Today as I was getting on the train to head home, I passed a boy who spouted "Hey ! You a guy or a girl?" Those of you who have met me or seen my pics know that I have an unmistakable big red bush of a beard. I ignored it with dignity and continued boarding the train.

What I really wanted to do was turn around and confront the boy. Here's why:
He was in a JROTC uniform- almost. He had no tie even though he was wearing a service coat. His shirt was untucked and peeking out from under the jacket. He was wearing sneakers. (Class A's and sneakers! AAAAARRRGHHH!) His cap was down over his eyes. Even the collar insignia on his uniform were improperly placed. Everything about this young man from his trying to insult strangers on the street to the absolute disrespect he was showing to his country by disgracing the uniform (Then again, shouting out insults to strangers on the street is a disrespect of the uniform in and of itself!) just screamed for the kind of pruning that Robert Heinlein often said our species needs. I should have demanded his unit and reported him to his CO.

The insult to me I can let slide easily. The insult to servicemen and my country has me burning still, over six hours afterwards.