"Sure it is. For one thing, it's a symbol of your opposition to the idea of food scientists messing with molecules.
"Messing with food. He corrected.
"Not really. Food's just a symbol you use to represent the idea that the body you inhabit can make use of certain other bits of the world for nourishment. He paused for a moment as a flicker of puzzlement crossed Jeffries' face. "They're just messing with the molecules in that bit of the world.
"Same thing. What's your point?
"Just that if you're going to engage in a magical act, you really ought to know what you're doing.
"Magic? Derek was lost, and looked it. "Where'd that come from?
Richard closed his eyes and took a breath. "In simple terms, magic is nothing more than the application of some symbol for a chosen purpose, an intent. Both of you are involved in political activity of some sort. You use different methods, have different goals, but both of you share a common symbol " one that represents a government which is honest and responsive to the needs of the people.
Derek absently popped the chocolate into his mouth, and licked his fingers. Jeffries blanched.
"But the government isn't the symbol. It's lots of people all doing things for whatever personal reasons they may have. And your hope, the hope you each carry into your actions, is that there's a relationship between what you do, and what that government does. Both of you put energy into performing activities intended to help direct that government so that it conforms to your symbol for it. In other words, you're both trying to control one thing by acting on another. That's called sympathetic magic.
Jeffries drew back. "What's that got to do with the GMOs in what your friend here just ate?
"Changing some of the molecules, engineering the corn, or whatever it was they put into the chocolate, is no different from swapping out one group of bureaucrats for another. The government's still the government. It may act slightly different, but it's still performing the same function. Same thing with food. Swap some molecules, and it's still nourishment. Both of you are concerned with the nature of a symbol. Derek wants to change the one that our government resonates to, and you're opposed to changes in one that our bodies resonate to.
"Look. All I wanted was to find out if either of you wants to join the protest. Can I get a straight answer from someone?
Richard finished his chocolate and handed him the crumpled wrapper. "No thanks. But I would appreciate it if you'd find a basket for that. Unless, of course, you think those molecules can hurt you just by touching them.
Jeffries dropped the wrapper and stormed off.
Derek watched him for a few seconds, then turned back to Richard. "Why'd you do that?
"Ping-fa.
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