Date: 08 Apr 2006 10:40:02
From: dhaavak
Subject: how to win the war on terror
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my work takes me across the border a fair bit - i have a few burrs in
my saddle sometimes when i've had a bad day - but am always polite,
understand their job and given my profile should be the model
borderhopper - but... this last week...
"so why are you going to washington"
"I am doing XYZ". So far so good.
"Hmm.. your picture here doesnt have a beard. Why did you grow a
beard?"
"uh what!", I was caught totally off guard.
"Well you heard me".
"I dont understand." -silence-
"You dont have to go to the US today if you dont answer"
"I dont understand. I just grew it. No real reason"
"Did you have an epiphany"
"What!", this isnt real.
"you didnt have a religious conversion did you"
"um. No, does it matter"
"hmm", scribbles something on a board and asks me to go to their
office.
The folks inside are actually much nicer. Seem somewhat surprised I was
sent there and genuinely apologetic. Still, I dont know if this was
deliberate or not, in order to 'disrupt my plan', they didnt let me off
till about 2 minutes before my flight departure.
I missed my flight, added two hours to my trip just like that. I was
pissed.
But I rationalized. My point is that there's always this mean, meager,
officious asshole in every system that corrupts the system but I will
not let this guy piss me off.
This is what I did in my trip to DC, and I want YOU to get your duffs
off the chair and do the same, especially if you're of sepia hue like
I.
This is what I did.
I ran.
Every day in my trip, I ran
up and down the Lincoln Memorial
over the concrete barriers on the 15th
along the potomac
up to the washington monument
past the white house
through the roosevelt memorial
by the tidal basin
in my full bearded glory.
And you know what I heard...
"duuude", "way to go", "run forrest run"...
Not a cuss. Lots of nods, smiles and waves. things are still A-OK!! ...
it's still the country I remember from my younger days. If you saw me
and waved. Hi! I'm doing just fine. Hope you are doing well too.
So, this is my pledge, my fight.
I am not shaving now. What I want you to do this summer as well.
Let it grow out for at least one long weekend...
And go for a run, chest out and chin up by the capitol, the more the
merrier - let me know if you need a pacer.
so when your kids ask you how you fought the war on terror, you can
tell them you fought from the frontlines and werent slowed down.
I declare July 2006 as the run with beard month. It's for a cause that
unites us all. Solo effort, no entry fees needed. Plus you'll save on
the blades.
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