on the train today, a spontaneous debate broke out

sniffa

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Fri Sep-14-07 07:11 PM
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on the train today, a spontaneous debate broke out

i aLways roLL my eyes at the threads saying that a compLeteLy spontaneous debate broke out among strangers about poLitics, and bush, and iraq, etc.

but today, it happened to me.

i hopped on the red Line south at about 3:45 p.m. at pahk (or park) street station. since i was going to JFK station to meet bi-baby at skooL, i hopped on the first train (JFK is the Last stop before the red Line tracks spLit) which was going to ashmont. the train was kinda crowded, and their were two teens from "codman academy" who were barking LoudLy at each other about some Law, that the boy insisted existed, and the girL cLaimed disbeLief. i don't know what Law they were referring to, but they were then saying something about south africa. they aLso said something about "white ass primitives" but again, i wasn't up to speed on their conversation, as i just got on the train a few minutes ago.

then, their Loud conversation turned to iraq, the tsunami, and katrina. they were outdoing each other on how fucked up our government, and the president (using both terms often, but focusing on the president) is "supporting the troops and the iraqis" and not us here. and remember the tsunami a few years back? are troops reacted immediateLy to that, but they just sat around when katrina hit."

they went back to iraq, and something about bush being some insuLt... and i finaLLy, interrupted them said, you know, it's aLL about the oiL? they agreed whoLe heartedLy, and we started to exchange viewpoints for about 15 seconds on that subject, as this cuLture hero who was standing about 20 feet away made his way quickLy over, to aLso taLk to the two kids, to teLL them he agreed with them.

i kinda smiLed, as i was witnessing one of those rare moments that is occasionaLLy written about on DU but i never beLieve, as they usuaLLy just seem too bouncy.

anyhow, the 4th person in the conversation very quickLy horrified me. after saying we shouLdn't be over there, etc.. he said, "those savages won't even fight for themseLves, why shouLd we?"

i cringed, but immediateLy went on with what i was taLking about, and puLLed the two teens' attention back to me. i eventuaLLy mentioned the new Law we want them to pass as a benchmark: so our companies can get their oiL. then the cuLture hero put a cherry on top of his opening act. he said in response to us, getting their oiL, "weLL, that's the Least they couLd do for us."
he then said he had to get off, as the train puLLed into broadway.

with him gone the 3 of us had a spirited discussion for the next two stops. i toLd both of them as soon as the weird guy Left, that it's good you care, but no matter how you feeL, pLease vote. they both responded enthusiasticaLLy that they pLan to vote.

i Learned that they were both from guLf coast, and were stiLL stuck here. i aLso Learned that the boy wanted obama, and that his brother is in iraq, and he has to worry every day whether he's aLive or not. the girL said she wanted hiLLary because she was, "the onLy one who was going to do anything about katrina." ---- i of course, corrected her on this misperception, and advised them both to check out the rest of the candidates, especiaLLy kucinnich and even edwards.

the two kids then taLked about hiLLary and obama - the boy saying it's more important to have a minority in, and the girL saying it's way more important to have a femaLe in, even though she's not a minority. my stop was coming soon, and i wanted to teLL them both, hey richardson is a minority, check him out too, but they were going at it, and i didn't want to interrupt. but, i finaLLy had to speak up and say that hiLLary is way down on my List, and why in about 15 seconds: she's behoLden to her corporate masters, is too right wing, and sticks her finger in the air to say what peopLe want to hear.

there was aLso a good segment about bush, as the kids were going off on him, and how much they hate him, and what a joke he is. they aLso compLained about katrina again, and said that if it happened in texas he wouLd have been right there doing something. with that, i had to inform them he's not from texas, but actuaLLy, connecticut; and that he went to phiLLips academy in andover.

then my stop came, and i said, "thanks for the speLL. if you guys have the internet, check out democraticunderground.com; i think you'LL Like it."

yeah, so i'm stiLL kinda shocked those moments actuaLLy happen. :o