outside and standing next to “The Warrior’s” vehicle parked in the front of the store in a disabled parking spot. One, maybe two minutes have passed, as we are saying our goodbyes to head home. “The Texan” and “The Preacher” have no idea there was a conversation inside the store.
The “Flying Monkeys” decided to be vindictive and call police because their feelings were hurt. Two police cars roll up and cops jump out ready to rumble. Three, maybe four, officers now approach and make a perimeter to corral the “suspects”. PoPo are masked and difficult to read. Since the plan-demic, the rules have changed regarding face coverings and carrying weapons. Previously, the police officers were not allowed to have their faces covered for obvious reasons – communication and visual cues become dangerously absent. The atmosphere quickly changes to one of confusion, angst, fight or flight, menace, and high anxiety.
Scene One:
[Enter the PoPo or “law” enforcement]
The Protector: “Why are you here?”
Officer One: [hands on unholstered taser] “We received a call that you were trespassing at this property.”
The Protector: “We are in the parking lot, leaving, that’s what we were told to do and that’s what we are doing.”
Officer One: “You are still on private property so (na-na-na-na-na-naaa!) it is “technically” trespassing”.
The Protector: “This is a business open to the public.” “We are not trespassing we are leaving.” “I’m leaving now.”
[The Protector begins to walk past the officer. Officer grabs arm of The Protector.]
The Protector: “Don’t you [bleep] touch me!” “We have done nothing wrong here!” “You look me in the eye and tell me what we have done wrong!”
The big metal sign in front of (un)Natural Grocers with the “Mask Requirement” propaganda crashes to the ground. Bang! We all jump. A customer exiting the store stands it back up, as if to say, I have relinquished my freedom and you should too.
Officer One: “You have trespassed and now this is an investigation.” [eyes darting, unable to look the accused in the eye]
The Protector: “There has been no crime so there is no investigation.” “Why can’t you look me in the eye?!” “You know you’re wrong!”
Officer One: “You do not understand trespass law.” “If a person were at your residence and you didn’t want them there that is trespassing and you would call us.” “You are trespassing and now there is an investigation”. [Repeats this line like a robot with a pull-string and never asks for our side of the story]
The Protector: “It is you that don’t understand the law!” “A residence is not a business!” “It is not the same!” “I have never been in trouble with the law in my life! Never!” “I have always followed the law but now, now I see, I see you for what you are!” “I would never call you for help.” “Good people are now the bad people!” “You have lost my respect!”
Scene Two:
“The Preacher” intervenes between “The Protector” and “Officer One” by calling “The Protector” over to him, only a few feet away, in order to turn down the heat.
Officer Two: “Stop! Stop right there!” [Hands on his unholstered taser – itching to inflict some pain on an unarmed woman]
The Preacher: “I am going to talk to my wife! Just relax – we aren’t going anywhere!”
The Protector: “Am I not allowed to talk to my husband now?”
“The Preacher” brings a level calm to the situation and “The Protector” lowers the intensity from this point forward. The officers should have been able to do this but instead decided to pour accelerant on the situation.
Officer Three: “What is your name?”
The big metal sign crashes to the ground again. Bang! Masked customer exits and walks over the sign. Another hapless sleeple follows and stands it back up.
[Fear, like fire, begins to spread]
The Protector: “I am not giving you my name because there was no crime committed here.” “We were asked to leave and we left. You got here in a minutes time and prevented us from doing the very thing we were asked to do – leave” “Was I supposed to run to my car like a thief with a fire under my butt?”
Officer Three: “You have to give us your name. What is your name?” “Look, just give us your name and we’ll enter it into our database and remove it later” “We have to have your names in case you trespass this property again” “If you do, the charges will be much more severe”.
Note: Officers are all asking us individually for our names. There is no attempt to hear our side of the story. They insist that we have trespassed without confirming with the store that they are actually pressing charges.
