Romance planet: parable of the heart
Feature Editorial
Gregory Pratt
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Opinions
-
Page 1 of 2
next >
When Al Gore was told that he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on global warming, his heart beat like Bushian war drums and he sunk into delirium as his closest friends congratulated him. But soon, his heart stopped completely as he realized the significance of this award. Winning the Prize meant that he would be back in his life and they'd have to meet again. Minutes later, the phone rang and confirmed this. It was the White House. They wanted him to meet with George W. Bush, for half an hour, alone.
On Nov. 27, Al Gore boarded the plane from Nashville and, even with Tipper holding his hand, he felt odd. All his friends had called for support. "It's okay to be angry with the President," they told him. "Don't be afraid to let him know how you feel. He can't waterboard you!" Paranoid friends worried that harm may befall him, but Al wasn't scared. On this morning all he could think about was returning to Pennsylvania Avenue to tell Bush to stop polluting. Gore was anxious to get it over with and move on; he wanted to think about anything else, but the flight crew's music would make that impossible:
One time I lost out on a job / 'Cause this kid, his father / owned the whole company /Let me tell ya he was a jerk / And I'm still pissed /that he took that job from me / Life isn't fair, don't tell me I know it / 'Cause even with the popular vote / Al Gore, lives on my street, / right down the street / From me
The photo opportunity with the President went well. Everybody knew it would. It wasn't until George W. Bush stepped into the Oval Office and invited Gore with him that the extraordinary situation would unfold. They shook hands and sat. It began. "So, Al, you staying warm?" He chuckled. "Who would've guessed back when my father was calling you 'ozone man' that you'd be in his son's White House one day with a Peace Prize in your pocket?"
"No, Mr. President," Al Gore interrupted dryly. "I'm just happy to see you." They both laughed, and with the ice melted, Gore began his talk. About global warming. About green technologies. About his fear that we're spoiling the future. Bush listened. Occasionally he asked questions, but otherwise he didn't interrupt - just let Gore speak for 20 minutes until he finished. Bush claimed to have nothing to ask. Just promised to have the administration look into it all.
- Page 1 of 2 next >
On Nov. 27, Al Gore boarded the plane from Nashville and, even with Tipper holding his hand, he felt odd. All his friends had called for support. "It's okay to be angry with the President," they told him. "Don't be afraid to let him know how you feel. He can't waterboard you!" Paranoid friends worried that harm may befall him, but Al wasn't scared. On this morning all he could think about was returning to Pennsylvania Avenue to tell Bush to stop polluting. Gore was anxious to get it over with and move on; he wanted to think about anything else, but the flight crew's music would make that impossible:
One time I lost out on a job / 'Cause this kid, his father / owned the whole company /Let me tell ya he was a jerk / And I'm still pissed /that he took that job from me / Life isn't fair, don't tell me I know it / 'Cause even with the popular vote / Al Gore, lives on my street, / right down the street / From me
The photo opportunity with the President went well. Everybody knew it would. It wasn't until George W. Bush stepped into the Oval Office and invited Gore with him that the extraordinary situation would unfold. They shook hands and sat. It began. "So, Al, you staying warm?" He chuckled. "Who would've guessed back when my father was calling you 'ozone man' that you'd be in his son's White House one day with a Peace Prize in your pocket?"
"No, Mr. President," Al Gore interrupted dryly. "I'm just happy to see you." They both laughed, and with the ice melted, Gore began his talk. About global warming. About green technologies. About his fear that we're spoiling the future. Bush listened. Occasionally he asked questions, but otherwise he didn't interrupt - just let Gore speak for 20 minutes until he finished. Bush claimed to have nothing to ask. Just promised to have the administration look into it all.
Be the first to comment on this story