Country girl needs Enlightenment

I was thinking about something that happened about a year ago, and thought I'd post it here..

As you all know, I've only been to "the city" a few times in my life. One of those times, I went with my friend who is probably about ten years older than me, to St. Louis for the weekend. Venus was a street-wise colored gal (Note, I'd never seen a real life person of color until I was fifteen.). We was going to go watch the parade.. the Rams won the superbowl and go to the casino for the first time in my life. Well, we decided to go to the bar.. I wanted to SEE and EXPLORE.. (She found my nievete quite humorous at this point). Well the first one was a snooze.. full of uppity people, so I told her to take me somewhere unique.. So she took me to East St. Louis to this little bar.. When we walked in .. I was the only pale person there. Didn't bother me none after the initial stares. I guess that didn't happen very often for them either. I was the center of attention all night (now I realized, more like a sideshow at a circus). At closing time, I stepped on outside while my friend said her goodbyes. I noticed several guys loaded up in this van.. They called my name... "C'mere a minute" ... As I began to cross the street, my friend yanks me by the arm and tells me to "Get in the car NOW" I was a little upset at first, and asked her what her problem was.. and I will NEVER forget what she said to me.. I still remember the look on her face....

"Do you have any idea at ALL what you are doing?"
"What?"
"If I hadn't come out, you'd be raped and probably dead by now"

Of course, at the moment I thought she was over reacting.. but she explained that it's a common thing... you never approach a van full of people alone.. ESPECIALLY at night, and ESPECIALLY in certain parts of town....

She didn't understand how I could NOT know better...
And I couldn't understand why anyone should have to.

Ignorance is Bliss... as long as you stay close to the cows.

I can understand that. Be careful!
That's a beautiful thing, really.

I love that! Is it original?

You know what the fortune cookie says...don't mess with mad cow.