A Blind Eye

Some days, I wonder why I ended up in South Dakota. I know its because of Joe but I wonder if there is a greater purpose for being here. I am having a hard time understanding this place and the mentality of the people who live here.

A few weeks ago, we ran into Joe's cousin who told us he found a den of baby coyotes on his property. He then told us how he killed each of them and even had a chuckle about it. Just the thought turned my stomach. Residents here are raised to kill vermin like coyote, raccoon, skunk, deer, rabbit, etc. If it disrupts the business then it gets shot. If it eats property, it gets shot. If it crosses the street, it gets shot. I don't understand it.

Tonight, we were at a bar in Cavour. A kid named Justin walked in with a man. It was obvious both had been drinking by the way they staggered in and began to talk to the patrons. Justin tried talking to the man next to me then we struck up a conversation. He couldn't have been 21 yet he was drunk and there to do more drinking while on his way to Huron. Sadly, he was the more sober of the two so he would be driving.

As Joe and I left, I asked if we should let the local sheriff know Justin would be heading to Huron. I was told that it was best to not get involved. The sheriff wasn't called and Justin and friend may or may not make it home tonight.

There is a cultural aspect about this place that I just don't understand. How is it possible that a group of adults can sit around and talk about the latest gossip yet refuse to get involved in an incident regarding the fodder of that gossip? Case in point: during the last snow, a woman put her car into a ditch... several different times. Few stopped to help the woman and get her back on the road yet several talked about it later that morning, about how they saw her or helped get her back on the road. When she crashed her car into someone's gate, the sheriff was finally called out. Why not sooner? Because no one wanted to get involved.

Basically, a kid will get into his truck and drive away drunk and that's his business. And if he gets into an accident? Hurts himself? Kills someone? That will be the topic of discussion at coffee. Period.

I don't understand.