on Injustice and America Today: Let's Talk While We Wait for Our Food
Can things get any worse? I mean, obviously they can but I don’t even want to imagine how. Mass shootings, Charlottesville, that Muslim Ban. Kids in cages, assholes in red hats, Rush Limbaugh pity-awarded the Medal of Freedom, Ignorance, fear, prejudice, and hatred everywhere you look. Some dude was literally asked, mid-speech, why he didn’t stay in Mexico. How did we manage to—Hi, yeah, can we please get an order of the potstickers and beef asparagus skewers to get started, and another round, thank you—*back to group* how did we manage to take such a huge leap backwards so quickly?
Despite all the ugliness, I still believe that the day will come where we own up to the wrongs that have been perpetrated against the Other, check our fucking privilege, and collectively say, enough is enough. No, actually Tony, I don’t think I’m being overly optimistic. I just think the resurgence of nationalism, racism, and xenophobia we’re seeing is the last gasp of a doomed inbred mindset that will be relegated to the dustbin of history. And maybe not in our lifetimes. But some day, hopefully before the sun goes kaput.
How long has it been since we ordered those pot stickers? Damn, I know they’re busy but this is ridiculous. Are they killing the animal back there or what the fuck?
Sure, Leo, I agree the struggle is real and there’s no guarantee of victory. Sometimes it’s like one step forward two steps back, you know? But I remain optimistic.
Take the whole Harvey Weinstein thing, right? It reminds me of the Introduction to Feminist Theory class I took junior year. At the beginning I was like hey guy, slow down with the man hating. Some of us are in here trying to get laid. But then again near the end of the course, it really hit me—systemic female oppression is a fact. And I’m as guilty as any other man. That was a reality check for me. That was the first time I—
OK, seriously, who do you have to blow to get some food around here? Christ, it took 15 minutes for these people to even acknowledge our existence and now the potstickers are taking forever.
You know what I started reading the other day? How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis. I can’t believe I’d never read it before. It’s a classic—as timely today as it was over 100 years ago. And the photos are heartbreaking. Barefoot children in rags sleeping on a fire escape? God, what a gut punch those are.
Jack, could you please stop our goddamn waitress when you see her? Wave your hands over your head like a drowning man if you have to. I’m so fucking weak with hunger I can’t even move. And I really need another double Tito’s-soda-lime.
I mean, despite all the injustice and misery in the world, I still believe that the trajectory of history is toward greater self-awareness, expansion of consciousness, and dare I say it, greater empathy and love for our fellow human beings.
Oh, you’re an angel for tracking her down, Vin. She said the pot stickers will be right out? I’ll believe it when I fucking see it.
It’s such a fraught time we live in. It’s like we’re standing on the fragile precipice of history and we have to decide which way we’re going to go: toward the abyss of division and violence or toward greater tolerance and brotherhood. But not, like, total acceptance of everything under the sun. Some shit just ain’t cool. Men identifying as women competing in women’s weightlifting events? Get the fuck out of here with that. There are no chicks with dicks; only guys with tits. Get this dude in the men’s division and keep it movin’. Or maybe I am just deceiving myself that there’s a chance we’ll have the courage to make the right choice?
For fuck’s sake, will this nightmare never end? I can see she’s slammed but 20 minutes to get a check? I don’t think we’re going to make it to Fed’s to get those half price marg pitchers before they close. I just wanted to have a meal and good conversation with friends after a long week of awful events in the news and it turns into this fucking debacle. I seriously feel screwed. Straight up mistreated. How much are you leaving for a tip, Leo? 10%? My god, you’re cheap. I’m going with 20%, but I’m never coming here again, believe me.