I started the new year off on a good foot in terms of courage and conviction. Though the story I'm about to tell you happened before midnight last night, it was already 1/1/12 somewhere.

David and I spent New Year's Eve with just the 2 of us. Enjoying each other's company as we approached the double whammy that is New Year's day and our 3rd anniversary. During dinner, for some reason, I brought up a story of when we went to Disney World and David saw a man purposely litter. This guy was pushing a child in a stroller with his wife (presumably), and deliberately tossed a plastic cup onto the ground as he continues walking. I brought this up because I said to David that we should speak up the next time we see assholes like that doing something inconsiderate and irresponsible. By not saying anything, assholes will continue inconveniencing others with their ignorance and laziness without ever having to think that they're ignorant and lazy. Just speak up and put that thought in their head - "hey, you did something that makes you look like a small person."

Literally minutes before midnight, I see a white guy with glasses exit his car, drop 2 plastic cups on the curb, and goes on his merry way. I said to him "hey, you dropped your cup." His response was, "yeah I did," and continues to walk away. So he did it on purpose. So he doesn't care about littering or the environment or keeping the world we live in a nice place. But he knows littering is against our society's moral code, or at least against what we teach our children at school. And he might never care, but at least I reminded him that his action was one of a small person.

Less than 15 seconds after he walks away, someone walking behind him picks up his cups for him. I wonder how he felt to return to his car with his trash having been picked up. I wonder if he thought, "ha, I got someone else to pick up my trash for me," or, "I'm an adult and I'm embarrassed that someone cleaned up after me." Either way, I'm proud of myself. I loathe confrontation, but that needs to change if I am to be a doctor. Maybe I accidentally made a new year's resolution?

I mention that he's a white guy with glasses because assumptions and stereotypes are so powerful. When I first saw him, I assumed he was nerdy, and therefore educated. By assuming he was educated, I expected that he would be relatively mature and responsible. I don't know what his nerdiness or education level are, but he surely didn't act mature and responsibly. Anywho, I immediately correlated the assumption I made of him with the stereotype that Asians aren't the ones who are followed around in a store for fear of shoplifting. I must admit I used this stereotype to my advantage in my heyday. And this guy probably uses his appearance to his advantage too.