O.K. Maybe not freedom. Allow me to explain.
The other day, my sick friend Liddy, who lives a block away, needed a few things from the store. I walked down the street to Rockwell Mini-Mart (a.k.a. Milk and Honey Stores), a place I frequent and adore. The father of the guy I usually see there rang up my items, and I planned to pay him with my debit card. Woops. They only take cash, which I had none of. He looked up at me without hesitation and said, “You go ahead. Pay me tomorrow, or whenever you are by here next.” I was thankfully surprised, as I had never even met him before. He said that neither the items I would take nor the money he was owed would make either of us rich, so why worry? I ended up bringing him the money after I delivered the goods to my sick friend.
Also included: online shopping and delivery!
I have just returned home from another visit to Rockwell’s mini-mart, and my buddy Issa Noor was there. I learned today that he is from Pakistan. I also learned that he believes in peace. He said he has lost belief in his government and in our present administration here in the U.S. He is independent in his thoughts, explaining to me he will not blindly follow the doctrine of a country. He is Muslim. He does not think Osama Bin Laden is Muslim. He also believes that experience is wisdom and he cherishes his family and elders. His store is packed with organic foods and earth-friendly cleaning products. And he’ll let you pay him Tuesday for a hamburger today.
Shop locally, build community. A doctrine I believe ANYBODY can get down with.