The Sort of Things People Say in Airports
Or: Vignettes of a Quite Ordinary Journey, Part 1
In general, of course, people do not say much in airports. I myself never say anything but "Excuse me" or "Thank you," regarding the place as inherently unsuitable for human interaction. An airport waiting area contains a large collection of impatient, flustered and bored people who do not know one another, have no wish ever to know one another, and have nothing in common save the desire to get to St. Louis. The things that may be said in this context are those that are sure to meet with almost universal agreement, cannot possibly offend anyone, and refer to nothing that is not general knowledge. Even the weather, ordinarily an eminently safe topic, may provoke distress, as all weather that is worth talking about is associated with the evils of airport delays; its like talking about root canals in the dentist's office.
It was, therefore, interesting to hear what people said in airport waiting rooms the morning after the election. Staring up at the television screens which constantly and soundlessly proclaimed the news of the Democratic victory, people exchanged the pleasantries of self-satisfaction.
"I'm ordinarily a Republican, but I must say they got what they deserved."
"Did you hear that Rumsfeld resigned? He should have done it a long time ago."
"Whichever side you're on, you have to admit that the system worked," one particularly grandiose man opined. "That's the way our Founding Fathers designed it: if people aren't happy, things have to change." (Though wincing on James Madison's behalf, I said nothing.)
The overall feeling was one of mutual complacency: we, the people, had kicked the bums out, and this being done, we could all congratulate ourselves and go on about our business. If people were secretly elated, disappointed, or anxious, they concealed these feelings as unfit for airport consumption. It would have been quite improper to note that the change of defense secretaries could have no effect on the continuing chaos in Iraq, or that the Democrats are just as corrupt and childish as the Republicans. Civilized life requires that we take our politics seriously, but not too seriously.
In general, of course, people do not say much in airports. I myself never say anything but "Excuse me" or "Thank you," regarding the place as inherently unsuitable for human interaction. An airport waiting area contains a large collection of impatient, flustered and bored people who do not know one another, have no wish ever to know one another, and have nothing in common save the desire to get to St. Louis. The things that may be said in this context are those that are sure to meet with almost universal agreement, cannot possibly offend anyone, and refer to nothing that is not general knowledge. Even the weather, ordinarily an eminently safe topic, may provoke distress, as all weather that is worth talking about is associated with the evils of airport delays; its like talking about root canals in the dentist's office.
It was, therefore, interesting to hear what people said in airport waiting rooms the morning after the election. Staring up at the television screens which constantly and soundlessly proclaimed the news of the Democratic victory, people exchanged the pleasantries of self-satisfaction.
"I'm ordinarily a Republican, but I must say they got what they deserved."
"Did you hear that Rumsfeld resigned? He should have done it a long time ago."
"Whichever side you're on, you have to admit that the system worked," one particularly grandiose man opined. "That's the way our Founding Fathers designed it: if people aren't happy, things have to change." (Though wincing on James Madison's behalf, I said nothing.)
The overall feeling was one of mutual complacency: we, the people, had kicked the bums out, and this being done, we could all congratulate ourselves and go on about our business. If people were secretly elated, disappointed, or anxious, they concealed these feelings as unfit for airport consumption. It would have been quite improper to note that the change of defense secretaries could have no effect on the continuing chaos in Iraq, or that the Democrats are just as corrupt and childish as the Republicans. Civilized life requires that we take our politics seriously, but not too seriously.
posted by Deborah | 2:57 PM
2 Comments:
That's interesting, how people were reacting. My feeling about the election was somewhat the same - probably from pure ignorance as to the implications of the results. "What difference does it make?" is what I was thinking.
But this next presidential election is going to be violent; I just know it. People are too quiet and apathetic about politics right now.
That's an unsettling thing to say, Sarah. By the by, I only just started reading your blog again, Deborah. I keep forgetting you have one!
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