Quote of the Day “When ignorance gets started it knows no bounds.” –Will Rogers
As closely as I can recount it, here is a lunch time conversation I was involved in this week. Enjoy.
Person1–What was that sound?–My God I thought the building was coming down. I was fixin to run.
Person2–I think it was a car in the parking garage next door.
P1–Liked to a scared me to death. You know, with all these disasters and everything. My Sunday School class was just talking about all these disasters and how we’re going to elect Osama Bin Laden and I’m gettin myself ready. Don’t you believe these disasters have the hand of God in them? I do, the end times are goin to be here soon.
Person 3–I know.
TB–Blank Stare
P1–Osama Bin Laden scares the Hell outta me. You know he don’t put his hand on his heart and salute the flag.
P3–I know.
P1–You can’t tell me he ain’t gonna try to let them Muslims take over. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ain’t got horns stickin outta his head. (TB note–I think the horns part was only half serious)
P3–I’m afraid of that too.
TB–Blank Stare
P1–What do you think (addressing P2)
P2–Well, I think we have two real choices for President this time. I think Obama is a good, principled man, but I don’t agree with them. I think McCain is a real honorable man so I’m gonna vote for him.
TB–<Raises eyebrows, takes a bite of burger>
P1–Well, I think Osama bin Laden’s gonna bring this country down.
P3–I can’t stand them boom boxes them people are always blaring in my neighborhood.
TB–Blank Stare
P1–You ain’t sayin much. What do you think? (to TB)
TB–I’m votin for Obama. <returns to hamburger>
P1–Blank stare
Travellinbaen 
This is a funny post. The unfortunate part is that this conversation is being had far too often by far too many people — without a TB to give everyone a moment’s pause. I have a relative that said she was scared of Obama because he might be “a closet Muslim.” Stop and think about that for a second. A grown-up truly believes that Obama could be a “closet Muslim.” All those years in a Christian church, he was just biding his time?? In 2008, we have this type of ill-informed, over-reactive thinking. It’s enough to make one cynical.
Maybe its a sign of progress that all the people who really want to just say “no way in Hell I’m voting for a black dude” are doing their damndest to come up with something else to say since even they know overt racism is no longer socially tolerated. I think their are enough P2’s out there who honestly disagree with the country taking a left turn to combine with the P1’s and P3’s that we may well be stuck with another 4 years of the same neo-con b.s. But then again, maybe the internet generation will stay inspired through November and give us a chance. I’ll be watching with great interest to see which group most significantly influences our destiny.
That conversation is a fine example of how a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. I am amused that you did not interject anything further. Either age has mellowed you some or that was one delicious hamburger! I got into that same discussion via email with someone from church about politics and religion; muslims vs. christians. That has prompted me to start reading a book on Islam and I’ll be going over it in church next week for my adult class. It is a distinct possibility that I will be turned into a whipping post and flogged by some. I am totally disillusioned by this political landscape but not because I am afraid Obama is a muslim. I really do not know why anyone wants the job! You will be happy to know that Gene is an Obama man and was responsible for getting a chapter started in Oxford, MS of all places, hitting the neighborhoods campaigning before last March. A young, white man in the black neighborhoods of Oxford was not always readily accepted – reverse discrimination if you will. As always, the study of people and their reactions to different subjects still entertains me.
TB correct me if i am wrong was that burger
special ordered consiting of just ket. and mustard
Plus cheese. You got it.