I am reminded of the story I heard, I think it was from the owner of a South Jersey diner 30 years ago: The Greeks who worked so hard running restaurants in the last century made enough to send their kids to college. They graduated, succeeded professionally, had no interest in taking over family diners. There was an Armenian lawyer who brokered diner sales from old Greeks to young Turks. He would get everyone together for the closing, chuckle, and say, “In the old country, we’d be killing each other. Here, we all get what we want! Isn’t America great!”
I would absolutely love for this to be a true story.
Btw, Christians in Gaza are also getting bombed and their churches destroyed, which doesn't get mentioned much. That said, I didn't miss the tone, and I'm SO grateful for your brilliant satire. Was that poem easy to write? Either way, impressive.
From reader Ruth Galanter:
First let’s see who hates the most,
I’ll go seek out your Facebook post.
Then see who can hate the loudest
Noisiest will be the proudest,
Shout to cause the greatest fear.
And then go out and have a beer.
Perhaps we ought to seek a way
To meet again another day
For something other than a fight
About who’s wrong and who is right,
Our rage reduced if not dismissed,
Then maybe we could co-exist.
From reader Jordan Auslander:
All we are saying, is give peace a chant?
From reader John King:
A nice way to capture the idiocy of this entire situation!
From reader Joseph DiStefano:
I am reminded of the story I heard, I think it was from the owner of a South Jersey diner 30 years ago: The Greeks who worked so hard running restaurants in the last century made enough to send their kids to college. They graduated, succeeded professionally, had no interest in taking over family diners. There was an Armenian lawyer who brokered diner sales from old Greeks to young Turks. He would get everyone together for the closing, chuckle, and say, “In the old country, we’d be killing each other. Here, we all get what we want! Isn’t America great!”
From reader Len Lear:
Hilarious! This should replace Milton’s “Paradise Lost” on college reading lists.
I would absolutely love for this to be a true story.
Btw, Christians in Gaza are also getting bombed and their churches destroyed, which doesn't get mentioned much. That said, I didn't miss the tone, and I'm SO grateful for your brilliant satire. Was that poem easy to write? Either way, impressive.
You are a first-rate poet.
Didn’t you know it?
Another column beyond brilliance, Dan. Thanks for rhyming with such timing.
Amen.
Hit 'em in their kishkes
With a plate of kasha varnikes...