Act Three:
We refuse to give our names so the officers call “The Sergeant”. “The Sergeant” arrives, puffs up his chest, and enters the store to get the accusers story. His officers should have done this already but failed to do so. Never asked for our story. Just insisting that we provide our names. The store manager tells “The Sergeant” that they are not pressing any charges and that we are “welcome” back anytime as long as we wear a mask.
At this point, it is clear, if the responding officers had simply followed the above protocol and understood the store was not filing charges, the concordant response would have been a reiteration of the store policy followed by a warning. We would have been allowed to exit the property without any further provocation or providing personal information.
Scene One:
The Preacher: “We were asked to leave because we weren’t wearing masks and we left. Where is the crime?”
The big metal sign crashes to the ground again. Bang! Masked customer exits and stands it back up. That sign is like a religious icon now to be handled with reverence and respect.
The Sergeant: “This isn’t about masks!” “You are being accused of trespassing.” “Give your names or you will be arrested and charged with a Class B Misdemeanor and I assure you that is very serious.” “If an officer asks for your name you MUST give it to them.”
The Texan: “No, that isn’t true and this is not trespassing. This is a public place of business. We caused no harm or damage. We left when we were asked to leave the store.”
[Atmosphere very tense now]
Individually, the decision is made to give our names. We understand at this point that we have no protection under the law. The badge is determined to take our rights and crush our spirits. With pride and a smug twinkle in their eyes they let us know who is in charge and prepare for the final assault.
The Warrior: “Will giving my name be held against me? Will it incriminate me?”
The Sergeant: “No. What are you even asking?” “You have to give your name.”
The Warrior: “No. I will not give my name.” “You said the store is not pressing charges. I will not give my name.”
The Sergeant: “You have three seconds to give your name or you will be arrested.”
Ignorant Woman: [Exiting store and yells] “It’s the law!!” [Scampers away like a cockroach running from the light]
Note: Officer does not correct ignorant woman that it isn’t a law, otherwise, that would have been the charge.
Act Four:
The officers arrest “The Warrior”. “The Sergeant” leaves the scene. His intimidation effective and his heart two sizes smaller than it was before. He heads back to the office, the one that exists because we pay for it, and probably feels warm all over for successfully coercing law abiding citizens and an autistic girl into submission.
They handcuff “The Warrior” and there is no Miranda Rights cited in that moment. “Baby Face” is pressed against “The Protector” now and crying. Feeling threatened and afraid.
The big metal sign crashes to the ground again. Bang! Masked customer exits and stands the sign back up. [Obedience the new virtue]
Officer Three: “What is her name and what is her disability?”
The Protector: “You don’t need her name. Leave her alone. I don’t know exactly what her disability is but it doesn’t matter. You don’t need to know that.”
Officer Three: “I need her name.” “So we can help her.”
The Protector: “You don’t care.” “I see how you help.” “Her first name is [name].” “Now leave her alone!”
“The Warrior” is standing by the police car as they dump the contents of her purse out on the back end of the vehicle. They decide to arrest her and we are all stunned as we watch them put her in the car. We have a serious problem Houston…
Epilogue:
This experience was absolutely horrible and unnecessary. It only gets worse after they take her to jail. We have her autistic Type I diabetic sister and we do not have her insulin. Does she require any other medications? What are her dietary needs? We have no family contact information. When we finally find where my friend has been taken they refuse to allow us to speak with her about this urgent medical situation and they refuse her access to a lawyer. There were still no charges as they tried to figure out what they could pin on her and get away with it.
We called back many times that day and got no where. Her sister spent the rest of that day and night in our care. To state that we were worried is an understatement. Finally, the following day, we got a hold of someone working at the jail that still had their soul intact and we were able to get a phone number for a family member. Contact was made and by 3:00 pm that day the family member arrived at our location and we watched their tearful reunion.
Get out of Jail…
Now that we had safely transferred her care to a family member it was time to get our friend out of jail. At every turn, with each call, they lied to us. It was now late afternoon and we decided to call one more time to see if this nightmare would be over today. We asked if there were any charges and the answer was “no”. To that we asked if she would be released today and they said, “not until she gives us her name”. Wait… They already had her name because they said it to me over the phone. They kept trying to manipulate us into saying her name for some reason and we wouldn’t. When we asked how long they were going to keep her they stated they could hold her for one day or five days or as long as they wanted.
