So there I was last night having dinner with my godfather (more father than god in our relationship, since I was 10) at a favorite restaurant where we often meet. I was ready, with my recent education on progressive movements, repugnant Republicans and the state of America (1). I got slaughtered.
To understand why, I need to tell you a little about my godfather, an immigrant (actually his father was an immigrant from Germany, he was born in Texas, but his fathers roots are deeply imbued into his character), college graduate, history teacher, County Judge (along with many other civic services) and an active Republican. But, I must say, not the Red Republican that we portray and perceive here, which, honestly, beguiles the wits out of me. This is a man of universal respect, even from his adversaries both in business and politics. He is old school. The kind of guy who sits in the boardroom of his very successful business and day dreams of being out on his tractor. In my eyes, he is the very epitome of a man forged in a great generation.
You can imagine I was not expecting to win any huge controversial points that we can not agree on but I did not expect to come away so ... fruitless. It started out ok, first taking on Bush, a loser in life but with friends in all the right places and made some headway with a laugh, a dismissal and a tendency to look away stoically but without malice, addressing some of the most grievous Bush follies. Like under estimating Iraq. And for fleeting moments I felt I had some traction.
But then we went on to other things like global warming, to which which he replied, 'quackery', and 'the earth goes through cycles' and 'we can neither predict nor know, uncontroversially, the true impact of our consumption'. His optimism for our capacity to overcome obstacles in a dangerous world is amazing. To him, that is simply what you do, which I can only admire.
For fun, I mentioned Bill Maher, for which he said, 'he is OK', to which I said, [cue double take] 'huh'?, before I found out he meant Bill Moyer. It was a nice time in the conversation as we both respectfully but incredulously tried to follow along. He is a big Rush Limbaugh fan. And Hannity also. For the love of sanity, not Hannity , damnnn youuuu, I thought but could manage no more than a tepid smirk. I was sitting there wishing I had Kos feeding me some relevant facts, perhaps with a tiny microphone in my ear, as I struggled. At every turn he has an answer for whatever political grief I pose, usually, couched in history (one of his great loves). Clearly, I'll never be a political warrior for the side that, in my mind, I feel is just and good, when, in my heart, this man is both those things as well.
So, I say, we could all be wrong. And if we can agree on nothing else, at least that is something.
(1) "Books I've read":http://vudmaska.backpackit.com/...
"Quotes found on Kos.":
http://vudmaska.backpackit.com/...