Potus, 2/14 lunch part ii

AoUN spoke up.  “I think there could be a lot of differences in chowder that could be celebrated.  There are the white and red chowders from New York and Boston, of course.  Those are both valid.  But we also have corn chowder, potato chowder, clam chowder, fish chowder and many more.  I think the diversity of chowder is one of the great things about soup in general.”

SoD spoke up, “When I was a boy my mom used to make the most divine chicken soup.  It was delicious and the perfect antidote for any cold.”

Every smiled and nodded graciously.

Potus spoke up.  “But U.N. Ambassador, don’t you think there is some value in choosing a side, as it were?  I mean, they are two different kinds of chowder after all.”

AoUN answered, “Perhaps, Sir, there is some regional preference for one over the other.  This might be explained with climate differences, local access to the ingredients required, and so forth.  But one particular version of chowder being superior to another, no, I don’t think that’s right.”

The Vice President, who rarely said anything, chimed in.  “Well, for me, it has to be the Boston-style clam chowder.  And we don’t say ‘chowder’; we say ‘chowdah’ like that.”

“Chowdah!” crooned Potus.

“Chowdah,” repeated AoUN obediently.

Potus turned to SoD.  “But you’re a red chowder, I’m sorry, New York chowder man.  What is it that is so great about the red version?”

SoD answered, “I don’t know.  It’s just the lighter broth; less cream; also I like the sweetness of the tomatoes.”

Potus nodded.  “Indeed.  And you, U.N. Ambassador, do you think that there could be some sort of cultural cues that make the New York chowder less desirable than the Boston chowdah?”

AoUN was clearly trying to duck the question and get out of the conversation by now.  She tried to pretend she was busy drinking water from her glass.

Potus prompted again after a long pause while she gulped water.  “In other words, does the New York chowder feel less like a chowder, or maybe more like an imposter?  Would the New York chowder feel more like a real chowder if he, say, added corn or less tomatoes to himself?”

AoUN could no long drink more water, so she put down her glass and said, “How do you mean?  I’m unclear what the New York chowder is trying to accomplish...”

The Vice President jumped in and offered,  “I think what Potus is asking is if the New York chowder could become more like the Boston chowdah, and let’s say that it was offered a way to be more like the Boston version, would it choose to do so, and if so, why would that choice be made?”

AoUN smiled weakly, looking a little pale and shrugged meekly.

SoD jumped in.  “I think the New York chowder feels good about itself and doesn’t want to change.  It’s only the projection of the chowdah-ists who push their agenda upon the chowder and tell it how it should feel.  The chowder itself is perfectly happy being whatever colour it chooses to be.”

Everyone smiled and nodded graciously.  There was a mildly uncomfortable pause.

“Soup is served,” announced the headwaiter as five white-jacketed waiters walked in carrying serving trays.