It was around eight years ago when I arrived in a Chicago suburb to live. I remember a lot of it really well. A few choice songs can transport me back to the feelings of adventure and novelty. Stumbling around a friendly area (especially the Northwest suburbs of Chicago) can be a lot of fun. Committing social faux pas or driving the wrong way around the parking lot. Those people are pretty friendly and tolerant. One of the really novel things I found was that even complete strangers would tell you their political convictions and this being just prior to the 2000 election there were a lot of people telling me what they believed.
When it came to novel ideas here was one. The circles I moved in when I lived around London a persons political beliefs were their own. No-one asked you about yours unless you advertised them. In fact I have friends I have known for nearly forty years and I couldn’t tell you which political party they root for. So having a relative (and sometimes complete) stranger telling you their beliefs felt a bit weird.
Weird definitely, but kind of liberating as well. Here was a nation so young and enthusiastic that people were not hindered by whatever bizarre awkward social unease that bewitched my London friends. I liked it.
That was eight years ago and about 7 years and 11 months ago something became apparent in the political rhetoric of all those people happy to speak of politics. They were unshakeable in their beliefs. In the eight years I have been here I have yet to see a discussion between a Democrat and a Republican where on of them said:
“You have a good point there.”
No, whenever I hear people around me talking about politics, an image comes to mind. Two small islands and atop each island is a person with ear plugs in. They are holding a megaphone to their mouth and shouting at the other person who of course has ear plugs and is just shouting back.
It’s kinda sad really. But I still like the people I am just a little less impressed with their willingness to talk.
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Bazza
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