Stephen's Secure Blog #272
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students, in the 1950's. This was from a time before computers
would fit on a desk, and when people communicated with friends in other
countries by actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote
225 of them to a friend. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he
still wanted to record his life, in case he lost his memory again, and
wrote 30 entries in his first logbook. Then he wrote to an artificial
intelligence called Geenee, in the master computer in his school for
gifted students, which he started attending in 2016. Now it's after
2018, and he's continuing to save his memories in a secure blog.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 17 in this story, in spring of year 7 of his special school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #272 "Real China Proposal"
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At the time for the next meeting in China, I sent an image, and only
the President was there. I said "Greetings. Should I send the rest of
me?" He said "I would like that." I ported in, and we bowed and sat. He
said "I have news." I said, "And did you intend to keep it to
yourself?" He grinned and said, "Never! We have agreed to what you have
requested." I said "I hear the words. Will I see it in actuality?" He
said "I see you are not delirious with happiness." I said "In regard to
this kind of situation, through all my lives, I have learned not to
count my chickens before they're on my plate." He said "That's not how
I remember that saying, but aren't you a vegetarian?" I said "Cabbages
didn't sound right." He laughed. He gave me a thick pile of documents.
I put them aside, and said, "I see the disputed with India territory
request isn't mentioned." He looked surprised. I said "Everybody has
that problem. They can't seem to remember my capabilities. If I can
read what's on your computer, without being near it, well, isn't doing
that to papers, easier?" He said "Oh. They hoped that with this full
agreement, you would forgive that part." I said "Did you believe I
would?" He sighed, and said, "No. Not from what you've said about not
having a choice about enforcing consequences."
I said "Part of me, a very small part, is hoping I can still use some
of the very creative consequences I've thought of." He didn't know how
to react to that. I said "The artist in me, doesn't like restraint." He
said with curiosity, "That unusual?" I said "Oh YES!" He said "I know
the feeling. I'm tempted, myself, just to see them." We grinned at each
other. I said "One of them might make a good monument." He said "Please
tell me!" I said, "Oh, alright. Imagine army tanks, crushed, one on top
of the other, twenty high, with a gigantic blue stone spike through
them from the top and into the ground. I could do that in a row along
your main streets." He said "Wow!" I nodded. He said "You are indeed an
artist!" I said "Thank you, but with my abilities, my imagination has a
LOT to work with, more than any artist in history." He said "I actually
like that idea, for what it symbolizes, and the drama of it, but of
course not where it would cause traffic problems." I said "Well, it
still might happen, if what we do here doesn't succeed."
He handed me another paper. I said "It's there, but paper is easy to
come by." He said "I realize that. We will announce tomorrow, if you
would like us to, that we promise not to interfere with any religious
institutions in Tibet, and will write and pass a law to that effect." I
said "A good start, but everybody knows that laws aren't always
enforced, and can always be revoked. You should know that your
government has absolutely no credibility with anybody. To get some of
that back, you will have to work for it." He said "I don't want to know
that, but it IS true." I said "And it's necessary, for your survival.
Your people have to have at least a little trust in your word, or you
won't last much longer. So many lies, are hard to forget overnight." He
said "I understand."
I said "Do you know how rich Tibet actually is?" That got his
attention. I said "As it is now, it's one of the poorest countries in
the world. However, it does have some useful mineral resources. The
problem with developing them, is that the usual way that is done, is
not applicable to the environment, or sustainable. With the forced
resettlement, the country can't grow enough to feed its current
population. That will get even worse, with the increased birthrate and
tourism. Transporting food in any useful quantity into the country, is
very difficult and expensive, and would have to pass through areas
which are not much better off than Tibet. Do you know that at that
altitude, air pollution stays much more at ground level, than at other
locations? You have dust storms here, but you can filter that out much
more easily than sulfur dioxide and ozone, for example. Tibet simply
can't have large industrial facilities there, or even large scale
agriculture, due to a shortage of useful water and the short growing
season. But then, thanks to your efforts to make them helpless and
dependent, which have worked very well, Tibet can't survive as it is. I
can give them anything they need, but gifts do not make an economy.
Said in another way, gold provides no direct nourishment. Freeing Tibet
is the easy part. Making it a successful country, is the difficult
part."
He said "I wondered if you had realized that." I said "I did, from
the beginning. I wonder if you expected or hoped that a free Tibet
would want to come crawling back to Mama China, begging to be oppressed
again, for life support." He looked guilty. I wiggled my eyebrows at
him. He laughed. I said "You underestimate their resolve. And my plans
were built on not having ANY support from China. I could have not said
any of this, and let you make the deal on that false assumption. That
would have been dishonest." He said "I understand. I think we will
always underestimate you." I said "Actually, you forgot my solution I
already told you about. An economy built on educating the world."
