Sometimes if I wake up real early, I will log onto an online gaming site and play cards. Hearts or spades, specifically.
This morning, I did so, and wound up at a hearts table with a 22 yr old engineering student in Portugal, a grandmother in Ottawa, Canada, a businessman from Tokyo killing some time in his hotel room in Brazil, and me, MasterZed, in Hollywood, CA.
What started as just another virtual card game became a 1 hour international dialogue on the state of the world as seen through 4 very different pairs of eyes with no hidden political agenda. There were strong differences of opinion but without the acrimony we see so frequently, without the rancor that typifies the polarization of US politics. It was a rare and very special moment where opinions and ideas were expressed and listened to with respect and courtesy, and some of the best reasons for the Internet came together. When the game concluded, we all exchanged email addy's and planned to meet again for another game of cards. I would like to believe I was a proper ambassador during this impromptu exchange, and I will cherish the experience for a long time.
And just in case you're wondering, Zed kicked major butt in the card game! BRING EM ON!!! (lol)
What a fabulous experience, and wonderful opportunity.
AND you WON! LOL
Briefly:
MasterZed's views are pretty well established from my posts on this board.
The Canadian Grandmother was very anti-Bush, thinks America is far too arrogant and has no respect for their aging and infirm.
She said she had spent her life as mother and housewife, thought Quebec should stop being so stupid and learn English, and thought Ariel Sharon was a fascist warmonger.
I must admit, she and I had a lively discourse on that one, it was the closest I came to losing my cool.
The Japanese businessman in Brazil was there for a Japanese communications concern. He was very annoyed at the recent Tom Cruise movie, could see no problem with bringing a permanent communications station into the Amazon rainforests, and thought America did the right thing in Iraq, but needs to pay more attention to North Korea and the 2 China situation.
The student didn't really have too much to say. He mostly let his card playing do the talking for him. Alluded to his
English being limited. I asked what he thought of the Iraq situation, his only response was "osama still free, that not good"... or something like that.
Anyway, that's the gist of it.
