How Freedom Became Free-Dumb in America
“Avridamah!!” shouted Matteo, from across the park. Snowy looked up at me, quizzically. It was too early for this. I grumbled, irritated. What was the Italian doctor trying to say this fine spring lockdown morning?
“Mate. Have you seen this?!” Ben, the grizzled London copper asked me, starting to cackle, as he handed me his iPhone.
There, I saw a picture of crowds of people gathered in Central Park. Then another, on California’s beaches. With, apparently, not a care in the world.
“What the hell is wrong with them? It’s not like there’s…a…global pandemic…or anything.” Ben laughed.
“You zee!” added Matteo. “Avridamah!!”
“What the — “, I began to ask. And then I got it. Freedom. As in: look at what these idiots think is freedom. LOL! Snowy looked up at me, grinning.
My dog park buddies had a pint. “Americans,” I said, sighing. I struggled for a moment, and then gesticulated. All that came out was: “They’re just…different.”
Ben rolled his eyes. Matteo sighed melodramatically. “We know, mate. Oh, we know.”