Accosted by the Postman -- The US Post Office Strikes Again
This afternoon, not feeling well, I was sitting in my bed, minding my own business, when the postman banged on the door. Both dogs went ballistic, barking and clawing at the door. So, I got up, threw on a thin cotton wrapper, and opened the door a crack to see who it was. The US Postal Service. The mailman. Delivering a registered letter.
The letter was from the Board of Registration for Geologists, of which I am a member, and it was expected. Mr. Postman asked, "Are you a geologist?" I said, "Yes."
It was about 30o outside, and windy, so I pulled my wrapper closer and asked, "Where do I sign?"
Mr. Postman said, "I've got a background in science as long as your arm. I'm a mechanical engineer." (Which is a background in engineering, not science...) He then proceeded to tell me that HE doesn't believe in all that hogwash about continental drift, that the dinosaurs were left off of Noah's ark because they were too big, and that the water was in the ground and God just lowered the ocean basins to let all that water bubble out of the ground. Etc. He was becoming a bit hostile, so I nodded along, and smiled...
All this took about 10 minutes, while he was becoming so agitated, his hands were shaking, and he used his little letter reader about 4-5 times to verify that he delivered it. I am watching him, holding the door cracked, and fending off the dogs, who would like nothing better than to eat him. The wind is blowing in and my bare feet are cold, and I'm shivering, sick, and hoping that he will just get this over with.
Finally, he gave me my letter. I said, "Thanks. That's nice," and shut the door firmly. And locked it, loudly. Crawled my way back up the stairs to the bed, and turned on the heating pad on my feet... The dogs danced beside me all the way up and got on the bed, proud they had defended their mother and their household from the postman.
The more I sat there, the more it bothered me. Never a good thing. It was really sort of scary. He read my mail, and it really isn't any of his business to read my mail. He assumed that because I am a geologist, I'm some heathen, and proceeded to lecture me about The Way, The Truth, and The Light.
I've about had it with these Evangelicals. I believe in God, and to me, being a geologist doesn't preclude a religious belief. Maybe it does to them, but not to me. HOW DARE he lecture me? HOW DARE he assume anything about me, just because of a registered letter?
I believe that seeking truth scientifically, is developing an understanding of what I see as God's world. Anything I learn about the earth only increases my awe of the universe, and our planet, and of God. I do not care if you believe in God or not. That is NONE of my business. If you are congenial and try to behave as a decent human being, then you are AOK in my book. It is not up to me to judge, about your religious beliefs. I personally don't care what you call God, or what your beliefs may be-- if you try to live your life for the positive good, then, who am I to complain? I have no beef with Evangelicals, but they seem to have a beef with me.
So, I called the post office. I talked to a very nice lady, and told her what happened. I said, is it his job to save my soul, or deliver my mail? He doesn't know me from ADAM, and I'm a Methodist, and what business is it of his anyway? He had to read the return address on my letter to even assume that I was a geologist, and since when did geologists become public enemy #1? I asked would they please keep the Evangelical numb nuts off my front porch?
She assured me that he would be dealt with. And it made her mad, too. I was very soft spoken, and polite. I said it was unprofessional, and a FEDERAL service. Separation of church and state, and all that. Would he refuse to deliver mail to a heathen? I wasn't ugly or mean, and I explained that I had felt threatened. I'm standing there in my nightgown, trying to keep my dogs from eating him. Next time, they can have a piece of him.
I always knew that no good would come of this Creationist Museum and biblical theme park, and now this Noah's Ark thing. All it has done is "legitimize" a set of wacko beliefs. (It has to be true-- I saw it on TV...) Fine by me if people want to believe that the earth is 6,000 years old and that dinosaurs roamed the earth with early humans. Just don't force me to accept your beliefs and then come up onto my front porch and lecture me about them.
SHEESH!
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I'm beginning to believe that I've gotten into some "bad air". There is a whole story about that, and it's funny, but I won't go into it now...
I hope he loses his job.
No way.
He's a civil servant-- its well nigh impossible to fire them. Why? Because workers in the "public sector" have things like this .
Unions don't make you bulletproof. It's still possible to get fired as a union employee. I've seen Los Angeles County union employees get fired and they have a pretty tough union (SEIU). If this letter carrier has had other complaints like this an been warned (especially if the Post Office has established a paper trail of them) then I doubt the union would put up more then token resistance.
Thanks for your insight, Tai!
"Why???" Because supervisors are too damn lazy to write the reports and keep the records. As a supervisor, I have "retired" a number of Fed employees - but only because I keep good records and had substantial evidence.
I feel your pain 1st. I've only been successful in "letting go" one of my fed employees and that was because he was still on probation.
I had another employee who I kept records on and who I caught red handed falsifying her time records. I was told by employee relations to just put her on a PIP. They didn't want to go through the work and possible litigation.
I hope that the supervisors at our post office write their reports...
Thanks, dear 1st. This was NOT what I needed today!
Me, too, Randy! It was quite scary, the more I thought about it...
I've about had it with these Evangelicals.
