BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

I woke up this morning, my head still spinning after watching Susan Jacoby on Bill Moyers (PBS program). 

The interview was enlightening and frightening.  Ms. Jacoby was a joy to watch as she said things that few of us would dare have the courage to say.  For the duration of her interview I sat in awe, wondering how this woman had penetrated my head.  And, quite honestly, some of her statistics seemed unreal… Americans who think the sun revolves around the earth, Americans who have no idea where Iraq is, and the list goes on. 

Ms. Jacoby even chastised people like myself for using “folks” as a part of our daily language.  Well, I’m from the South and it’s a part of our daily lingo, nothing derogatory intended by its usage.

Yesterday I ventured out into the world, with a world atlas in hand and took at seat at a local Starbucks.  I picked Starbucks for a reason.  I don’t go there although I pass by it quite often.  I have noticed that people sitting inside the windows seem relaxed, so I decided that if I interrupted a conversation of two no one would mind.

It was a trade off in some respects.  I was as unfamiliar with the massive number of cafe and latte selections as most of the people I talked to were with a world atlas.  I selected a “regular” coffee.  That should have exposed me as a novice, but once I pulled out the atlas no one seemed to notice. 

I approached a couple of well dressed, well coifed women and asked if they could help me locate Iraq on the world map.  I opened the atlas to its center, three staples separating the Atlantic Ocean right down the middle.  The first response was, “Ah, there’s France.”  The older lady lapsed off into fond memories of a family holiday that had centered around the Eiffel Tower and Pont Neuf. 

I reminded her that I was looking for Iraq.  Neither of the ladies could pinpoint it, and suggested that no one visited there now, so why didn’t I look for a “friendlier” country.  I thanked them and excused myself from their table.

I approached another table, the young couple looked over the map with a deer in the headlights stare.  Apparently, it was important for them to know why I was looking for Iraq on the map.  I felt that if I had to explain that, they would never be able to help me locate the country.  I stepped back and let the twosome debate the issue and they looked at the topigraphical map.  Finally, one spoke up and said that he should know where it is.  “We are fighting there,” he said.

Well, yeah.  I thought we had settled on one point, when the young woman spoke up and asked, “Iraq or Iran?” 

“Iraq!” He answered.

“I’m against the war.” She responded.  Well, good for her. 

Finally, I was impressed that the gentleman suggested that we go to the index and look under “I”.  We did and following the page numbers, he flipped the atlas over to the single picture map of Iraq.

I couldn’t resist, so I pressed him.  “That’s it.  Now, where does it fit in the world map?”  I flipped back to the world atlas page.

He was at a loss, but assured me that will a few more minutes he could figure it out.

An older lady tapped me on the shoulder, explaining that she ”couldn’t help by overhear the conversation”, and pointed exactly to Iraq on the big map.  I took a seat at her table and we struck up a conversation.

She had my number.  She, too, had watched Bill Moyers with Susan Jacoby.  She knew exactly what I was doing.  The smirk on her face was revealing.  We stayed in Starbucks chatting for an hour or so, occasionally pulling in those who were looking for a seat, asking them to help us find Iraq on the map, and more often than not getting no answer.

One couple explained that it didn’t matter where Iraq is as long as they stay “over there”.  I heard my new friend mumble under her breath, “I bet they wish we had stayed over here.” 

The people I spoke with were torn between whether we should stay in Iraq, although none of those could show me where it is on the map, or whether we should bring our soldiers home. 

Having given up on getting assistance locating Iraq, I asked three groups to help me locate Wyoming on a map of the U.S.  That pretty much explained it.  If we can’t locate Wyoming, how could I expect anyone to pinpoint a country across the ocean?

It was a good experience for me.  I suppose we pick our friends and acquaintances based on similar interests.  I found a few people that I exchanged phone numbers and email addresses with in Starbucks, but for the most part, there was far more interest in taste testing the chocolate caramel latte with a splash of raspberry.