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Mass transit is an acquired taste. The denizens of the bus systems put up with so much--late buses, crowded buses, being stuck in traffic, and broken down buses. Its understandable that tempers can get a bit frayed. I've seen, heard, felt, and unfortunately smelled more things on a bus than I care to remember. Understand that Honolulu's theBus has occasionally won the "America's Best Bus System Award." It just seems that sometimes, particularly on certain bus routes, you get more loonies than the rest. Today, I "enjoyed" the company of a person spouting vitriolic obscenities--someone who obviously hated everything I looked like and represented.

TheBus was late. Or maybe it wasn't. I didn't have a timetable. However, I've chatted with bus drivers and seen that these modern buses have special chronometers. These timepieces measure how late or early (yeah right) the bus is running. Apparently there is a system rule that they cannot be early to a stop. I suppose that makes some sort of perverted governmental sense. So, yes, the bus MUST have been running late. It's practically mandated. Sometimes buses run so late that they're pulled out of circulation. Perhaps its not good for their public image when three #4 buses show up at the same bus stop at the same time. I've seen it happen. 

I was feeling parched and contemplated running across the street to the Dole Cannery to buy an iced tea. However I knew that if I stepped out of sight for a mere moment, my bus would arrive and I'd miss it. Or worse, I'd see the bus and come running toward it chugging freezing tea as fast as possible (open drinks aren't allowed on the bus). Finally, just as I was starting to dial theBus to check on their schedule, the #20 bus pulled around the corner. I handed the driver my bus transfer and found a seat way at the very back of the bus, next to the roaring engine or a/c or whatever the heck that is.

The bus meandered, turning left and right, and approached downtown. Passengers boarded and departed like some math question we've all seen many years ago. I sat contentedly, wearing a nice sky blue shirt, and navy blue shorts, perhaps a little overdressed considering some of the passengers I saw on board. Since this was one of two buses that ran to the airport, you could readily identify the tourists, clutching their bags.

On the outskirts of downtown, a man wearing blue jeans and a red shirt sat down to my left. He had a nervous air about him, shifting in his seat uneasily. The bus, occasionally mired in traffic, made slow but decent progress through downtown. Each time the bus came to a halt, the man to my left said, "Fuck!" He said it somewhat under his breath, but loudly enough to be heard by probably the last third of the bus. "Fuckin' bus!" he continued.

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I continued on daydreaming about being somewhere else. I assumed the gentlemen must be late for a pressing meeting somewhere. Yes, that'd be it. I had a similar situation myself last week, though I didn't curse openly. The poor fellow, running late.

However, the man's cursing elaborated the detail on his discontent. "Fuckin' tourists." he muttered angrily. "Fuckin tourists. Why don't you stay in your own state?" he asked no one in particular.

Okay, now I hate tourists as much as the next person, but this person is starting to get on my nerves. I dislike the disdain tourists often have for the local environments, and yes the local culture. There are good and bad tourists. However, I disagree that people should be loathed simply because they're from somewhere else. It is very important for the people of the world to get out and intermingle, to see that we're all the same. I think it helps teach compassion towards one another. I think its sad that some people never leave their home city, home state, or home country. One of my teachers in high school had grown up Santa Clarita, went to college there, and got a job teaching there. Now that's depressing.

"We hate you! We hate you!!!" hissed the man loudly to anyone within earshot. I could've sworn he was stealing sideways glances at me during this part.

Ah yes, how could I have forgotten the anti-haole sentiment. The man didn't seem particularly Hawaiian looking, but who knows. Perhaps he saw me as the white, affluent, mainland American coming to Hawaii to steal their land, oppress their culture, and destroy their homes. I chose not to point out that I bought 3 acres of land on the big isle, am living near the poverty line but manage to live well, and am a vegan. I tried not to make eye contact or attract his attention. Fortunately my bus stop had come at this point and I could safely exit the bus.

Still, I sometimes wonder whether the benefits from having culture are worth it. Cultures, countries, races, languages, and religions divide humans and set them against one another. Is any one group of people better than another group of people? Some are more openminded, some are based on old traditions, some are concerned with the environment, some only concerned with themselves. 

Are there any cultures that we must maintain at all costs? If you said yes, you're a member of that culture, aren't you. Are there any cultures that we can all agree should be discontinued? If you said yes, you're not a member of that culture, right?

Some of these people are obviously living in the past, hoping to reclaim some past grandeur that is exceptionally improbable. Okay, if the Chinese become the world tyrants, we have another world war, and the chinese win and grant control of hawaii to the native Hawaiians and the Chinese opt not micro-control Hawaii, then the reinstate Hawaiian sovereignty people would have a chance. What is much more likely is that Hawaiian groups will occasionally pressure politicians and the politicians will make token pork-barrel projects and gestures to swing the Hawaiian vote in their favor. 

I do see value in culture. Culture can be a great asset for remembering and embracing the lessons and practices of the past. Culture should be about bringing people together, to share our mutual customs, and learn from one another. Cultures should not be about dividing people, categorizing them, or excluding them. I've heard there are some beaches and neighborhoods on this island that are Hawaiians only areas and if a mainlander were to go to that beach or area, they'd be hurt and mangled by the locals. I don't know if that is true, but I've heard the stories enough times to lend credibility to the statement. I've experienced anti-haole (white person) sentiment first hand. Now, I argue that the culture should make an effort to include other people into their cultural practices. If they see a new person on "their" beach, they should invite them over for a chat. They can explain the history of the beach, and why taking care of the beach means so very much to them. They could also learn more about another culture. Cultural learning need not be one way after all.

What is my culture? I belong to the 24/7 internet connected, vegan, sustainabilty minded, higher education proponet, progressive minded, openminded culture. We don't have a buzzword to label us with yet, but I'm sure someone is working on it. Maybe science-nature dualists. Yeah, I like that.