Grocery shopping with young children can be challenging. You have to deal with temptations of candy and sometimes grumpiness from a child who needs a nap. But recently, it proved to be the mother of a young girl who had the behavior problem. She judged a dirty man in order to teach her daughter a lesson but quickly learned it’s not wise to demean people based on their appearance.
As Mike Rowe has pointed out on numerous occasions, people with dirty jobs are the backbone of our country. But, when Andy Rose ran into the grocery store, he crossed paths with a little girl who kept staring at his dirty face and tattooed arms. It was not something she was used to seeing. Instead of teaching her daughter about taking pride in your work, the mom took the opportunity to shame and judge a hard-working man.
After seeing this girl and her mother while shopping, Rose found himself behind them in the checkout line. The girl continued staring at him. When they all left the store, Rose heard the mother tell the little girl that his appearance was a reminder to get a good education. “That is why you need to stay in school,” the mom said.
Rose wasn’t about to stay silent. He provided a teachable moment to the mother for judging him. “I not only have a high school diploma,” he said, “I also have a college degree and many medical certifications. So assuming that I am uneducated because of my appearance is actually quite ignorant in itself.”
In addition, he explained that his tattoos were reminders of his days serving our nation in the military. This veteran put his life on the line for their freedoms and she stood there and judged him! “It’s a representation of my pride in my country and my service over multiple combat tours as a special operations medic,” Rose told the woman who was so quick to judge.
Rose also explained that he is a business owner. “I happen to co-own Evergreen State Outdoors and am proud to own an outdoors company and support my rights to hunt and responsibly be a gun owner,” he wrote in a viral Facebook post.
Never judge someone by their appearance! People who work hard sometimes get dirty. They deserve respect and appreciation. Hopefully, this little girl learned this when Rose spoke up!
Share this if you know someone who works a “dirty job” too!
Source: Western Journal