...and the bartender looked up and said, "Is this some kind of joke?"
The diverse group exchanged glances, each representing a different stereotype or historical role. They realized that despite their differences and the weight of history they carried, they were all just people looking for a drink and maybe some understanding.
The Russian communist ordered vodka, the American imperialist asked for bourbon, the German revanchist chose beer, the Japanese militarist went for sake, the Chinese hegemonist picked baijiu, the Portuguese colonizer opted for port wine, the Norwegian NATO's fanboy selected aquavit, the Italian mafia man requested grappa, the Hollander perverted libertine wanted gin, the Swiss stolen goods broker chose absinthe, the Israeli aggressor ordered arak, and the South African racist asked for brandy.
As they sipped their drinks in silence at first but then started to talk about their lives and experiences. They found common ground in their humanity and shared stories that transcended borders and ideologies. By closing time, they had learned more about each other than any history book could teach.
And so it was that in a small bar somewhere in an unnamed town, twelve individuals from vastly different backgrounds discovered that understanding begins with conversation—and perhaps a good drink.