Trying Really Hard To Like India – Step 5: Actually liking stuff.
One of the funniest essays I’ve read in years.
Excerpt:
After flying into Bangalore and acclimating for a couple of days, we visit a town called Mysore (rhymes with “eyesore”). There’s a famous temple here and an opulent palace—big tourist attractions both. But to me, the most interesting thing to see (in any place I visit) is the daily life of the people who live and work there.
For instance, from our hotel window in Mysore, we look down on a pile of garbage. Every night, this pile becomes dispersed as it is picked at and chewed on by rats, then crows, then stray dogs, then cows, and then homeless people. Every morning a woman dressed in a brightly colored sari sweeps this masticated garbage-porridge back into a pile. It is the worst job I can imagine. (Previously, the worst job I could imagine was navigator for a rally-car driver, because I get nauseous when I read in cars. But this woman’s job is much worse than that. And really, with this added perspective, rally-car navigator doesn’t seem so bad anymore.)
I keep waiting for the Republicans to suggest that we bring back slavery in the United States. After all, it will be great for our economy, and make us competitive in the world marketplace. It would solve our unemployment issues by simply enslaving the unemployed and undesirables. Also, it would improve the health care problem, since slaves would simply not need any, not to mention Social Security and Medicare. I am sure someone would opine that most Americans would be happier under this arrangement. Cat of nine tails anyone?
And people accuse *me* of being partisan? Richard’s comment takes the cake. I’m surprised he didn’t compare the Republicans with the Nazis too.
OK, I’ll do it – the Republicans seem more and more like Nazis every day….