Jun 2022
LOVE AND LOVERS
by
TOD HOWARD HAWKS
Chapter 17
Mr. Ly opened the door slowly and greeted his beloved daughter and son-in-law warmly. He said to both, “Come in and have a seat and make yourselves comfortable.”
Of course, a hug and a handshake were sine qua non. The three chatted with one another for quite some time about the final preparations Bian, Jon, and Mr. Ly and his friends had recently completed before this monumental, two-year, worldwide journey began on 2 January 2024. Then all three relaxed.
“Mr. Ly, I have a rather unorthodox question I’d like to ask you,” said Jon.
“Please, go ahead,” said Mr. Ly.
“Do you have a favorite American author?” asked Jon.
“Interesting you should ask me that question, Jon. Indeed, I do. My favorite American author is John Steinbeck. I think I’ve read every novel he wrote. There are many American authors who have written well, but Steinbeck not only wrote well, but also, in my opinion, ‘felt first,” then wrote. In short, he imbued all his works with passion.
“My favorite Steinbeck novels are THE GRAPES OF WRATH, EAST OF EDEN, CANNERY ROW, IN DUBIOUS BATTLE and OF MICE AND MEN. Steinbeck wrote, did he not, of the human condition, which, interestingly enough, is what we three, as well as billions of other Citizens of Earth are, and soon will be, willing–indeed, determined–to “turn right-side in” Earth for the first time ever--as you, Jon, so eloquently penned in your PEACE ON EARTH THROUGH LOVE commentary. Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for his writings. We, humanity, will win Peace on Earth forever.”
“Mr. Ly, if I may, I’d like to add a few corollaries: Why–why in the hell–did a select group of intelligent, wealthy, socially and politically distinguished males in 1787 sign the Constitution of the United States of America, thereby legalizing the pernicious institution of slavery through the infamous “3/5ths clause” in all 13 nascent states of our nation? The list of those signatories included none other than George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison.
“Did you know that 12 sitting U. S. presidents were also, at some time in their lives, slave owners themselves: George Washington; Thomas Jefferson (who owned over 600 slaves); James Monroe; Andrew Jackson; Martin Van Buren; William Henry Harrison; John Tyler; James Polk; Zachary Taylor; Andrew Johnson; and Ulysses S. Grant (to whom General Lee surrendered at Appomattox)?
“On the 4th of July of every year we Americans celebrate the birth of our nation. We gather together, family and friends alike. We have parades in virtually all towns and cities from the Atlantic to the Pacific. We fly our flags proudly. We shoot off fireworks when evening turns into night’s sky. But do we ever read the list of the 12 U. S. presidents who once owned slaves? No, because apple pie and vanilla ice cream leave a better taste in our mouths….”
by
TOD HOWARD HAWKS
Chapter 17
Mr. Ly opened the door slowly and greeted his beloved daughter and son-in-law warmly. He said to both, “Come in and have a seat and make yourselves comfortable.”
Of course, a hug and a handshake were sine qua non. The three chatted with one another for quite some time about the final preparations Bian, Jon, and Mr. Ly and his friends had recently completed before this monumental, two-year, worldwide journey began on 2 January 2024. Then all three relaxed.
“Mr. Ly, I have a rather unorthodox question I’d like to ask you,” said Jon.
“Please, go ahead,” said Mr. Ly.
“Do you have a favorite American author?” asked Jon.
“Interesting you should ask me that question, Jon. Indeed, I do. My favorite American author is John Steinbeck. I think I’ve read every novel he wrote. There are many American authors who have written well, but Steinbeck not only wrote well, but also, in my opinion, ‘felt first,” then wrote. In short, he imbued all his works with passion.
“My favorite Steinbeck novels are THE GRAPES OF WRATH, EAST OF EDEN, CANNERY ROW, IN DUBIOUS BATTLE and OF MICE AND MEN. Steinbeck wrote, did he not, of the human condition, which, interestingly enough, is what we three, as well as billions of other Citizens of Earth are, and soon will be, willing–indeed, determined–to “turn right-side in” Earth for the first time ever--as you, Jon, so eloquently penned in your PEACE ON EARTH THROUGH LOVE commentary. Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for his writings. We, humanity, will win Peace on Earth forever.”
“Mr. Ly, if I may, I’d like to add a few corollaries: Why–why in the hell–did a select group of intelligent, wealthy, socially and politically distinguished males in 1787 sign the Constitution of the United States of America, thereby legalizing the pernicious institution of slavery through the infamous “3/5ths clause” in all 13 nascent states of our nation? The list of those signatories included none other than George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison.
“Did you know that 12 sitting U. S. presidents were also, at some time in their lives, slave owners themselves: George Washington; Thomas Jefferson (who owned over 600 slaves); James Monroe; Andrew Jackson; Martin Van Buren; William Henry Harrison; John Tyler; James Polk; Zachary Taylor; Andrew Johnson; and Ulysses S. Grant (to whom General Lee surrendered at Appomattox)?
“On the 4th of July of every year we Americans celebrate the birth of our nation. We gather together, family and friends alike. We have parades in virtually all towns and cities from the Atlantic to the Pacific. We fly our flags proudly. We shoot off fireworks when evening turns into night’s sky. But do we ever read the list of the 12 U. S. presidents who once owned slaves? No, because apple pie and vanilla ice cream leave a better taste in our mouths….”
