Cracking the code 21 November 2003, 18:49

“So, are you ready for the hockey game?” echoed a Scots accent chattily, while I was packing my backpack in the supermarket foyer. (She recalled for me the baristo’s opener, “Are you ready for the weekend?” when I was first making my acquaintance with Edmonton.)

I nominally support the Oilers, and can sense the excitement surrounding the coming historic open-air game, but I didn’t rush out to buy tickets and won’t be watching it on (my non-existent) TV. But I didn’t mention any of that, and just enjoyed the conversation.

An essential ingredient of western-style friendliness seems to be the assumption of shared values, which stands duty for any actual shared values. You’ve got your herd instinct in two senses:

  1. cliquing up with people who think the same way you do, and
  2. standing with whoever you find beside you, thus propping up the whole society.

As I learned in the Netherlands, Dutch people live together better by employing a policy of tolerance toward opposing views. But it’s distaste rather than tolerance that keeps me off certain subjects.

For instance, my mind is made up on the issue of same-sex marriage (definitely yes), but I am not fond of defending or otherwise expounding that opinion, or listening to anyone else do the same with theirs. Many a time I’ve refrained from revealing my politics (such as they are) just to avoid such discussions in various areas. I’d prefer to talk books, film, theatre or music.

Back in my multicultural, mostly apartheid-free paradise, folks still have their minds on the old country. A peek into the local Arab news reveals a discourse that has been hijacked by politics. But away with strident debate on the subject of…strident debate.

* * *

These weird geologists would come along, lick the rock, and say “Get rid of it”.

-New Zealand native Lucy Lawless, on an old job as a gold miner in Australia, in an interview with Maxim, April 1999

---

Comment

Commenting is closed for this article.