not political...

The young woman behind the counter at the free wireless coffee shop I find in Las Cruces tells me I am making quite a fashion statement.

I am wearing my straw hat with pink boa and my pink "Stop Funding, Start Impeaching" t-shirt.

I ask her if she's heard about CodePINK. She asks me if that's a breast cancer thing.

hmmmm

As we talk, she tells me she's not political. I confuse her as I say neither am I. I just care about who is getting bombs dropped on them by our military and who is not.

I ask her if she cares about who is dying. Her eyes have glazed over as she struggles to maintain a neutral face. I can see southern politeness warring with her Republican ideals. She ends up smiling weakly and assuring me that the lentil soup is totally vegetarian.

I invite her to speak with me at my table if she wants. She eventually comes to collect my empty bowl but refuses to sit at my invitation. She asks me why I say I'm not political. I ask her if she thinks waging war is political. Again she has that blank expression in her eyes as her face struggles to remain shapeless.

I say war is moral. Her face settles into approval. Yes, she says, it is a moral decision to wage war, as she removes my bowl and leaves for the next customer.