Let's Call The Whole Thing Off

I'm sitting at a coffee shop on an island very close to the equator, and I have a sunburn. (Yes, I'm drinking my coffee iced...it's too hot for hot coffee!)

Coffee shops have clever names. This one is called "Perk Up". I like that. I have a great name for a coffee shop if I ever open one up, but I can't tell you, because you might steal it. Anyway, there's another coffee shop nearby called the "Carib-Bean", get it? Bean? Get it?

This launched me into thinking about the way we pronounce the word "Caribbean".

Some say "ker-ri-BEE-an" and others say "kah-RIB-ee-an". Not sure which is right, or if both are acceptable. Either way, I think I have to start choosing my friends based on their pronunciation of the word Caribbean.

If you don't say it my way, I think I'll just have to move on to another friend. I mean, no offense, but if you're not like me, then why should we be friends? I'd rather be friends with people who are like me.

The End.

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Ok. I'm tempted to end this blog right here, but I realize some of you would be offended. So, for those of you who easily miss subtle and obvious layers of satire, let me explain:

I'm commenting on how silly we humans are at closing out people who are not like us. And not just in the obvious ways. I'm not really great at this myself, but I think we should make an effort to ENJOY people who are different than we are. Whether that is how we look, or what language we use, or what political views we have, or even what we believe.

So, today, here's your assignment. Go have a cup of coffee with someone who is different than you are. Someone you would normally keep at a distance. And don't argue with them about their different views, and don't try to change their mind. Just enjoy the difference and love them as a fellow person.

After all, we're all human beans, aren't we?

Get it? Beans? Get it?