That’s when we knew we had to get outside help. They still had not allowed her a phone call or legal representation. I began reaching out to anyone with name recognition in the area that was actively fighting to save our civil rights from the invisible menace. After casting out all my lines I finally got a bite!
The Warriors…
I started a conversation with the “Green Smoothie Girl” or Robyn Openshaw and she connected me to the People’s Rights Organization. She “held my hand” until I made contact with a couple of gents from the organization and she set up a radio interview on the Kate Dalley Show! The folks from the People’s Rights Organization jumped right in and started making noise – no hesitation. I don’t know if the inquiries made by PRO made the difference but my friend was released on Tuesday at 3am. Weber County Jail had held her there for 38 hours without charges or access to legal representation. As of this writing, we are still not sure what, if any, charges were made or if there will be a court date.
The Sign…
I want to step back for a moment and point out the “mask” sign in front of the store. Let’s be clear. There was no wind that day – none. And yet, that sign was thrown down time and time again as we stood there being humiliated, intimidated, and wrongfully accused. What was causing that sign to slam down? Not just once or twice but several times? I have an idea of what it was – let’s just say the Universe is none to pleased with the wrongs being done globally in the name of “safety”. Ironically, these wrongs are being done by a corporation that touts health and individual empowerment as its greatest gift to the world.
The juveniles that work for Natural Grocers decided to be vindictive and started a process that I hope they never have to experience for themselves. To them I say, you have no idea what harm you caused that day. Understand, if you continue to allow and participate in this destruction of human rights, you might soon find yourselves in the very same position you put us in.
In the not so distant future, “See Something, Say Something” will be in full effect. To keep your “get out of jail free card” you will be required to level false accusations at the rest of society – this will be the new normal. It’s called communism and it is very real and very ugly. You will go directly to jail. The police will come to your door and there will be no court, no defense, and no civil rights. I hope you remember how you contributed to this dehumanization of society and how you helped to create it.
What is the moral of this story?
I am reminded of the “boiling frog” story. Theory goes, you can place a frog in tepid water with a slow flame and they will not try to escape – relaxed and resting easy. They don’t realize the temperature is rising because they are now in a stupor having been lulled into complacency. Once the water nears the boiling point it is far too late to make an escape – game over.
(No frogs were harmed in the making of this video)
Letting small and seemingly harmless wrongs slip, could kill or harm you. It basically tells you to not be complacent about minor changes that seem harmless – don’t ignore the signs that clearly add up to something terrible/bad.
Natural Grocers has received thousands of dollars from my family over the years – no more. You insist on this ridiculous policy when you know damn well you don’t have to – you alone have decided to enforce this mask “requirement”. There are no city ordinances nor laws of any kind that require you to do so. Your employees are miserable and suffering. It appears you do not care. The question remains… Why? I would guess large sums of government payouts are involved. It’s the color of greed and promises of favors – plain and simple.
It takes great courage to speak up in a world captured by fear and wired to conform and obey. To face the possibility of humiliation or ruin for daring to have a different opinion or the sense enough to know when you are being manipulated and abused. People of the planet, you must put a stop to this before the water boils and Truth as we know it is no more.
Jan 2022: Looking back at this post now… What an awful day that was. The “warrior” that was arrested without cause finally had her case dismissed. It could not have been easy on her. The process was very intimidating and most people would have succumbed to the bully tactics deployed by the judicial system. She did not. Sadly, for whatever reason, she stopped communicating with us. We have no idea why but we hope she and her sister are doing well. We have not stepped foot into Natural Grocers since that day… and we NEVER WILL. They are a disgrace. Unfortunately, unless you are personally affected by such an event, the act of boycotting a store that has harmed another human being is not high on the priority list for most people. Convenience reigns supreme in our current mode of living. Thanks to those that are still standing firm in their resolve to fight the good fight. Much love to you all.