February 11, 2005
DC's new favorite game show: Anti-semite/Not Anti-semite
So I'm taking a cab to work today because I'm loaded down with luggage (horray for weekend getaways!) and the cab driver and I are talking about the traffic mess during the inaguration. He says that while he's glad nothing bad happened, the intelligence agencies wouldn't tell us of a threat even if it did exist and they couldn't do anything about it with the quality of data we have.
"Yup, you're absolutely right," I told the driver, who looked and sounded like he could be from somewhere in North Africa, although people tend to look more alike than different when seen from the back.
"You know, before September 11, the Israeli, umm, agency, how do you say?"
Oh cr*p. I've heard stories about cab drivers who freak out passengers with wild conspiracy theories relating to either Bush or the Jews. If those situations make you uncomfortable, you have two options: Shut up and wait patiently until you get to your destination, then stiff on the tip, or actively argue with the man careening down the street in an unsafe late-model American car with you in it. I think you know what I'd do.
"I think you're talking about Mossad," I said, baiting him like the jerk I can sometimes be when I'd rather be asleep.
"Yes, Mossad. If the U.S. had guys like the Mossad out there getting intelligence, none of this would have happened."
Phew. That could have gone a lot worse. Nothing about warning Jews in the WTC, nothing about how bin Laden is an Israeli invention, not even a critique of Israeli falafel. Just a little comparing and contrasting. Needless to say, I arrived safe and he got his tip.
Posted by rj3 at February 11, 2005 1:43 PM
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Comments
A few months ago I was in a cab going across town when my cab driver started speaking -- no, preaching to me about how George W. Bush was the devil, how the world would end if he was re-elected, on and on. I really didn't care. I wondered for a moment if he was going to drive me off the ledge into Rock Creek. No such luck.
So I didn't give him a tip. That's rare.
Posted by: Washington Canard at February 15, 2005 12:18 PM