A debate at a bar.

Wow. They really hate conservatives.

I just got done having a debate with a man at a bar. I was writing on my computer and this man starting to ask me about the time I went to Scotland. While we were waiting for our drinks, I had told him that I had used to love Guinness (his drink) and that I had spent some time in Scotland (even though Guinness is made in Dublin). It was very friendly at first. We had chatted about his house overseas, how he couldn’t go and visit it because of Covid, and how he upset at the “dumb ass holes who believe in conspiracy theories to prevent us from all getting vaccinated.” As someone who supports the vaccine and proudly got one, I nodded that I hope it can get better, but that people will have to come to their own conclusions. He also longed for the days where experts could tell the public what to do and how social media has created a disorder in our country that has isolated us from one another. I heavily agreed with him and for a moment, we had a nostalgic moment where we longed for better days of dialogue. Eventually, the topic turned to politics. He had said how “the asshole in Florida is part of the problem and it’s people like him who are causing the anti-vaccine rhetoric in this country.” I pushed back and asked, “When was that? He has been pro-vaccine this whole time. While he may not have mandated the vaccines, unlike other conservatives, he’s actually been pro-vaccine.” He then said, “Hell no! He’s anti-vax and he’s part of the problem!” I then asked him for any evidence to his position when DeSantis said anything about anti-vaccination. He then turned the conversation on how there are two groups in this country: “people who are fascist and people who want democracy.” I then asked him for the definition of what it means to be a fascist and asked him, “Does a fascist want to decrease government control and increase personal liberty?” He then talked about Trump and tried to corner me in seeing whether I supported him or not. As someone who’s been practicing more jiujitsu and catching people who want to choke me, I caught his tactic and said, “that’s not the point. Let’s get back to DeSantis. When was he anti-vaccine?” He couldn’t answer and continued telling me about two groups of people: “one is evil and full of lies while the other wants to protect our freedom.” He then said that the Republicans have never won the popular election since Eisenhauer (I brought up Regan several times, but he denied it). I then brought up that pure democracy is not what we should be looking for, but that our country is built on a republic so that people who are in the minority have the same rights to vote as the majority. He then stated that the Republican party was only started to “protect the slaves during the civil war.” I then asked, “Well, who protected the slaves? The Republicans or Democrats?” He said the Democrats several times. I couldn’t help but laugh at this point. He seemed to concede and eventually said, “But Lincoln would be a Democrat by today’s standards.” It was then that he started bringing in the personal insults (although when I started disagreeing with him, they were on the surface — like black mold in a basement). He stated how, “Mindless people like you are what’s causing harm in this country. You seem educated, but you’re just brainless.” I then proceeded to tell him that during this debate, I had never personally insulted him, but I’m interested in debating ideas. He then stated that he didn’t want to debate, but just wanted to argue. He then walked away, paid for his drink, and headed home.

Am I proud of this moment? Am I wanting all of you to be amazed at how I refuted him? Actually, no. It was sad. I had an intimate moment with this older gentleman on a beautiful Sunday night. Like him, I longed for days we can sit and talk, where social media didn’t grab our attention, and how we can share a commonality where regardless of our background, we can share a moment of a friendly spat. Maybe I was naïve thinking he could handle a disagreement. I was wrong because he was taught what many are being taught today: people are in two categories, that conservatives and moderates are a disease, and how the only way forward is for the erasure of one society so a more educated society can succeed. If this so-called utopia pivots the educated elitism as witnessed this evening, I will continue to drink to my lassie-ignorance.

Cheers, dummy.

P.S. I only had one drink when writing this. I didn’t want you to think we were just two drunk guys arguing. Although, I can’t speak for him.