Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Sibling Rivalry

As I sat at Barnes and Noble this afternoon coincidentially reading the Biblical story of Jacob & Esau, I noticed something very interesting unfolding between two brothers. Brothers as in, we are both black, brothers. Now, I don't have siblings, but I do have some cousins and a couple of close friends that I consider to be siblings..if you are talking biological. Speaking of those that are not biological and not of the same blood, proves to be much of the same, if you ask me. I mean, whether black, white, yellow, blue, purple, pink, green or other, we all come from the same source (that is if you believe in Adam and Eve).

Anyhow, on with the story about the men in the café. I proved to be smack dab in the middle and actually the catalyst for their conversation. The gentleman on my right; looking like he could be a mix between middle eastern and black (later found out that he was Carribean), well dressed and fresh off the phone starts conversation with me via a sigh. He talks about politics, which at the time I had no interest in talking about. I'm not a politics buff and not really quite sure if I can hold my own in a conversation about it...if I had to be frank. I know the issues and what I feel about them and I will choose the candidate that I feel addresses those issues to my liking. Okay, that was a sidebar...back to the story. The Carribean gentleman (whose name is Michael) says that he thinks that people like Barrack so much because he is somewhat conservative, and so forth and so on. I didn't really hear all that he was saying. I guess since I wasn't talkative enough and the gentleman on my left gave a quirky look, he moved on to pull Brian into a conversation (the gentleman to my left). Brian had dreds (nice ones, by the way), some slacks and brown dress shoes. The conversation went something like this:

M: What?...you gave a funny face. You don't believe that Barack is rather conservative?
B: I support Barack all the way. I think that the words conservative and liberal take on different meanings these days. I heard you say that you really just started to become interested in politics with this race, but I know quite a bit about politics because it is of interest to me.
M: Well, yes I have become interested in this campaign, but my father passed away about 8 years ago and he was elected in an office.
B: It's not about being conservative or liberal. People like Barack because he speaks truth.
M: Hillary doesn't seem sincere to me. That is why I wouldn't vote for her.
B: Well, that is why this is a democratic society.
M: To tell you the truth, if Barack wins [primaries], Bloomberg would be in the game and give him a run for his money.
B: I don't know much about Bloomberg. I am from Chicago.
M: I have family that is from Chicago. I am actually in Philly for business. I have people all around though.

(I started to try and get involved with what I was doing at this point, so things get a little foggy from here, but it continues)

B: Have you been out of the country? If so, I think that you would feel a little differently about politics. I have been to Africa and things are run quite differently there [politics wise].
M: Yes...I am actually from the Carribean. My father is Carribean and my mother is Creole. So, I am a mix of things.
B: I have been there in 2003 and I was actually supposed to go this weekend, but plans fell through (I laughed at this statement)
M: It was good talking to you. A lot of times brothers are afraid to talk to each other...more than we are afraid to talk to others. We have to learn to want to learn about each other.
B: You are absolutely right. A lot of us are intimidated and insecure when it comes to holding conversations with each other.

(Again I laughed. It seemed as if M was talking about me, since I didn't bother to engage in conversation)

The whole conversation was hilarious to me. Moral of the story...do we always feel like we have to one up each other? We are all blessed to be able to do things. My gift may not be yours and vice versa, but if we search long and hard within, it's waiting to be found. Oh if we all just stuck to the gifts that we knew God gifted us with; what a wonderful (or better) world it may be.

I hardly doubt that Michael or Brian will ever read this blog. Their conversation on the surface was great, but laden with undertones of rivalry. However, my thanks and appreciation goes to them. They have definitely supplied me with inspiration for new work.

Be blessed!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah, yes! The big 'one up.' It's almost like a way of life in New York.

So glad God snatched me off that bus!

Happy Tuesday!

The Artist In Me said...

Really...is this the norm in NY?

"So glad God snatched me off that bus!" - I love your phrases...they so keep me laughing!