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IT’S ONLY MY OPINION: Stan talks Oprah, and the Trackchair

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By Stanley P. Gershbein

Brooklyn Daily

Stupidity or racism? Even if you were there, you couldn’t know the motive of the salesperson that gave Oprah a hard time over a handbag.

I know the feeling of being ignored. Many years ago, my son and I drove up into the Pocono mountains for the purpose of finding the perfect piece of land on which I wanted to build a vacation home. I was not dressed as a businessman. I wore jeans, a sweatshirt, and sneakers and no doubt didn’t look like a serious buyer.

We made a stop at the office of a land developer, walked in, and waited about 15 minutes while six salesmen were busy chewing the fat. They saw us standing there and continued to ignore us. Just as I started to leave, the pretty 20-something secretary, who I did recognize, looked at me and asked, “Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

“You should.” I answered. “I’ve been filling your family’s prescriptions since you were a teenager.”

That’s when she shouted, “Hey fellows. This man owns the biggest pharmacy in Queens. Why are you ignoring him?”

Within seconds I was under attack. Six salesmen who had snubbed me because of my casual appearance were now ready to buy me lunch, drinks, anything just to keep me there. I walked out and did buy at the next real estate office a mile up the road.

Do you wonder if appearances really count?

Well, sometimes it does.

• • •

An Action Trackchair is an all-terrain motorized wheel chair built for and used by the extremely disabled. As of today there is a need for Trackchairs for seriously wounded veterans, those who lost limbs and cannot get around without the chair. How many are needed? Perhaps thousands. A few weeks ago I mentioned that the viewers of Bill O’Reilly’s television show donated $7 million towards the purchase of the very necessary motor carriage.

That amount is now $9 million and growing, of course. Clearly, Mr. O’Reilly and his charitable followers are very noble and compassionate.

It makes me proud knowing that there are Americans who really care, but it still is a very small portion of the amount necessary. Isn’t this something that our generous Federal Government should be doing, our representatives in Washington borrow money and give it away to countries that don’t like us anyway.

It would be very helpful if, for one year, we declared a moratorium on all gifts to those ungrateful nations and used those mega-billions of dollars to resolve our own needs. In attempting to solve America’s own problems it would be wonderful if we first looked at those in the military who have served us and whose lives have been changed forever.

I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net asking you for a small favor. Please make a copy of this column and forward it by e-mail or snail mail to any of your representatives in the District of Columbia. Your wounded warriors will thank you.

Read Stan Gershbein's column every Monday on BrooklynDaily.com.

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