Indeed. These Evangelicals. Most Americans now consider "Evangelical" to be a synonym for "Tea Party fundamentalist". Sadly, they're pretty much right... about American Evangelicals.
Most Evangelicals are not Americans. And most are not social conservatives. They are "Pope Francis liberals". Highly dubious about wealth and power. Kinda like, you know, what's His name... That Jesus guy...
You mean like..this Jesus guy-- the one Woodie is singin' about?
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
That guy.
They may be lovely people in other places, but here, they're a bit much...
Wow Dowser - What an uncomfortable situation. Was this your regular postman I wonder or someone who was just delivering a certified letter?
It was very inappropriate and unprofessional. He used his position as a trusted public servant to gain access to you. It doesn't matter that he was delivering a certified letter. He still used his position to assert his personal beliefs on you.
I don't know whether he was having a bad day or whether something else motivated him to confront you but you did the right thing by calling and letting someone know what happened. I'm also really glad you had your dogs with you.
My dear Pj, I was grateful for the dogs, too!!! I felt rather vulnerable standing there, shivering in my gown and wrapper. I've put my gun next to my bed, in case he comes back before my husband gets home, and tries to get in the house. Not that I could hit anything with only one eye... I need to get my shot gun out and keep it handier. It is easy to shoot.
I'm a nice person, and I don't try to bother anyone. What the hell?
Move up north Dowser, that'd probably put an end to mailmen proselytizing you.
Yes, dear John, but he was hostile about it-- that was the scary part. I thought he was really going "postal".
It's too dang cold up there.
Dowser ,
Sorry to hear about your experience . My suggestion is to use pointed questions to force conversations to a quick end . I think you did the right thing reporting this ass-hat to his superiors .
Thanks, Petey, that helps a lot!
I crawled up the stairs to get back in bed and thought about it, and thought about it, and felt like that was the thing to do.
I always knew that no good would come of this Creationist Museum and biblical theme park, and now this Noah's Ark thing. All it has done is "legitimize" a set of wacko beliefs. (It has to be true-- I saw it on TV...)
It has to be true! I read it on the Internet!
I would have told him that I worship Satan.
Don't we all?
LOL, dear Randy. Hey, dear friend, I love you, too!!!
LOL, dear Randy. Hey, dear friend, I love you, too!!!
I love you too Dowser!
BTW, have you heard the good news about Damien, the Son of Satan? Just wait right there and let me get you some pamphlets.
LOL!
I told Matthew, not again! I've lived through all this once before, and that original movie was utterly frightening! Of course, I was younger, and more innocent, back then... I may just have to put up a poster about it on my front door. Give the mailman something to think about...
Gregory Peck at his finest! I loved the second one too!
Terrifying! I loved Gory Peck, no matter what he was in...
That is from a Benny Hill Show-- it was the beginning of a movie, like the opening credits, as if it were being shown on a screen that was too small. Who's Afraid of Virgin Wool. Starring BETH TAYLOR AND GORY PECK. Funny! I've laughed about it for over 40 years...
Hal, I want you to know something. I love you dearly as my friend. I am very grateful that you are in my life, and that YOU are YOU. Thank you for just being YOU.
Every time I read one of Hal’s posts I'm always left thinking hallelujah……. weird
He always makes me smile! Invaluable!
I love this! Can I borrow Wiki for a few days?
Of course you can borrow Wiki for a couple of days Dowser. Be careful, she's a wolf in doxie clothing though.
She is fierce! That's what a I need right now. Fierce!
That's FUNNY!
Lulu got more and more upset with him, as I got upset... Tommy, who is pretty laid back, larger, and much more fierce looking, gave him Tommy's stink eye, which makes him scary. I was so grateful to them for being there... They are my friends, buddies, and kids, in many ways!!!
Not walking in his shoes I don't know what he is going thru. If he did a good job and delivered my mail on time I would have listened patiently and sympathized as best as possible. He might of been having a bad day and needed to blow off a little steam. I would have shrugged it off we all have bad days and maybe today was his.
We should ask Dear Sarah.
I smiled and was pleasant, I promise. I nodded along-- afraid not to, as his hands were shaking, and he was becoming more and more agitated. I have no idea what was going on with him, and I certainly didn't want to upset him further.
I felt like it was all because I am a geologist, and it made me wonder, what on earth is really going on here? Why would he assume that I'm a Godless creature, just because I'm a geologist?
Sigh...
Dean, it doesn't matter to me what he believes-- I mean, it is none of my business. But I'm in my own home, not bothering anyone, and his job is to deliver a registered letter, not lecture me on my religious beliefs. Do you see what I mean? It was unprofessional, and he was becoming so agitated that it was scary... I'm standing there in my "old lady" wrapper, which was actually my mother's, and trying to keep my dogs from eating him... If he had tried to come into the house, I would have had to let them have at him. That man doesn't know anything about me, as a person. He just assumed that I was "Godless". That's scary.
The postman drives a truck down our street, stuffing the mailboxes with our mail. I have no idea if this is our regular guy, or a new guy. We get our mail any time from 2 pm to 7 pm... I never see the postman, and don't ask for anything special. Maybe I should leave him a monetary tip or something... EEK.