“…You got more guts than I can think of – dead. And dead you are!” As if to punctuate his threat, he let me hear the sound of a gun being readied to fire. Then he hung up.
I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t shocked by the threat. I’ve been threatened by different people for different reasons.
I’ve been physically threatened by drug dealers for focusing too much attention and enforcement on their drug houses. But I’d feel more threatened by my conscience if I didn’t react to their poison-for-profit destruction of lives in my neighbourhood.
I’ve been threatened by gang members who didn’t like the fact that I didn’t respect their intimidation. Gang names and colours are little more than slapping “designer” tags on generic stupidity. I don’t care about the name of their crew, I just hope these guys get old enough to raise a kid that’s not ashamed of them or condemned to inheriting a loser’s lifestyle.
I’ve been threatened by some slum landlords who didn’t like being confronted for their abuse of buildings and tenants in the neighbourhood. One actually left phone threats, informing me which parts of my body would be broken when he got his hands on me.
I’ve been threatened by owners of slimy businesses for opposing their requests for zoning and licensing. I can’t hide the fact that I despise “businesses” that rip off people in my neighbourhood or profit off their addictions.
I’ve been influentially threatened by politicians for opening my mouth about their issues and decisions.
I’ve been occupationally threatened by religious leaders for straying from their understanding of my pastoral mandate.
I’ve been legally threatened by people who don’t want the truth spoken in public. And I’ve been professionally threatened by some social workers, bureaucrats and professional activists for exposing some of their hypocrisy.
Now here’s the part you may not believe – especially if you’re one of the folks listed above.
I don’t wake up in the morning figuring how I can give you grief. Normally, I’d rather help you than confront you. I don’t go looking for trouble. But when it’s right in plain view, somebody’s gotta do something.
I don’t hate you guys. To be truthful, I do get ticked off at what you do. But I remember enough of my own past to not pretend I’m perfect. I pray for who you are, believing we all can become better people.
As time passes and people change, I’ve developed friendships with folks in each of those categories. And I’ve gone to the wall for people who are really willing to change.
But I can’t tolerate the crap, and I won’t kiss anyone’s butt.
What got me about this threat was that for the first time I was being threatened for being “nice.”
Over a series of phone messages the guy berated me for being idealistic and altruistic. He didn’t use those words, of course, but he was plainly angry that I didn’t share his disappointment and cynicism with life. I could tell from his comments that he was a reader of this column, since he seemed particularly offended by what I wrote last week.
I noticed the guy didn’t leave his name or number, so I figured he didn’t really want to talk, just to spout off.
Hey buddy, I’m hoping you’re reading the column again this week. If you’re tired of “niceness” here’s a few not-so-nice words for you…
Are you so stuck in the excrement of your self-pity that you can’t face the truth about your situation?
You can’t keep blaming all your problems on others. If someone’s done you wrong, tell them about it. But make sure you’re doing better by them than they’re supposedly doing by you.
Instead of threatening to take a life, why don’t you attempt to get a life of your own. It’ll be much more satisfying. For all the toughness you sure don’t sound real happy.
Instead of leaving anonymous phone messages, why don’t you have the jam to have a normal conversation about the things you care about? Don’t just rant about what ticks you off.
That’s all I was trying to do last week.
Are you happy now? You wanted me to stop being so “nice.”
But now that I’ve given you the “nasty” truth, I can’t withhold the “niceness” either.
I’m praying that you’re feeling better than you did when you called the other night. It sounded like you were doing pretty rough. And I’ll keep hoping that maybe, someday, we’ll be able to have a more friendly chat.
Take care.
Rev. Harry Lehotsky
514 Maryland Street
Winnipeg, Mb R3G 1M5
(204) 775-4929
lehotsky@escape.ca