Posted by
Ron Devito on Sunday, November 22, 2009 11:47:19 PM
No Better Than the Book Burners of Old
The
impact of the egg striking the stack of books resounded like a gunshot
in the nearly empty Borders. I was behind the display stack talking
with Kristina, Kate and Rachelle. JD had already gone home. Adrienne
and I had our backs turned. Adrienne was right next to the display
stack, which was in the center of the store as you walked in the front
door.
Following the sound, I heard a voice proclaim,
"Sorry I didn't hit you Sarah!" The egg thrower then sauntered out of
the store as if victory was his. I ran toward the stack and saw several
books covered in yolk and egg white. Adrienne's outfit was splattered
too...collateral damage from his attack.
I screamed
out to the Borders staff..."get him...he destroyed several of Sarah's
books, and Adrienne's been hit!" The staff told me they'd take care of
it...don't get involved! I waited...and I took pictures of the damage:
Photography by Ron Devito: Adrienne Ross -- collateral damage from egg attack on Going Rogue display.
Photography by Ron Devito: Overall shot of the display. The more highly reflective covers have egg white on them.
Photography by Ron Devito: Close-Up. At least eight books were destroyed.
Photography by Ron Devito: Close-up. Yellow on the second book in the stack is egg yolk.
Photography by Ron Devito: Target of hate.
Photography
by Ron Devito: Note the wet spot on the carpet and the egg shells.
These books were located behind Governor Palin's display.
Throw the Book at Him?
The
egg thrower was caught and arrested. He came to realize that his form
of "political protest" did not exactly serve him well. Borders chose
not to prosecute him, because he opted to pay for all the destroyed
copies of Going Rogue. In essence, this brilliant Obama Kool Aid drinker now bought the largest number of copies of Going Rogue for a single customer in the entire day!
Also
ironic and providential: Governor Palin was accused of trying to ban
books as Mayor of Wasilla...except for one minor detail: the books she
was accused of trying to ban did not even exist at the time. But, book
banning is a lie Obama's followers continue to perpetuate. Adrienne
Ross risked her job to protest a display at her school perpetuating
this falsehood.
Ironic that this man wanted to not just ban...but destroy Governor Palin's book....and
since he indicated that the egg was intended for Governor Palin
herself, I was loudly pushing for him to be prosecuted...but Borders
accepted reimbursement. Now it was up to Adrienne.
Mercy and Forgiveness? Or Pursue a Pyrrhic Victory?
The
arresting officer told Adrienne, she had a choice to make. Prosecute
him for criminal mischief and harassment; which meant she would have to
stay the night, then drive four hours from her home each way to be
present at his trial...or have him released.
I was
pushing for prosecution. Kristina and Kate calmed me down and told me
to defer to Adrienne -- it was after all her decision to make....and
they were right. It was her decision.
Adrienne chose
the path of mercy and declined to press charges. She did not pursue him
for the soiled outfit...she wanted nothing more to do with
him...rightfully so.
Farewell Dinner
Our
tired band of Rogues went to Uno's right across from Borders to have
our farewell dinner. We discussed the incident...the pros and cons of
prosecution. For a few minutes, we wondered if the right thing was done
not pressing charges. "Sorry, I didn't hit you, Sarah" played in my
head over and over again like a broken record. Could he be motivated to
attempt to harm her in some way later on? Would Borders' and Adrienne's
act of mercy embolden him? Conversely, what was to be gained by
Adrienne prosecuting him for harassment? To appear before a judge and
say "this man harassed me as a byproduct of destroying several copies
of Going Rogue"? With the primary case disposed of, there really was little point in pursuing it further.
Finally,
the conversation shifted to more joyful subject matter -- some related
to Governor Palin, some of it not. We enjoyed our meals and
conversation.
It was nearly midnight. We all exchanged hugs and the band of Rogues broke up. Having Gone Rogue, now it was time to Go Home.