Recently on several occasions people in Colombia stepped aside to permit me to purchase the last remaining empanadas or chorizos from street vendors even though they would have liked to have them for themselves. Just being polite I suppose and hoping a gringo might have a favorable view of their country . They needn’t have worried. I just watched an internet video of a riot over buffet steaks at a Golden Coral and it got me thinking …
Older Boomers may well remember when D.C. Superman comics were 12 cents . Those early comics were where the concept of Bizarro World was born and the tales go that Bizarro was a square planet where everything was in complete opposite of this earth. More recently Jerry Seinfeld brought the idea of it out again in 1996 to use in his 137th episode with Elaine befriending complete opposites of Jerry and his pals .
I’m not certain if I’ve recently left Bizarro world or just arrived back but I do know it exists and that it cost me more than 12 cents to discover that fact . The immigration officer in Colombia who recently stamped the departure date into my passport for instance expressed his hope that I had enjoyed my stay and then kindly urged me to hurry back . Four hours later in harsh contrast the immigration officer we all met on arrival in Miami was a screaming and barking embarrassment to some place we should all be proud of. That’s not all
In Colombia every one wears a mask in public buildings without complaint in a united effort to combat a disease and the use of them in the street far surpasses that of the United States . Here in the “United” States being asked to wear one is apparently an affront to our freedoms and in fact even parents are fighting to prevent the use of them in schools . This while seemingly happy to follow the rules and protect their child by strapping him into an indestructible child seat for the short run to the very same school .
Meanwhile, far south of here in Colombia a family of four is cruising through the heavily trafficked city on a 100 cc motorcycle . All are wearing their protective masks while Mom is perched on the back edge of the seat unable to hang on as she has a four month old baby cradled in her arms….
While talk of a mandatory vaccine here brings an endless argument Colombia’s recently mandated proof of vaccination on your person to enter stores, restaurants or public gatherings brought nary a whimper from the population at large. Here in the US it is apparently another affront to our freedoms and personal choice , while unhindered by political loyalties it’s generally accepted in Colombia as a potential benefit to all , besides …… they figure who’s going to enforce it in Colombia anyway ?
It was recently pointed out to me … again … that all the homes in Colombia have iron bars or grates over the windows , ornate or otherwise and steel front doors making entry with out a key virtually impossible . ” What are they afraid of ? No way I could live like that . ”
Interestingly this comes from a man who like many here in the United States won’t sleep at night with out a pistol by the bed and a loaded tactical shotgun in the closet . Another perfect example of logical differences, or Bizarro World ….
Shoot the bastard on entry …. or … No need to waste expensive ammo if he can’t get in
one earth is very happy by the way ….. and another ain’t