That woke him up. He said in surprise, "That's right. You did tell
us that." I said "There is more. I was ordered to free Tibet now. Why
now, and not in one of my former incarnations, or through somebody
else, long before this? Why so long under oppression? Something to
think about. And something else. Should I assume your proposal is not
to be made public until it is a full agreement?" He said "Yes. Changes
would be a lot easier in private." I said "I agree, and will try to
ensure that. However, you can still do the India thing at any time." He
nodded. I said "I should be off to India now, to jump into the arms of
the exiles. Thank you for your work. But I still have some little
disappointment in not doing at least one consequence." He laughed. I
gave him my love, and ported away. I dropped some memory cards on his
desk.
I requested a meeting with the Exiles' Cabinet. I was told that two
of them were traveling, and wouldn't be back for at least two weeks. I
told them that they would REALLY want to be at that meeting, without
delay, and that I would provide transportation if necessary. That
caused the expected excitement, and I ported those two to the meeting,
and I ported myself there. They had brought their assistants. I said
"No assistants at this time, except my guide." They left. I grinned,
and called out, "You might as well go back to your offices. You won't
hear well enough that way." I said to the amused Cabinet members, "That
is, if you can restrain yourselves to just mild shouting." The PM said
"They did it?" I said "They gave me a lot of paper. That's ALL it is at
this time. Do you understand?" He said "I'm trying to. You are saying
that no matter what they say or write, it's not reality until it
actually happens." I said "And it can change at any time, before or
after that. To save your time and effort, I put it all into memory
crystals. That way you will memorize it in a second. Well, who needs
paper cuts?" He said with mock seriousness, "Absolutely, no one." I
said, "To save you even more time, they have agreed to all of your
proposals, with some of mine, too. I'm very impressed with your
restraint." Still, we didn't need to open mouths to count the teeth the
face splitting grins exposed. I passed around the crystals.
I said, "When you're ready for discussion, let me know." The PM said,
"I don't see that there is anything to discuss in the proposal, but the
time of implementation." I said "I told them Tibet would be free by the
end of summer, whatever they would or would not do. I had to give them
some kind of deadline, or they would have stalled forever, and I didn't
want Tibet to undergo major changes while it's er, frozen solid." He
grinned, and said, "I see. Thank you." One said "Indemnity. We didn't
ask for any money. I want to." A lot agreed with him. I threw a big bar
of gold onto the table. They recognized the seal of China stamped on
it, on passing it around. The PM cleared his throat, and said,
"Alright, on to the next item." They obviously assumed I would steal
all we needed from the Chinese treasury. I didn't and wouldn't. I made
it from my usual elemental sources. I said "Note the military control.
They wanted it all to themselves. I told them that would result in
their soldiers continuing to be naked and weaponless. They changed
their minds. It's just a gesture. They aren't needed, and won't be
allowed to interfere with anything." One said, "Then why keep them?" I
said "So those soldiers won't be attacking anybody in China?" Some
smiles. I said "It's a political thing, so it shows Tibet is still part
of China in some way. Adds to the economy, too, and they can be used to
guard construction sites, if necessary. One more thing. I made sure
Tibetans are exempt from the military draft. If they change that, they
will face some severe consequences. No real Buddhist should ever be
forced to even THINK of killing anybody!" They stared at me, and my
tears. I said "Sorry about that. Strong feelings." They all bowed to
me.
The PM said, "Any more comments?" There were none. I said "Well, I
have some. If you like, I can ask for a faster implementation, if there
are no major changes." I was agreed that I should, but not too hard. I
said "Then banking. I think it is best that Tibet use China's currency,
for now, because it has a reasonably stable value. If Tibet had it's
own, as a new country, it would be unstable, and hurt people. Also, the
Bank of Tibet should provide loans with VERY low interest, insured, to
stimulate the economy. To Tibetans only, and to others who have
officially resided in Tibet for at least ten years." The PM said "I
didn't expect that. Wise. Thank you." One said "Why any foreigners at
all?" I said "Good question. Tibet is a dead country, unless it can get
help from foreigners, in tourism, and with those coming for the
advanced education my people are going to provide. We must not in any
way appear hostile to the kind of people we need in order to survive.
And it's fair. Most of the Han in Tibet, didn't actually choose to go
there, and they can't leave. They have no other homes left to go to."
He said "I don't like it, but you're right. Thank you." I said "The Han
question applies to voting, as well. Opinions?" One said "Born in the
country?" That was agreed on.
My guide said, "Master Teacher, what about you?" I said "I will not
be voting. I must not be seen to have any favorites." He said "I think
you know that wasn't all I meant." I said "My home is in any Buddhist
Temple or Monastery, wherever it is. However, I have my own Temple and
apartment in Belize, an apartment in the Temple in Washington, and
homes I have built in some very unusual places which are very far away.
My real home is the entire galaxy. Yes, that far away." He said " But
are you a citizen there?" I said "Actually, yes, and much more. I see
where you are going. For legal, and possibly criminal reasons, I should
not be a citizen of China." He said, "But after we are free?" I said
"We don't know if or how long that will be allowed to stand without
attempts at some time to reverse that. I, or my children, may need to
help their memories a little." He said "You could have made Tibet
entirely free of China, so you could be a citizen, but you didn't,
because it was best for us to have the support of a large country, and
their financial system." My tears were flowing, and I said, "That is
already established, and WILL be so. I should never be a citizen of
China or Tibet, nor should my children be while I live, to reduce the
temptation for possible reprisals. This is not the first time in my
lives that I have not been allowed to be fully of the people I have led
to freedom. Nothing really good comes without sacrifice. This is mine.
