Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmastide in the US?

Spent the last few days with our daughter, son-in-law and our first grandson, Sully.  A wonderful event.  He is so alert, looking around, trying to see what else might be new in his life.

On 27 December, we went to the local mall, in Wauwatosa, WI, just to walk around and to check on sales. 

Marsha, Anna and I went, and split up when we got to the mall.  I wandered for a while, and then sat down on a small bench, facing the Customer Service Desk, in the center of the mall.

As I sat, one of the Mall Security persons came out from the desk, and approached two young ladies.  He stopped them, and asked to see their ID.  The first girl put down some bags, and reached for her purse.  She pulled out her ID, and showed the man.  The other girl put down a small box that she was carrying, and reached into her purse.  She pulled out a wad of cards and other plastic items...but no ID.  She looked at the guard and told him that she didn't have her ID, but that she was 19.

The guard looked at her, and said "that doesn't matter.  You could tell me you come from another country, and I wouldn't know the difference.  You have to finish your shopping quickly,a nd leave the mall!"

Since when are we required to produce our ID's upon the mandate of a Mall Security guard?  Since when are we forced to leave someplace where we are causing no problems? 

Obviously, Malls are private property, and they can have or not have, anyone they want...but these were two girls, minding their own business, and bothering no one.  Is this just someone exercising their power, or is there somethign that I've been missing about the freedoms of the United States?

Merry Christmas, and God bless us, everyone.

+WMK