Brian Griffin Eats Local: KC's Biscuits & BBQ
This should be popular.
It is probably an understatement to say that there is a lot of perceived division in the world right now. No matter where you stand on any particular issue, all you need to do is turn on your TV or open Facebook for ten minutes to find a brand-new reason to conclude that the other half of the country is made up of lunatics. And if you’re into that, there is no better time than right now to scratch that itch. As I am writing this, the presidential debate of September 10 is five hours away. And I am a mess, but you wouldn’t know it.
I have a unique ability to blend in with people from all ends of the political spectrum. I have always thought that it’s because I am the human equivalent of a white piece of paper. People tend to project whatever it is they believe onto me and assume that we are on the same page.
Several months ago, I began developing a friendship with a highly respected and intensely brilliant scientist at PNNL. We met at a coffee shop to discuss how to move forward on a project, and we found ourselves circling each other in a dance that is all too familiar, where two liberal people in a conservative town feel each other out to determine where they stand politically. When we figured each other out, he told me that he had assumed I was a Republican “because of my face.”
I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I’m pretty sure it’s my superpower.
I don’t know exactly where you would put me on the political spectrum. I’m to the right of some people, and I’m to the left of others. You could say that I’m in the middle, but I do lean heavily to the left on most of the questions that tend to divide people. I am certainly not ashamed of my beliefs, but I tend not to put much energy into discussing them. I’m sure some of that is due to where I live, but I am also not interested in engaging in arguments with people that have no intention of changing their minds. I want to respect you for who you are, rather than what you believe, and I can only ask that you return that courtesy.
Anyway… The food.
By nature, barbecue is a slow endeavor, created by people that have mastered the art of taking their time. The long, slow cooking process allows the connective tissue to break down, resulting in a tender and juicy piece of meat that falls apart with the slightest disturbance. The time spent in the smoke gives the flavor ample time to penetrate deep into the meat to create a rich and complex profile. All of this time allows you to savor the anticipation of the final product.
It also lends itself to a lot of conversation.
A few months ago, I spent a day with Charlotte and Kelly, the owners of KC’s Biscuits & BBQ. It was clear immediately that we probably did not agree on much — at least not on the kinds of topics you would find in a headline. Our political Venn diagram would almost be two entirely separate circles. But despite all that, of all the hours that I have spent with various restaurant owners, this day was my favorite. Charlotte and Kelly are two people that genuinely love each other. They are two people who feel truly blessed that they get to spend every day with their best friend, make excellent food, and share it with their neighbors. They love what they do, and it shows.
Allow me to wax poetic.
The issue with television news is that it exists to divide us. It exists to give us anger and fear. Despite the apparent bent of any given network, it is in their best interest to share the most polarizing elements of society, because that is what generates attention, and that is what gets shared on social media. By nature of this, we are beginning our interactions with strangers at a point of contention. This leads us to believe that we are more divided than I believe we really are.
The perception of division doesn’t match up with reality. While it is true that political and social discourse can be polarizing, particularly in the digital age, people are complicated. They are nuanced. It is important to acknowledge the existence of genuine divisions in society, but it is equally important to recognize that there is more common ground than we can see when we shrink our world down to fit onto a screen.
Or maybe it’s just good barbecue made by some nice people. I don’t know.
But I believe that something magical happens when you take your time.