Today's version of the phrase Mad Max is best used as a connotation to describe chaos, disorder and anarchy. Example: "The other day I was reading an article in the Las Vegas Sun. The article told the details of a drug deal gone sour in North Las Vegas. Apparently, the buyer wanted to buy a kilo or so of coke and started to argue about the price with the seller. The seller became angry about the argument and pulled out his gun and went Mad Max on the potential buyer."
It doesn't take a Nobel Laureate to spot a young Mormon serving his two year mission in Las Vegas. They're the ones wearing shirt and tie and peddling a bike through the crazy streets of Las Vegas in a hundred and twenty degree weather. An ambitious bunch they are. Well, the other day I had the pleasure of meeting one of them:
"Are you from Wichita?" The golden Wichita State basketball shirt is what prompted me to ask the question. "I sure am. NW Wichita to be exact. I have been in Las Vegas the last eight months serving my mission. Are you from around those parts?" he replied. I then told him how my family hailed mostly from around Hutchinson and Haven and how I grew up around the Emporia area, "I know Wichita very well. I used to live there for a little while," I added. We shook hands and then I asked him why he wasn't in a shirt and tie - the traditional garb for young Mormons out spreading the word. "What do you think of Las Vegas?" I added as well. "I was helping an elderly lady with yard work, so I went with a more casual look. Las Vegas is a lot different from Wichita. A lot more people out here could use god's help." was his reply. We chatted a bit more and then I asked his age. "Nineteen, sir," he stated.
Las Vegas, being so close to Utah, has a healthy supply of Mormons. I've had the privilege of meeting a number of them. Some I like, others, not so much. But, it would be damn near impossible not to like my new friend. He had the vim and vigor of a young man. Which left me a long time ago. "I would like to ask you something," I said - he looked straight at me and replied, "Go right ahead sir." - his youthful tone was proving infectious - "What do you think the country will look like in ten years or so? Do you think things will be better or worse than they are now?" Without the slightest hesitation, he looked at me and said, "Worse, much worse! Everyone my age knows the hole were in and the debt that is being accumulated. And they expect my generation to pay it back. Fat chance with that!"
My new friend was funny, not just a little, very funny. The Midwest in him was obvious as we continued our conversation. I then asked if he thought things could go 'Mad Max' in the country. He wasn't sure what I meant by the statement so I gave him a better description - "Have you ever seen any of the Mad Max movies with Mel Gibson?" he shook his head no. "They show what a post-apocalyptic world will look like. Anyways, Mel Gibson plays the character Mad Max," my new friend was smiling and laughing as I went on with the description, "I have a friend of mine who I grew up with. I call him 'Mad Max' because he is positive we are headed that way," I concluded.
As I sit here writing the last paragraph for this post, for the life of me, I cannot remember my young friends name. So I have come up with a solution for now. I will call him The Road Warrior. If you ever see this young fella - Road Warrior is the last thing you would think - but, until I can remember his name and since he got a big chuckle out of my prognosis, well, I am going to refer to him as that for the time being.
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