The Evolved American
My Dear Sir,
How sophisticated the American has become! Why, a century ago, even liars who had been lucky enough to apprentice with congressmen just wove their lies into normal conversation and hoped for the best. Those who were particularly astute might even reach the pinnacle of liardom and become lawyers or bankers. But conscience conspired against those of us who lacked the moral will to muzzle it, and we were left to endure the shame of not having been invited to the party.
But the American of the 21st century has so evolved that this sad state of affairs has been left far behind. It is a formidable achievement. In only one hundred years, we have learned to perfect the art of lying to such a degree that we are incapable of detecting even our own!
I was standing in an atrium of some sort, watching what I now know is a “news channel” on what I have also learned is called a “teevee.” The teevee was mounted high up on one of the atrium columns, and a small knot of people stood by me, heads tilted back, eyes fixed on the machine. My heart was bursting with joy and pride as I realized I was looking at the President of the United States, and that he is a Negro. Here, I marveled, is proof that man can overcome the evils that plague him, and that the mortal wounds the country inflicted upon itself in my time might actually have healed. Then a man in the crowd spoke.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” he said, shaking his head.
“Tell me about it,” a young woman replied. “Who does he think he is?”
“He thinks he’s King Obama, that’s who,” said a third. Several others nodded.
“Well, I don’t know about that,” the first man said again. “Did you see that picture of him meeting with that Chinese leader guy? He bowed to him!” He said bowed with a long, slow slide, derision dripping from it. “I don’t know about you people, but I’m an American. I don’t bow to anybody. As far as I’m concerned, it was a disgrace and a sign of submission.”
“Well what do you expect?” Another man said, his face reddening. “He got where he is today by doing exactly what he did right there. That’s how it works, you know.”
“Yeah, I heard he’s just paying us back for slavery and all that. Just tearing apart what we built up, just for spite. Just goes to show you. Be nice and loving and do the right thing and all, and they just take advantage.”
“Well,” said the young woman. “God bless him. I pray for him every day, that God will take away his pride and help him understand he’s just way out of his depth.”
“Amen to that,” said the first man, summing up. “A community organizer is just not cut out to be a president.”
How many times in my life I have heard men curse the “damned naygurs” and despaired! But how utterly devastating it is to see the fulfillment of the promise of equality, then in the same moment hear self-righteous asses lie to themselves to avoid acknowledging that the same epithet is still alive and well in their souls.
Yours,
MT
