The Republican Professor at San Fransisco Airport
A Conversation about the Wall
Back in San Francisco for the second time this month.
They got a Peet’s in the airport . No Chiky Fil, but I’ll take the Peet’s . The store that sells “build bridges not walls” shirts and mugs (Dem paraphernalia), I mentioned nicely to the girl, is itself behind a wall of really tight security here in the airport. She developed this blank look, almost icy, but not quite . More like, trying to be warm and also ignore how good a point that is and also , just like, again, wanting to hate me like they do Chik Fil A but then damn, struck by how good a point that was. So she said, well, I just like bridges better. It’s more appropriate for immigration . And she shrugged.
And I pointed out the picture (and I wasn’t quite overdue here, not quite yet) was of the Golden Gate bridge , which goes from SF county to Marin County. And she looked at me like who was I to lecture her about SF geography...except that look was cut short when I reminded her that *both sides* are in the United States, in the same country. And I pointed at both points of the bridge on the sweatshirt. See? And I pointed quickly one more time. America . Both sides.
She looked at me like...that look like she wished she was as busy because then she wouldn’t have to think about this but she’s not because they don’t sell much and yeah so she’s stuck actually having to think about her own stuff . And her own emotions about that.
And just before I was officially not welcome anymore , I mentioned that here we are, behind a wall. Know why ?
She blinked slowly as I turned indicating I was going. I could tell she was slightly curious . And I reminded her that this is an international airport : There is a Customs and Immigration Enforcement border here.
At this point , her eyes glazed over , like officially . It wasn’t hostility, it was a coma. She heard me the third time I asked, like that Tom Hanks movie The Terminal.
And she regained progressive consciousness when I asked if she remembered that movie, how he was stuck , and he had to show ID.
Remember that ? I asked. That’s when she snapped out of it, right after she mumbled yeah while nodding yes.
Yeah, so, I said. That’s a sufficient reason why all the security , why the wall. That your store is behind. The one selling build bridges not walls shirts and calendars and stuff. And I looked all around as I said that.
Waving , I said, take care .
Copyright Lucas J. Mather, 2019
All Rights Reserved
Originally posted to Facebook Monday 24 June 2019 at 1:21 pm