LYRA is interested in politics, and so is her father. However, they are on different sides of the political fence. Her father greatly disagrees with her beliefs to the extent that he is unable to listen to her viewpoints.
I want to go to the rally! This is important to me. This war—Where are you going? This conversation isn’t over! It’s just begun. It’s not going to be dangerous, Dad. It’s a peace rally. Think about it. If you want to come with me, you can. If you’re so worried about my safety. Maybe you’ll even learn something new! Please, Dad, I really want to go!
Mom, why is he like that? Why am I not allowed to have a different opinion from him? Why should I always agree? Do you want me to think for myself or to be a robot? I’m not him. I can’t be him. I don’t want to be him! We’re different. I don’t see why that makes him so angry. Am I really so awful and threatening to him? Am I such a disappointment?
That is what he thinks! Why else would he get so mad when I don’t do everything he says? He’s just disappointed that I’m not what he wants me to be. Do you know what it’s like living with the idea that you are always a disappointment? It’s not fun, Mom.
GREG is a fiery and passionate Republican living in a liberal household.
Did you ever just hate your parents? Well, I do. Just now. I hate them. You just cannot talk to people like that. They are so unreasonable. I am so mad! I was just in the kitchen with them, trying to have an adult conversation about politics, and my dad happens not to agree with me. Can we debate? No. He’s got to get in my grill and start yelling—right away!—about how I’m wrong and how the president blah blah blah. He’s totally a mouthpiece for the liberal media. He’s so brainwashed that he can’t even open his mind to other possibilities. And he’s clearly not listening to me. And my mom! She just sits there, all meek and dumb. Whatever! They are such suckers! Completely believe whatever the stupid news says. How can a person even know what the truth is anymore? It seems like everyone lies. They’re so stupid it drives me crazy. How can I be under the same roof as people who are closed-minded! God!
BROOKE is a socially conscious liberal who refuses to do a school assignment that conflicts with her political beliefs.
I’m not doing this. I don’t care if I fail the class. This is disgusting and wrong. I’m not writing this essay. I don’t want to support our troops. I think war is wrong, no matter what. It’s wrong to kill other people. That’s why we send murderers to jail. So why are these soldiers any different? They’re not. They’re killers. So I am not going to write some rah-rah speech for some stupid contest about how I think our troops, who are essentially contract killers, are so fantastic. How brave is it to stand with a machine gun and gun someone down? Do they look each other in the eyes? We have to see people as individuals. A person is not where they are from. A person is not what side of a border they live on. Borders were just randomly drawn on a map by some guy at a desk. Why should I be so proud of which side I’m on? Why should anyone risk and possibly end their lives for them? Think about it! It just doesn’t make sense. People have souls. I could never, ever take a human life, especially for some dumb political reason, and I cannot and will not support anyone who does!
Fine! I’ll go to the principal! It’s better than being in here. You people are intolerant and ignorant!
INGRID is a freshman in college and an advocate for women’s rights. When a guy asks her advice for doing laundry, she is shocked and offended.
How should I know? Because I’m a girl I’m supposed to know how to do laundry? Is this the Dark Ages? I don’t know any more about laundry than you do.
Maybe I don’t wash my own “little dresses.” That makes me spoiled? Why don’t you know how to do your laundry? Your mom does it. Why is it if my mom does my laundry I’m spoiled, and if your mom does—You’re a mama’s boy. You are! And you’re a male chauvinist pig.
Wait! I think I know a little bit about laundry. I remember a thing or two. Wash everything on hot, so they get really clean. And you need to use a lot of laundry detergent. Put all the clothes you can in one washer to save money. Put reds with whites, not darks. That way they don’t turn purple. OK?
(The guy walks away.) Can you believe that jerk?