Oh, so much that tears us asunder. So, for just a minute, let’s remember a few areas where we agree, what unites us as Americans, and as humans.
For example, a recent TripAdvisor survey of 3,117 U.S. travelers found that 80 percent think cell phones should be banned in flight. That’s a big, beautiful number of people in agreement. No mobile yakky yak.
Seventy-one percent of the respondents said families with young children should sit in their own section of the plane. Not as much agreement, but by golly, enough. And it sounds so thoughtful to provide “families with their own section of the plane.” As opposed to providing “adults their own section of the plane away from crying babies.”
And most everyone agrees that someone kicking the back of their seat is the No. 1 irritant of air travel. Add a chatty cell phone user to the mix and the irritability factor skyrockets. People agree that wireless Internet on planes would be a good thing, because it can accessed silently.
(The person who reported this travel news in USA Today is named Kitty Bean Yancey. Can we agree that is a pretty fun name?)
Meanwhile, everyone agrees they are flying less, due to the cost, especially internationally.
Other areas where people mercilessly agree:
n Full-size candy bars over mini ones at Halloween. (Kids have a voice, too.)
n And everyone loves chocolate. Luscious, yummy, melamine-free chocolate.
n The guy who robbed the Brinks truck in Monroe is a criminal who should be punished to the full extent of the law when he is caught. But the whole heist was pretty creative. Which is not to say good. Imaginative. But bad.
n When the state put a stop to “live fish pedicures” last week, everyone was glad to learn that was the only beautifying, exfoliating procedure the fish were used for. Carp facial, anyone? Yes, a snorkel would be employed.
n Having a ton of visitors and skaters here during Skate America later this month is going to be fun. Work “triple lutz” into a conversation today. Visualize that “camel spin.” Wearing a freestyle skirt and tights is optional.
Reassuringly, we can always agree to disagree.
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