Religious Fanaticism

Religious Fanaticism

I left work early today. Of course, I started early so it evens out. It is a couple of blocks from work to the subway station. The weather was warm and clear. The trip to the platform was uneventful.

There were many more people than usual waiting for the next train. I have learned that that usually means the train is late. But the good part is that the train following will arrive sooner and it will probably not be as crowded. So if the first train arrives and it is jammed, I can just wait about five extra minutes for one that is more comfortable. And if I am lucky I might even get to sit down.

Well, it played out just as I thought. The first train was packed tight. So I, and just a few others, calmly waited for the next one. It was there in less than five minutes. I even got a seat.

A general rule when traveling on public transportation is to keep to yourself. You don't stare at anybody and you don't talk to anybody. I think of it as respecting others right to be alone in a tightly packed group. I usually do my own style of meditation that I call "meditation light." I close my eyes, steady my breathing, and think about something peaceful. But today the status quo was broken. There was a black man in painted silver clothes and painted silver skin walking up and down the aisle preaching in a voice that sounded just like Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction when he quoted the Bible:

"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

The Silver Man was telling us all about about Jesus, the end of the world, and how white people were devils. He went on and on.

Most of the people were calm. Some found it slightly amusing. But this one lady really resented being called a white devil. She gave it back to the guy as we traveled to our first stop. The train was making a lot of noise and he and the lady got louder and louder in concert. I couldn't make out much except that he was calling her a devil and she was disputing that accusation. At one point she was standing up right in his face. I was concerned that something physical might happen and I was ready to do something. (Probably a bad idea.)

As we slowed into the next station and the train noise steadily diminished, they both quieted down, she leaving the train. He told us that he had chased away the devil. The doors did not close right away as they usually would. I noticed two CTA guys outside the car. The one guy who came onto the train was big. I figured he would ask the guy to get off and if necessary drag him off, but he didn't. He talked to him for a few seconds. The guy said, "No, you'll have to arrest me..."

The big guy got off the train while talking on his radio. Meanwhile the train stood still; doors open, cooling fans blowing, people calm, a little apprehensive, one snickering. But the funniest thing was that some people who would never have spoken were softly talking to each other.

We sat there for 14 minutes. I figured that the police were on the way. I actually felt sorry for the guy. Chicago cops have this attitude: We would rather be sitting around talking and laughing and watching the fine citizens of Chicago out of the corners of our eyes, but if you make us work, we are going to crush you and fast. I pictured them coming down and saying, "Please sir, come with us." And he says, "No I have a right to free speech." And then the cops jump him and beat the living crap out of him and haul him away.

The Chicago Police arrived. Two of them came along the platform; puffy shiny black leather jackets, gun belts, billy clubs, and highly polished shoes. The big CTA guy extended his right arm and pointed the antenna of his walkie-talkie at the Silver Man who was just inside the door. The first cop looked at the Silver Man. The Silver Man looked back. There was no discussion. The cop said sternly, simply, in a fairly strong tone, "Get off the fucking train!"

The Silver Man said nothing. He did not look around. He did not hesitate. He just walked off the train. A cop on each side, the three men walked briskly away, disappearing down the platform.

A sigh of relief swept the car. The doors closed and we were on our way. A lady sitting nearby asked me, "Did the cop say, 'Get off the fucking train?'" I said, "Yeah, I love Chicago cops."

Later I thought about how the Silver Man might have spoken different words from a different book. I thanked God that I was not killed in a fiery explosion. Christianity has its religious fanatics but luckily for us, they don't believe in suicide and they find no honor in killing innocent people.

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