NO THUMBS

“You know, evolution did not end with us growing thumbs. You do know that right? Didn’t end there.” ---Bill Hicks (Love All the People)

Brief conversation with idiot-hick on the topic of Palestine/Palestinians

 

(The following took place somewhere in Upstate New York in March 2011)

 

Not Moi:  “What’s that button mean?” (pointing at Palestinian flag button on my jacket)

 

Moi:  “It’s the Palestinian flag.”

 

Not Moi:  “What’s that?”

 

Moi:  “Palestinians…The people of Palestine.  I wear it to show my support for the

          Palestinian people.”

 

Not Moi:  “You mean towelheads?  You don’t mean towelheads do you?”

 

Moi: (whilst patting with my left hand on his shoulder sarcastically) “Don’t say that man. 

         It makes you sound really ignorant.  Really.”

 

Not Moi:  “Well they do wear towels on their heads.  All of em’, no?”

 

Moi:  (pausing first) “Are you serious?  Just stop man.  Just stop.”

 

Not Moi:  “Ok, not towelheads.  But you’re talking about those darker people right? 

                 Those people all have darker skin.”

 

*And while trying to contain myself, clenching both my fists, waiting for the context to change so I could physically remove myself from the presence of this ignorant f*****g buffoon, I glanced but for only a moment down at his hands that were held at his sides---only for a quick moment.  Yup.  Just as I had suspected.  NO THUMBS.

Author's Note

"If he were allowed contact with foreigners he would discover that they are creatures similar to himself and that most of what he has been told about them is lies. The sealed world in which he lives would be broken, and the fear, hatred, and self-righteousness on which his morale depends might evaporate. It is therefore realized on all sides that however often Persia, or Egypt, or Java, or Ceylon may change hands, the main frontiers must never be crossed by anything except bombs."

— George Orwell (1984)