Posted on 09/11/2005 9:34:36 AM PDT by SmithL
Over the past 2½ years, I have deduced that a few readers do not agree with my ideas. I'm clever that way.
Most of my dissenters send in e-mail messages, some of which are printed in the paper. I like this. I can handle criticism. On the other hand, I hate it when no one writes in at all. That's awful.
Coming to work the other morning, I took a voice mail from a reader who said he hated my column. You'd think such a reader would want to avoid me at all costs. But not this one. He actually wanted to meet me.
I was intrigued and called back, somewhat to his surprise. He told me he had collected $200 and was going to buy nonperishable goods for the poor as part of Project Share, the annual charity program sponsored by The Star and Daily Southtown.
I told Rich (not his real name) that I didn't have $200 to spare at the moment, because I can feel the transmission in my Mustang starting to go. I think that soon I'm going to have to shell out $1,500 for a repair.
However, I said I'd be willing to shop with him and talk politics — civilly, not with the usual name-calling that marks the American debate today. One question that interests me is, What makes one person a Republican and the next person a Democrat? Maybe we could find some clues.
I also told Rich, who lives in Orland Park, that if he could write an interesting account of his view of our meeting, I might share my column space with him. I thought the result might be interesting to readers, Republican and Democrat alike.
And so we met. On Labor Day, as it turned out. And I was impressed by Rich's sincere drive to aid the poor.
Rich is a law enforcement officer. His occupation pays his living costs. But in addition, he seeks out part-time jobs such as serving as a security guard at public events like the Western Open. The money from these jobs pays for his aid to the poor. He tries to dedicate $1,000 a year.
I hate to admit it, but Rich made me feel a little bit like the liberal stereotype of the stingy Republican. I asked where his altruism came from. He said that once as a child, he ate a candy bar in school. His teacher admonished him to stop unless he had enough to share with the entire class. Rich has lived that directive ever since.
I had a similar experience of my own, except that I was eating a fat, doughy cookie. The teacher said share. I thought: "What's the deal with that? Let the other suckers get their own damn cookies."
I think this may be the essential difference between a Democrat and a Republican.
Now why did Rich embrace his teacher's message while I questioned it? I'm not sure. In our few hours together, we couldn't answer all the world's questions. Perhaps some of you readers will send in your thoughts.
But as for me, I'm running out of room. So let me hand over the rest of my space to Rich.
"Michael Bowers is a highly disciplined writer whose narrative is often laced with a cold, unsympathetic anger. To a liberal Democrat, his column feels like a kick to the stomach. After so many kicks, one has to declare enough is enough.
"I decided to call him up with an interesting proposal. I sought his help buying groceries for the poor. I wanted him to go with me to Walt's grocery on Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park and provide matching funds for food items. I didn't think he would call back, but he did.
"A week later, a bit nervously, I stood outside the store waiting for Bowers, thinking he would arrive in a Bentley sedan. To my surprise, the columnist arrived on a motor scooter, wearing two days of stubble on his face. He looked like he had just come back from a Grateful Dead concert.
"Looking into his eyes, I saw his understated intellect and hoped he would not come on too strong in defense of his conservative ideas.
"We shopped, and I made it known to him that I hated his column. I also said that behind the anger-laced narrative, there must be an element of hurt. I wondered about the source of that hurt.
"So, after shopping, we walked over to Steak 'n Shake and downed about four cups of coffee apiece. Bowers shared a few unfond memories of his 42 years, and I realized that the cold, unsympathetic, conservative Republican had some warm human qualities after all.
"I think Bowers has a respect for George Bush because he is fighting back against tyranny in the Middle East.
"As for myself, I am disappointed in the president, because I believe he is acting like the president of the Republican Party, while embracing none of the hopes and dreams of Democrats.
"Sometimes I visualize the president as a bottle of bleach poured over the landscape of America. In Bush's wake, hopes and dreams have faded.
"As our encounter drew to an end, I told Bowers we would probably never meet again. I let him know that the simple act filled me with hope.
"I hoped I had convinced him, through the act of grocery shopping, that intellectual pursuits cannot match the human pursuits that make a difference in this world."
Michael Bowers is a copy editor and page designer for The Star. Send e-mail to mbowers@starnewspapers.com. If interested, you also may ask him to pass along messages to "Rich." For more information about Project Share, call (708) 633-6715.
