So I’ve contemplated whether or not to post about this conversation for some time. It took place while I was out eating with two of my closest girlfriends. Now everyone knows that politics and religion are hotbed issues, but you should be able to talk about anything with your friends, right? Most of you know that I’m am neither overly religious nor overly political, but rather filled with cynicism with regards to both topics. This often leads to the more than occasional smartass sarcastic remark issuing from these lips.
The conversation started when Ash made a comment along the lines of, “I kind of feel sorry for Bush.” This was a random topic of conversation for us. As I’m sure you can imagine, we tend to talk more about sex and shoes than presidents and politics.
Well, without much thought, I interjected, “Yeah, because he’s dumb as a rock.”
My peripheral vision caught Lane’s shudder and taken aback look. I don’t remember her exact words, but they ran along the lines of, “I think Bush is a good man. He’s a very moral man.”
After choking a bit on my gumbo, I didn’t know how to respond short of “shock and awe,” so I admitted that he did seem to talk about morality quite often. Ashley then interject some piece of randomness about McDonald’s or the weather. I let her veer off subject for a bit and then thought, hell, you don’t pull punches with your friends of all people. I brought the conversation back to Ashley’s original comment, questioning why she felt sorry for Bush. The discussion rain along the lines of he gets criticism for his public speaking but he shouldn’t get blamed so much because a) he has other people to write his speeches and b) not everyone has the ability to be a good public speaker. I can see some validity, and therefore partially excuse him for the latter, but the former is pure bunk. Part of a position of authority is wise delegation of duties. Anyway, Ash brought in her opinion that she respected Bush’s position on stem cell research as it showed a respect for life. I can certainly understand that view but felt compelled to comment that there are many ways to respect life.
A look of horror crossed Lane’s face. “You didn’t watch THAT movie, did you?!”
Insert confused look from me here. “What movie?”
“That movie!”
Had I not just watched Fahrenheit 9/11 a week or two earlier, I would never have had a clue what she was talking about. Yes, I did watch the movie. I enjoyed it. Blatant propaganda? Sure, but so is a huge chunk of the evening news. Lie from start to finish? I doubt it.
“He’s such a bad man. The guy who made that movie.” She continued in a whisper, “He’s a big (unintelligible).)
“A what?”
After the third time, I realized what she was saying. “He’s a liberal!” I can’t remember if I cracked up right there or if I managed to hold it in. I told her I didn’t know much about his personal life but thought that the two of his films I’d seen had merit because, if nothing else, they inspired thought and questions. Why she was so shocked that I had seen “THAT movie,” I don’t know. She claimed to have seen most of it.
Why relay this story? I don’t know exactly. To catalogue the experience for myself, for one thing. Much of the conversation also struck me as rather funny. It’s amazing how close you can be to someone and still be able to be shocked, dramatically, by their views.
