Scorched-Earth Anyone?

*** continued from previous post ***


Now as you know I've never been a Bush supporter - father or son. I'm socially liberal, fiscally conservative, and a moderate regarding foreign policy. You can put a check mark next to my name in the 'other' column. It seems that a radical political ideology, either right or left wing, was all the rage in August of 2008. There wasn't much middle ground. You were either red or blue, and that's all anyone needed to know to either think you were the most brilliant person ever born on the earth or full-fledged maniac hell-bent on ruining our country.

I detested Bush. Thought John McCain had traded his soul for political clout, and sat firmly in the Obama camp. Yet there was something about this semi-snotty Canadian espousing his views regarding MY country that prompted a visceral response deep in this American heart. As I believe I've told you before, I've never met a Canadian, be they from the highest social circle or the lowliest hard-scrabble, that wasn't an absolute expert on what was wrong with the USA. Canadians were kind of like that distant Aunt that is nice enough but had definite opinions on why everyone else was a screw-up, and what they should be doing to correct the situation.

So, I was at a junction, a fork in the road if you prefer. (Or a runcible spoon. . .sheesh. . . whatever.) I could take the 'Fox News' perspective and possibly alienate an entire Province, or I could enter into a rational, constructive, and productive conversation wherein this group of heartland Canadians and these motorcycle riding interlopers from THE STATES could find common ground, bridging the ideological divide and promoting peace, harmony and brotherhood amongst all North Americans.

As I sat there, running over conversational options and likely outcomes of differing tactics Mom leaned over and whispered, "Don't do it."

I started to protest, but as our brethren across the pond are so fond of saying, 'it was a fair cop'. Finally I decided to stop all the silly games and answer honestly. "Yes. Thank God."

As a unit the Canadian's jaws dropped. As if someone had snuck behind the curtain and with a pair of scissors cut the strings to their mouths.

Oh that's right, pigeon-hole me will you? Yeah, that just happened. I blew your mind. Deal with it. Lao Tzu would have been proud of my skills at throwing the enemy off balance, of changing the rules of engagement without notice. I now had them wobbling. The question was, should I go for the coup de grace?

*** the journey continues ***