Sometimes this world can be such an eloquent place but most of the time it’s atrocious: we bumble about. Like what the detective from haggis’ crash says, we have lost the way to reach out to one another and instead we grab, push and shove. And our incapacity doesn’t shock us, doesn’t force us to re-examine ourselves. Rather we blame one another, we gossip, we dig our nails into each other’s weaknesses, we tear the skin searching for bone. I find it so difficult at times to resist the urge to pretend, to be compliant; any step out of character welcomes derision, ridicule, dismissal. I hear the thoughts and opinions from my aunts and uncles about the presidential campaign, the expectations of obama’s presidency, the choice of palin for vp, the disappointment of losing hillary and I am shocked, disappointed and sometimes even surprised. These are not stupid people but they are capable of saying very stupid things. These are not the most open minded people, but they can say things that transcend the bigotry they have grown up with. One uncle said tonight, ok a black president was elected I don’t need to see these people celebrating about it in my face. Mind you, he lives in a very, very white town: black people are not partying on his lawn, he’s talking about the media coverage of harlem. Another uncle, who has very plainly and openly expressed rather racist views, says, I didn’t vote for obama but I’m glad he won I think he would be good for this country.They can surprise you even when you expect otherwise; even when they have disappointed you countless times before.