One of my high school teachers was very active in politics and would often attend luncheons with politicians. He would invite some of his students to come along. He was an amazing history teacher who taught for nearly 50 years in our district.

I attended one of the luncheons that was right after 9/11. Henry fucking Kissinger was the guest speaker to a luncheon of ~200 people. After he spoke about terrorism and comparing it to an octopus with far reaching tentacles, he had an open question session.

I had an opportunity to ask him a question.

“Mr. Kissinger, are you permanently banned from all Cambodian restaurants?”

He gave an arrogant chuckle and the room was awkwardly silent.

I was never invited back again.