Thursday, December 17, 2015

Remember the Oysterman and Shut your Mouth





I was in line in a Dollar General in Carrabelle, and ahead of me was a big fella, long hair, sunburned skin and lined before his time. A rough looking character with big arms and strong hands. He had some food items and was trying to get his credit card to work. The cashier finally offered to help him, and the line got longer by 2. She swiped it again, asked him something, fiddled with something, and the sale when through. As she was finishing up he turned to me and showed me the card: an EBT card. Food stamps. He said, paraphrased, “I was an oysterman and always made a living. Then the bay quit producing oysters and the government stepped in to help. I never wanted welfare, but I have to feed my family. All I want is honest work.”That last word was said with a quiet sob, and he had tears in his eyes.
I said something like hang in there friend. We have all been through bad times one way or another and we understand. Not the right thing to say probably, but that’s what came out. I wanted to give him a hug but didn’t.
Until Franklin county gets some economic development, and until and if, a really big if, the oyster industry comes back, this man and many others are going to be needing all of our help. I willingly pay taxes to support people like him and his family.
The oystermen and fishermen didn’t cause the problem. Greedy people in Georgia and Alabama did. Hogged the water the bay needs to stay alive.
The next time you see or hear someone going off on “welfare” remember the oysterman. And the millions like him. Pay your share and shut your mouth and just be glad you have work. Or income or something.

And if you ever got some help from the treacherous and evil government, thank whoever you thank that they were there for you.

Oyster:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Crassostrea_gigas_p1040848.jpg/600px-Crassostrea_gigas_p1040848.jpg

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