November 11, 2007

Intransigence and The Bookfair

Had a great time at the Miami International Book fair yesterday. Finally got to meet Professor Eire and sat in on his panel discussion. Ran into friends and acquaintances. Chatted with Ninoska and also Ileana Varela. Once again talked with Eduardo Zayas Bazan. And despite my already voluminous need to read list of books, the Mrs and I bought a shitload of books. Everything from short fiction and student poetry to cookbooks to how to grow fruit trees in Florida books.

All in all, it was, as it always is, a great experience. Except...

There were a couple of Useful Idiot booths. One manned by that student that got chased down by Cuban old men after insulting them at a ceremony at Calle Ocho. This idiot had che guevara posters and t-shirts for sale. Copies of the Communist Manifesto and other assorted garbage all there available for purchase. Of course, the hypocrisy of the whole thing was beyond him and his cohorts. Using capitalism to promote socialism. Using democracy's freedoms to support totalitarianism. But then, of course, the term useful idiot wouldn't be so perfectly applicable, would it?

For a brief moment I thought about entering his litle Commie crap space and getting into a heated debate with the moron, but why ruin a perfectly nice afternoon arguing with the kind of person that has such disrespect for the pain of others that he proudly displays images of a man who killed their friends and family? Besides, it's impossible to argue with someone so incredibly and unbelievably stupid. A guy so dense he doesn't realize he's at the very bottom of the Che-Amway pyramid?

The second useful idiot booth was peddling Malcolm X along with more Communist Manifestos and of course, che guevara. As the Mrs and I were leaving, on our way to our exit, a twenty or thirty something lily white Americanita stopped in front of us, held up a Malcolm X book and said"Malcolm X, Che Guevara?" as if she were a cigarette girl. "Cigars? Cigarettes?" She didn't even know how to pronounce guevara, pronouncing it "Gooayvara." I ignored her, but the Mrs shot back "Oh, you're selling books by murderers?"

I suppose I could have asked her what exactly it is that she knew about che and asked her if she might possibly know more about the man than some of the Cuban folks here that had the unfortunate circumstance of meeting him personally. But I didn't want to let my instransigence show. I suppose I could have asked her what such a nice young, white, anglo lady has against "the Man" that she'd be out on a beautiful Saturday afternoon selling hate. But what would have been the point, really?

Some people are either just too fucking dumb to realize just how too fucking dumb they are and some people just have the hate bugs up their asses. And I'm no specialist with the learning impaired and, trust me, rectal surgery just ain't my thing.

For people like that, it isn't about the issues or the ideas, it's about confrontation. I think I did the best thing I could do with that second "hate the man girl." I just laughed in her face, then smiled as I walked away. My Spirit of American t-shirt donning happiness is her bane.

And if they don't like that, well, they can kiss my ass.

And you can, too, Rick. Although, I suppose youd probably like that now, wouldnt you?

Posted by Val Prieto at November 11, 2007 06:12 AM

Comments

Glad you had a good time despite the idiots. There's no limit to imbecility or bad manners. Any titles leap out at you while you were there?
I'm always lookin'

Posted by: rsnlk [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 11, 2007 07:31 AM

Thanks cousin for maintaining your dignity in the face of such ignorance.

Posted by: Tomas Estrada-Palma [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 11, 2007 08:05 AM

I went yesterday and saw the idiots, too. I get the feeling that they think they are very, very, very, very brave for wearing those t-shirts and selling all that crap in Miami. Deep down thou, I'm rather happy to see them: a) They are 4 gatos and it is not like they will overthrow the US system anytime soon. b) If you can do that in Miami, then the 1st Amendment is working just fine. And that's what matter ultimately. Freedom means freedom for anybody.

Posted by: Eduardo [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 11, 2007 10:23 AM

A book fair in a country with free speech is a true marketplace of ideas. And in that marketplace, totalitarianism will always lose out.

So I think you did good by taking the high ground. Like Eduardo said, they're not going to take over the US anytime soon. That's because their ideas are stupid and no one would buy into them. Arguing would just give them more attention that they so desperately want.

Posted by: Dave Sandoval [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 12, 2007 08:05 AM

It'd be like hawking Mein Kampf at a book fair in Tel Aviv.

Posted by: jsb [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 12, 2007 08:25 AM

I was a the Fair as well, and found the books available good. I know the booths, and their owners personally. I must have bought a dozen Trotsky books from the Socialist worker's Party booth. I would have gotten a new shirt from the booth, but I already had all the Che and other designs he has. I always buy from them because their a non-profit organization that raises funds with their merchandise. I bet your saying, but that's supporting capitalism; well its not. The merchandise is direct from a chinese company, and all the funds go to help the Bolivarian Youth Organization. Long Live The Socialist Revolution!

Posted by: amsterdam78 [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 14, 2007 07:54 PM


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