“THEY” Cripple Society Volume 2: Who are “THEY” and how do they do it? An Expose in True to Life Narrative Exploring Stories of Discrimination. Cleon E. Spencer
let herself be guided by the laws of the government she worked for. The Lawtons pricked her pride. So being governed first and foremost by self, she decided that since the Lawtons were too much for her and therefore upset her wayward undisciplined pride, which in turn stirred her envy, hatred and hostility, they had, according to her, to leave the country. She did not use the laws of her country as the criteria for admitting or dismissing the Lawtons, but rather, her own self-centeredness. Self was the ruling criteria for her.”
Adding further, Collin said, “Christians are not meant to be like the ostrich with its head buried in the sand not knowing what is going on around it. Christians are supposed to be tuned in to what is going on in the world, and working to make it better. Durwin told some other of his experiences to the same Christian person. He did not believe these either. However, the experiences of Durwin Lawton I am relating to you are true and factual, as hard as they may be to believe.
“Furthermore, one of the main defenses of belittlers is to deny that such a thing would be done by them or in their country. When they are riled up enough, power and control belittlers do some brazenly ridiculous things that most people wouldn’t believe if they heard it. They have already outwardly established their own public image, as phony as it may be, and dare their victims to openly accuse them of what they have done to you. Then they will flatly deny it and accuse you of doing wrong things to them by accusing them falsely.
“So wake up Mr. Christian. Either you really are like an ostrich with your head in the sand, or, you are supporting the evil of belittlers by trying to cover up their dirty work. Either way you are wrong.
Returning to the story, Collin remarked to the support group, “You will notice I mentioned that the hard-boiled supervisor was older, and the woman at the wicket younger. This is not meant to indicate that belittlers are older people and younger people are not belittlers. That is not so. There are many belittlers among both old and young. This case does indicate, as the story will bear out, that there was a whole segment of belittlers approximately the same age throughout this vast office complex. Obviously they have been working together for years, and you will later see how they work together as, ‘a conspiracy of sorts’ as I call it, to put fine people down.
“When the Lawtons went home that day, they almost immediately went over the papers and list of requirements, which they found to be identical to those they had prepared on their visit to Terraprima approximately two months earlier. A complete medical report including X-ray not more than three months old was required for each of them. The Lawtons had this on hand on the required forms from their initial contact with immigration. They decided to fill out the remaining new papers, putting the present date and address on them, and go back into the city next morning. They aimed at being there seven o’clock to be in line early for the seven thirty office opening.
“Arriving at the planned time, they found the lines to be already hundreds of people long. They would have to stand in line a long time, which they did. At the end of this line they would be issued tickets which would give them entrance to a large waiting room on another floor, where the procedure was that as they presented their tickets upon arrival, their names would be recorded in a book. Then they would be called for an interview as it became their turn according to the order in which the names were listed.
“So the Lawtons stood in line for their tickets for nearly four hours. Tickets were generally issued until eleven a.m. which allowed enough people through to keep the department to which the people would go from there, busy for the remainder of the day. It was twenty minutes before eleven when the Lawtons reached the ticket wicket and asked for their tickets. As the amiable young counter man tore the tickets off the roll, the same hostile supervisor came barging in still another time. She snatched the tickets from the man’s hand before he had time to pass them on to the Lawtons. ‘There are no more tickets to be issued today,’ she snarled angrily. ‘We have reached our quota for today.’ The young man looked at her aghast, then at his watch, then at her again.
“‘It’s almost eleven o’clock,’ she growled in extreme hostility. ‘We have given out enough tickets for today. There is no more today,’ she said firmly in a near tantrum. The man put up his hand slightly in a gesture of resignation. The Lawtons walked away empty handed after nearly four hours in line.
“Out in the hallway of the building, Durwin asked a security officer what time in the morning did the line start to form. ‘Oh,’ he replied, ‘there are a few here at five thirty, and it starts to get heavy by six a.m. sometimes.’
“The Lawtons decided they would be there next morning at five thirty, which they were. There were a few people in line even at that time, but they were near the beginning of the line. This allowed them to approach the wicket for their tickets shortly after eight. They approached with much apprehension. The same supervisor was there, and she had spotted them in the line very early. Strangely enough, however, she did not continue with her glaring at them this time. In fact as she walked around she noticeably kept turning her back on them, which the Lawtons appreciated. Under great tension they finally approached the wicket and were very politely given tickets. The supervisor did not come near.
“The Lawtons thanked the man and left the area. ‘Thank heavens there was no clash with the supervisor this morning,’ remarked Canda with relief.
“‘It seems we are rid of her,’ said Durwin, ‘maybe we are well on our way now.’
“‘Don’t count on it.’ cautioned Canda.
“At the time Canda’s attitude seemed to Durwin to be a negative one considering the progress they had just made. Time would show that Canda’s caution was more than warranted. They were in for years of wrangling and abuse with this Immigration Department as it became more and more clear that belittlers were in control there, were well entrenched and were a law unto themselves.
“The Lawtons went directly to the other room located on another floor. Almost immediately and without incident they were able to present their tickets, have their names recorded, and then choose a seat from the hundred or more that filled the room. The seats were less than quarter filled when the Lawtons arrived there. Over the next three hours or so the room would fill up, the morning influx being faster than the processing. By eleven a.m. the influx would cease and by mid-afternoon everyone would be taken care of. That was how the system worked.
“There was a notice on the wall stating that once persons had presented their tickets and had their names recorded, they should not leave the room. If their names were called and they were not there to respond, they would lose their appointment for that day. There were wash rooms nearby to which one could go provided there was another to stay and hear the name called. There was another sign stating there was to be no food or drinks in the room. There was a water fountain in the hallway, which could be used by one while the other listened for the name.
“The Lawtons sat there from shortly after eight in the morning until after three in the afternoon. The room filled to capacity by eleven in the morning and became near empty by mid-afternoon. People were called in approximately the same order as they had been registered-all except the Lawtons, that is.
“By noon they began to suspect that something was wrong. The number of people in the room was thinning out. The Lawtons should have been through by now. Canda said to Durwin, ‘the battle axe downstairs is getting her way after all.’
“‘I believe you are right,’ said Durwin, ‘she was unconcerned about us downstairs this morning because she has fouled our procedure up here.’
“I’ll go to the counter and make inquiry,’ volunteered Canda.
“‘Good luck,’ said Durwin, with a hopeful smile.
“Canda approached a woman at the counter with her usual friendly smile and pleasant manner, explained that they had been in the room since shortly after eight and now it was afternoon. ‘Shouldn’t we be called in for our interview soon?’ she asked.
“‘We-1-1,’ said the woman in a smooth, cold manner, we are very busy here you know.’
“‘Yes, I can see that,’ replied Canda, ‘it’s no trouble to tell, but we