When I saw Bill Clinton speak last year, he said something that stuck with me. He said that mapping the human genome shows that we all have 99.99% of our genes in common, and we kill each other over the 0.01% that is different.
Today in Moscow I had an experience that reminded me how much we all have in common. It made me remember what Clinton said. I got into the cab to go back to the hotel. The cabbie was a pretty rough looking character. Late 40's, muscular, a little shabbily dressed. After a few hundreds yards of silence he blurted out "what country you?"
USA.
Ya, USA. What from?
I figure GR is a lost cause...Detroit.
Detroit. I know Detroit. Autos.
More silence. Then ubznstmnnn?
What?
ubbssszznstmnnn? Louder this time.
Sorry, I can't understand you.
You bees nest man?
Yes, I am a businessman.
I physics teached at university. English learn.
Wow. Physics.
Physics. No living. Drive cab.
More silence. I think we've exhausted our ability to communicate. Then we drive up to the hotel.
Your bees nest good luck.
I offer my hand. I am returned a big smile and a cruching hand shake.
Thank you. It was very nice to meet you.
Da.
And we went on with our lives. It reminded me of all that we have in common, and how we can connect with each other if we just make the effort. We all want basically the same things...success for ourselves and our families...freedom to live as we choose...basic happiness. Our governments are once again fighting. The news in the states says Russia is the aggressor in Georgia. Here the media says the US is blaming Russia for political gain. Both are probably true. Both are probably false. Basically, I think governments usually act in self interest, with policies based upon partial facts and biased perspectives.
But people are bigger than that. Maybe that cabbie will understand that there are a lot of good people in the USA. I got reminded of how people here aren't much different than people back home. Which all brings me back to one of my favorite rock songs, Dire Straights "Brothers in Arms", a Viet Nam war ballad..."but it's written in the starlight, and every line in your palm, we are fools to make war on our brothers in arms..."
Dadeo
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1 comment:
That conversation is a pretty great example of how language is a natural instinct in us all.
I'm not sure I understand the argument over Georgia. From what I have heard, Georgia was actually the aggressor, and the areas that have separated wanted to be their own territories. They side with Russia. I'm not clear on why it is we don't, although there's probably more I'm not getting here.
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