Please don't mention it in my hearing again. Please excuse me for a few
minutes."
I ported to the top of a mountain in the Sinai desert. I said to
nobody in particular, "I'm not complaining. I agree with the necessity,
and I'm truly grateful to serve. Please forgive my excess of emotion."
I was flooded with a strange kind of love. It had to be from the other
side, being ever so greater than mortal human. I think it changed me in
some way, but I don't know how, yet. I cleaned myself up, and settled
my emotions, and ported back to Dharamsala.
I said "I apologize for the delay. China has also agreed to the Tibet
treaty with India, about the southeast of Tibet. Is there more we
should discuss at this time?" The PM said "I don't think so. Anybody?"
Silence. I said "So is it agreed that there are no changes to the
proposal?" He said "Yes. Please tell them that we accept it as it is."
I said "Would you like to know if I told them that you would?" He said
"I'm not sure." I grinned, and said, "I'll tell it this way. I told
them that I had determined that what you had asked for was fair, and I
would have to support that, because I do not support what is unfair,
and that it applies to both sides, if anybody wanted to make changes
which would make it unfair. Do you think that could have helped them to
decide to do what was right?" He said, "Yes, and I must say, that was
well done!" I said "Thank you. I should be going back to China with the
news. I don't think I have to ask you to keep this a secret until it
becomes official and a reality, so I won't ask you. Unless you think I
should, which you should disregard of you think I shouldn't. I think."
There were some smiles and grins. The PM said "Noted." I said
plaintively, "Oh, was that nice?" They laughed. I said "Do those I
snatched, want to go back?" They looked at the PM, and he nodded. We
stood, and I gave them all my love. I ported those I had snatched to
from where had come.
I sent an image to the President of China. I said "Greetings. Is this
a bad time for some news?" He said "Is it good?" I said "For you? No, I
haven't lost my abilities." He laughed. He said "Come ahead." I ported
in, and we sat. I said "They wanted money." He said "And what did you
do about that?" I said "I didn't say anything, but I made them believe
I would steal if from your treasury." He said "Sneaky. I know, and they
should know, you wouldn't do that." I said "With a solid gold bar on
the table in front of them, they might be excused for not completely
using their intelligence about the subject." He had a really good laugh
at that. I said "You know I could have supported that, and made it
happen." He said "But you have to be fair." I said "Did you pay rent
for the land you used to store atomic waste against their wishes?" He
said "Oh! So it WOULD have been fair. We owe you our gratitude for
that." I said "They agree with the proposal without changes, but they
do have a request. They are a little excited, and would really like to
have the implementation be sooner than you had established. I would
have some interest in that myself. But it is only a request. But the
many times, this included. I will work on that, and using the money
angle if needed." I said "I told them to keep it a secret, and this
time there might be a better chance they actually will. I really
frightened them the last time." He laughed again, and said, "I don't
doubt that at all!"
I said "What do you think should happen regarding border
enforcement?" He said "I know what you mean. You fear an invasion from
us. I know you won't let that happen, but it's possible that it could
happen in the future." I said "I could make a barrier impenetrable to
humans, completely surrounding the country, except at manned
checkpoints. I've done more to an entire world. I would not like to,
more than armed assault." I nodded. He said "I don't know. I wouldn't
authorize it, but I may not be in office much longer. You might have to
do it. I think you do anticipate that more consequences would need to
be applied at some time." I nodded again, and said, "That creative itch
may yet be satisfied." He said "I admit to well, maybe we shouldn't go
there." We laughed.
I said "You will have the possible pleasure of announcing the
agreement, when it becomes official, so you can claim the credit for
being a nice country doing the right thing. A public apology would be
nice, but if it's not possible, a private one would be helpful. The
exiles would accept it. I think. One look at me at the time, could make
it so." He laughed and said, "I wouldn't doubt that, either. I will let
you know about anything of interest, as soon as I know." I said "As an
incentive, I will clean the square when Tibet is declared a fully
independent part of China. Until then, be thinking of a place where I
can put all that trash. Oh, and I might need to repair the square.
There could be improvements, such as an unbroken surface of jade, or
something. You will find that I can be very pleasant and helpful, when
I feel good about things." He said "I definitely WILL pass that on!" I
said "I wouldn't doubt that!" We laughed. I gave him my love, and some
memory cards, and ported to my house on Allguard.
Rose and Hawk were sitting on either side of me, hugging me. I said
"Alright, I know you want to ask." Rose said "Was that the actual
mountain?" I said "I have no idea. We were lost, then, and to this day,
I don't know which mountain it was." They laughed. I said "You have NO
idea how hard it was for me to carve the tablets I was ordered to. The
result was horrible. Joshua had to do most of the work for me, the
second time, because my hands were a mess. I wasn't a good healer
then." We hugged with love, the rest of the evening.
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Grant
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