The Art of Successful Arguing 19/08/05

Today was our train trip home from Crimea to Kyiv. Not long after the train pulled out I felt the urge to go (got the trots), and from then on started to feel worse and worse. It was really hot and I felt so bad I went in search of the restaurant wagon hoping it would be air-conditioned. It was, so I sat down, ordered a drink and tried not to feel sorry for myself. The smell of cigarettes made me feel worse and I noticed a whole lot of no smoking signs. I kindly pointed out these signs to the offenders - two of whom begrudgingly put them out - the rest just basically laughed at me.

I asked the manager of the restaurant to ask them to quit but she just shrugged me off. So I got her name and started to write down the number of the train and explained to the smokers (who were well lubricated with drink also) that because of them she would get a bad later about her written to the manager of the train company. That is when one of the guys came over to "explain" things. He said that the majority ruled and here we do what we like. I asked him if it would be ok if all of us wanted to steal his money. We talked about corruption in politics and he said he preferred corrupt politicians because he is Russian and that is the Russian way. I tried to explain the significance of the Orange Revolution and that the way forward for Ukraine is to be governed according to the law and the law must apply to everyone. That didn't work, he was against the Orange Revolution. Then his friend came over and asked my name and what I was doing here. I told him I was a missionary. I said, forget the Orange Revolution - we should obey the law because the Bible tells us to obey the law.

Well they both stood up, crossed themselves, put out their cigarettes and made sure everyone else put out their cigarettes too!

Then because I was feeling ill they got a blanket for me because of the air-conditioning.

About 30 mins later they all lit up their cigarettes again!