Me and those like me are destroying the country

Today is the first day of the 2009 Ann Arbor Art Fairs. As a member of the Washtenaw County ACLU board, I volunteered to work a shift at the ACLU booth. I worked the booth for 3 hours. During my time at the booth, I heard about the New World Order, how Zbigniew Brzenzinski is the puppet master behind Barack Obama, how Barack Obama is just like George Bush (I guess it is an ear thing), and a host of other things. People love to come to the ACLU booth and share their gripes with us. One person felt that our bumper sticker referring to collateral damage "When we kill the innocent, we become the enemy" was contradictory with the bumper sticker "I am Pro Choice and I vote". Someone else, who drove away the bumper sticker analyst, felt that there was too much government intrusion but was conflicted on allowing people to own handguns since the sole purpose of handguns is to take human life. He also mentioned that if the termination of a pregnancy is a mother's right when does that right end. He wondered whether or not mothers are the only ones who can legally take a life besides the police. He was not joking. He was a libertarian.

The crowning moment(s) of my shift occcurred toward the end of my shift. One man started toward our direction, stopped, retreated, and then came up to us and told us how he is not a fan of the ACLU. He feels the ACLU never takes a stand with which conservatives would agree. I disagree about that but it is his opinion. He then went on some more. My booth mate, an undergraduate ACLU intern, engaged in a little disagreement with him. I did not. I was curious what he was basing some of his opinions on but not enough to really engage. A few minutes later a guy came by and told us that "the ACLU and groups like them are destroying this country". I was taken aback. Recently, I have been worried about my efficacy in my job and in the ACLU. However, now that I know that I am ruining the country, I think my efficacy is well cemented. :)