A neighbor stopped by to admire the red, white, and blue pinwheels we'd put up across our front yard. The 7 of them do look rather festive, turning and sparkling in the sun. But they aren't there to just look pretty.
Our son actually chose the pin wheels, because they looked like little wind mills. It was a small, personal political statement on his part. He thinks that the best way to honor those lost in the wars that have been going on for half of his young life would be to end our dependence on foreign oil by committing to renewable energies -- really committing to renewable energies.
In his words:
"Mom, if we didn't need the oil, maybe they could all come home and maybe we'd stop messing with people in the Middle East."
Maybe, son, maybe. Gimme a hug and here's the money for the pinwheels.
And so, he put the 7 pinwheels in the yard -- one for each year of the wars he's known.
This morning I ran into a neighbor who was out walking as I was blearily getting the paper. Nodding at the pinwheels, she said, "They look nice. Hey, we're having a Tea Party barbecue at our house on Monday, how about you all coming over?"
The interesting, yet surreal, conversation over the fold.
Not having had my second cup of coffee, I responded with, "Huh?" Which I immediately regretted, but I had no chance to apologize for my rudeness.
Oddly enough, my response seemed to make her happy and off she went on a riff about how good it made her feel to see people showing "the appropriate level of patriotism" this weekend ... how angry it made her that "some people" just hate this country and want to "drive it into the ground" ... but people are getting together, now, and they'll see. "We're going to take back this country" ... how about joining us for a barbecue on Monday? (I didn't catch all of it. It was kind of a torrent, but I think I captured most of the key points.)
THE appropriate level of patriotism?
some people?
take back the country from whom for whom?
Fox News talking points LIVE! - before my second, Sunday morning coffee. Great.
I know I've mentioned that 2nd cup of coffee twice three times, now, but it is really, really important to me and my cognitive abilities. Which may explain why I made the mistake of asking:
Why do you like the Tea Party Movement?
(What follows is a pretty good recreation of the resulting conversation. As my blood pressure started going up, my brain started waking up.)
TPM Neighbor: Well, do you like paying the Run-off Fee every month just because we live on the lake? It's a big government scam and not fair to us. We didn't put the chemicals in the ground. The farmers who used to farm here did. I don't see why WE should have to pay for what they did.
BACKGROUND: There is a rather large lake all our properties border. We pay $30 per month for a run-off fee for the decades long effects of the chemicals the former owner used to farm the land. The fee goes to cleaning up our water supply.
Me: Um no, I don't like that agricultural chemicals have polluted the environment, and actually still are, especially that Dead Zone in the Gulf ... and I don't like the monthly fee, but we're responsible for the land now, and I'm glad the government is monitoring the situation and making sure our water is safe. Aren't you?
TPM Neighbor: Yeah, but WE shouldn't have to pay for it! But, that's just a little part of it, all. Both our money AND our freedoms are getting taken away one, by one. I know you go to church on Sundays [how in the world does she know that?], and you may not know it, but they just took away our National Day of Prayer!
Me: Um, I pray every day. We're all free to do that, or not do that. I think it was just a separation of church and state issue. You're still free to pray, aren't you?
TPM Neighbor: Yeah, but just you wait. This was the first step toward closing our Christian churches. They already took God out of the schools and look what has happened to our schools. And besides, did you know that The Constitution doesn't really say anything about a separation of church and state?
Me: 1st Amendment - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." The first part about no law respecting the establishment of religion requires the separation of church and state. I like that the government can't impose a state religion on us, don't you?
BACKGROUND: I teach government, so yeah, I can recite it even without a 2nd cup of coffee. I dreamed about teaching it once, so I'm pretty sure I was even able to do so in my sleep. LOL
TPM Neighbor: Well, I don't know about that. That's what The Constitution says? Hm. Well, with Nobama up there, we'll see if it stays that way. You seem to like The Constitution. You really should come over. I'm not all that good at explaining the whole thing, but it's really important WE band together.
(At this point, I had a developing headache, knew I'd probably never get through to this numbskull, and the dog whistle racism was elevating my blood pressure.)
Me: Thanks, but we have a family gathering planned, but thank you anyway. Hey, can I ask a favor? I know my son sometimes plays with yours. We're trying to raise our son to be appropriately respectful of the Office of the President, so could you please not refer to President Obama disrespectfully around him. We care deeply about this nation, Our Constitution, and support our wonderful country's democratic form of government. That's pretty important to us, so I'd really appreciate it. BIG SMILE. And hey, the pin wheels do look pretty, don't they? (ooo, pretty sparkly things)
TPM Neighbor: The look of confusion, was priceless. Well, yeah, sure. Sure, hey, I didn't mean any disrepect by it. (Like hell you didn't!) Yeah, they do look pretty. See you around, maybe another time for getting together for a barbecue ...
I stomped back into the house, and of course, let off steam by recounting the whole ridiculous exchange to dear husband. But as I did so, it made me think about some of the themes in her thoughts and feelings:
I want the government services, but I don't want to pay for them.
I'm insecure about my religion.
I don't know what The Constitution actually says.
I think Prayer in School is what made our schools good. Now, they are bad.
President Obama is a BLACK person who can't be trusted and WE (as in white people in a rather affluent neighborhood) have to band together to protect ourselves from a frightening, threatening them.
I guess I could have maybe should have more fully gotten into it with her. I have to be honest, I mainly just wanted to get away from the fool and get to my coffee. And, I'm not sure I would have gotten anywhere even if I had. I'm going to guess she's a vote for Paul. I know I'll be voting for Conway. The result is we'll just cancel each other out.
Still, upon reflection, it was instructive to hear the viewpoints LIVE -- a bit surreal -- but instructive.
7 pin wheels on a front lawn.
They obviously meant very, very different things to each of us, and the encounter left me wondering how we will ever get this country pulling together in some semblance of the same direction, once again. Should I have argued more then and there? Should I go to the barbecue and listen more? Try to find common ground?
Sigh. Somehow, I just don't feel hopeful enough to attempt it.