Mike -- I passed the word on to Paul that you're alive. So you were about ten miles from the Pentagon, eh? Amazing and scary. Glad you're OK. Oh, and what in the world is up with your Starbucks customers? It's intolerable. Even inhumane. People just don't get it. Similar story -- friend of mine works at the co-op bakery. For obvious reasons, they weren't making their usual batch of cinnamon rolls on Tuesday morning. All the customers were understanding, except one, who absolutely freaked out and was screaming about how she just wanted a cinnamon roll, and couldn't they make her one? And the employees were like, "No. No we can't."
Classes were cancelled today. My students are being amazing and turning in their work anyway, even though I just sent out a mass email telling them to not worry about assignments until next week. The tension on campus is, uh, churning. That's the only way I can think to describe it. Nothing definite has happened yet but it's all there, all the signs -- fervent patriotism clashing with distrust of every dark-skinned international student, peaceniks hanging "peace can only be achieved through nonviolence" signs on the ROTC building. In one of Paul's classes (one that he teaches) a guy stood up and read a poem. Just out of nowhere. Paul was blown away. He literally did not know what to do.
I have a student from Kuwait in one class. I'm just about terrified that someone else in the class will assume this kid is Bin Laden's son or something completely off base like that. That's why I gave a very careful talk about not being racist, xenophobic, prejudiced, whatever. Hopefully they listened.
And on a final capitalist note that will make you puke -- gas stations across the border in Washington charged as much as $7 a gallon for gas on Tuesday, and people lined up to buy it.
posted by Jen at 1:49 PM link/comments