"Sometimes I visualize the president as a bottle of bleach poured over the landscape of America. In Bush's wake, hopes and dreams have faded."
I have discovered on another forum..That perception is ingrained and no amount of truth telling can destroy it..
It is a mindset..
The new platform of the Republican Party! But we should add, "Thank your lucky stars you live in the biggest and most prolific bakery in the world."
He could've had coffee with a charitable Republican just as well, without all the political banter. What does this prove?
In any case, if Rats could express how to go about getting what they want in reasonable AND practical terms, someone might start to listen to them. So far they've wanted social security, welfare, abortions, the end to Christmas as we know it, free access to our country by any and all, and coming soon - Sharia law and homosexual marriage, if the two can exist in the same space. I figure it's our turn now.
Yes, but it got him out of having to write half a column, and he didn't even have to pay for it.
Well the column was interesting enough. It was pretty void of "political meat" ...but fine for what it was.
In Bush's wake, hopes and dreams have faded
Would someone please tell me what 'dreams' these people ever had that they are prevented from persuing????? I am baffled as to how the president has prevented them from the following: buying a home at the lowest interest rates in many, many decades; owning a car that is built to last many years, not just the four years they used to last; traveling anywhere they wish at discounted rates; shopping in supermarkets filled to the brim with goods, including discount-priced items; educating their children, including through four years of college at local and state levels for a low price; the list goes on and on and on. Just what exactly are these people looking for????????????
Hahahaha! And you can bet the coffee was on expense account.
Yes....since Bush's election I've turned into a soulless bag of skin....lifelessly dragging myself out of bed every morning, hoping today is the day I'll mercifully be release from my limbo-like existence by a bus hopping the curb and crushing me against a wall.
I've also stubbed my toe on my dresser at least 3 times since that bastard took office.
Oh woe to me is the horror!
"Sometimes I visualize the president as a bottle of bleach poured over the landscape of America. In Bush's wake, hopes and dreams have faded."
Wait a minute. Hasn't George W. Bush been an Everyday Citizen of America, just like you and me, for MUCH longer than the five years he's been President? He didn't have access to bleach before taking the Oath of Office? Did he stop you from pursuing your dreams PRIOR to his Presidency? Will he continue to impede your stride when he's a private citizen again?
Who ARE these people, and how does ONE person make or break their sad little lives? I love President Bush, Laura, The Twins...all of 'em. But in reality, they have little or no impact on my everyday life. I would say my own parents have had more of an impact & influence, or a best friend, or a spouse. Maybe this guy has none of the above?
What a doorknob. I wouldn't have had the patience to spend one minute with this guy, let alone an entire afternoon.
I have to agree with this, but the Democrat presidents make the Republicans feel the same way.
The only way out is to somehow make the presidency nonpartisan. This constant fighting between the two groups, especially with 9/11s and Katrinas doesn't do anybody any good.
What does this prove? What does anything prove? Just an interesting column, that's all. Why so defensive?
The hopes and dreams that have faded are for a socialist utopia, complete with Hillarycare and gay marriage.
this guy Michael Bowers is a hoot. Ask him to be on his e-m list,
at
mbowers@starnewspapers.com
FReep-mail me if you know his FR name...
I'm sorry, but THAT is the most messed up basis for altruism that I've ever heard.
I wonder what ELSE he "learned" in school..
Oh the cookie thing rings a bell!
I was raised to believe that begging was the ultimate in bad manners and degrading. If you saw someone with something you didn't have, you just sucked it up to envy or greed.
But I can not tell you the number of times I've been asked for something I had in my hand, usually food, by a coworker.
Not a subtle hint either but an outright 'would you share that' or 'are you going to eat all that' or a "can I have your (second piece of fruit, Coke, whole lunch). Its not just me, but I've noticed that folks will literally offer their meal to all at the worksite lunch table. Out of manners I guess. And there are folks who actually take some of their food! And not just a little bit too, but often half of what is on their plate.
It's almost like "I'm now going to martyr myself to the group".
I've see folks reach over and take all of someone's dessert, or in one restaurant setting, literally take half their entree.
They see it as charity....I don't know what the heck it is. It definately is cultural and it was a shock when I saw it for the first time.
Thanks for the ping!
They smoked it, put it up their noses and in their arms. When that wasn't enough, they robbed grannies and carjacked commuters to get the drugs to keep themselves stupid and poor.
Not only am I not going to give a GD thing to 'The Poor', I want my damned money back!
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