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Subject: +*+*+*+ Stephen's Secure Blog #352 "PBS Again" +*+*+*+
Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:12:23 -0400
From: " +Grant. " <+Grant@grant.grant>
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Stephen's Secure Blog #352
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 18 in this story, in Spring of year 8 of his special school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #352 "PBS Again"
START Page
The professor at Yale called. She said "There was a leak." I said "So
now you've got an Auquasaurus Rex?" She laughed, and said, "Other
institutions found out about your informational contributions. They are
strongly asking us to share." I said "More like frenzied demanding,
with loud histrionics?" She laughed, and said, "Actually, yes." I said
"And this is my problem?" She laughed some more, and said, "Just for
that, I should tell them to yell at you, instead." I said "Well, if
they want counseling." She said "I think they are beyond that." I said
"So, how do you want to work it? You make them come to you for your
scientific generosity, which could generate some quid pro quo, or I
give them what they want, myself." She said "It's good for me you
aren't interested in running my department. Yes, we can do it here." I
said "World wide, is fine, too, but they must come to you in person.
Nothing through mail and wires. They will want to know why I chose you
to be first. Going to make it up, or tell them the truth that we met at
an art show just when I decided to make all that available?" She said
"It has to be the truth, or we would never hear from you again." I said
"Oh, so Sharon's been talking." She said "Yes, but she wouldn't give
specifics." I said "Good. Would be so much, you could call it the
specific ocean."
She almost strangled. She said "I don't think I'll ever get used to
your humor." I said "I'm not going to give it up, not when it recently
helped stop an interstellar war. Want to see what they looked like?"
She said "Absolutely!" I said "I'll project their images in your
office." I did that. She said "Wow! Beautiful color!" I said "It sure
didn't hurt anything when I told them that. They both are good people
who had a communication and cultural problem with each other. Not any
more, and humor helped." She said "I'm glad. Will we ever meet them?" I
said "Probably not for a very long time. They are VERY far away, and we
told the ones who know where we are, the Blue people, not to come, but
Rose is spending time there getting to know them, and doing some
teaching." She said "It must be very interesting!" I said "Well, if you
like to swim. After you do your generous bit, I'll give you some more,
so you can hook your competitors again." She said "I would NOT complain
about that!" We said our goodbyes.
It was the PBS pledge week. It went much the same as last year, but
with new premium gifts to give with membership; my book on Tibet, and
as an alternate, my book on The Buddha, and there were CDs of my music,
and BDs of my performances, some of which weren't made public before. I
did the shuttling across the nation, too. Some other things were
different. I did some hour and two hour live and recorded shows. Most
were with music, and people who pledged could request something, and I
would play or sing it. Some stations had other musicians I could play
with, and some had local choirs. Chicago had a children's choir. They
know I loved them, and we had a good time. In DC, I sang with the Gay
Men's Chorus. In St. Lewis, there was a musical prodigy on the piano. I
ported in another piano, and we did dueling improvisations, like I had
done with Srinoy. It was a lot of fun, and inspired a lot of pledges.
To each person I preformed with, I gave a personalized gift, usually a
medallion or token in the form of a small thank you card or plaque made
of silver and enameling.
Then there were discussions. They were interesting. And I was told,
much anticipated. One asked, "What is your position on gay marriage?" I
said "I'm marrying a woman." He said "I mean in general." I said "Are
you sure you want to know? Some people think highly of my opinions, in
both directions. For praise and condemnation." He said "What do you
recommend for the two sides to get along with each other?" I said
me to be quiet, she kisses me. I'm telling you, it works very well!" He
laughed, and said, "I can believe it." I said "Yes. In fact, I talk
more than I need to, to encourage it." He laughed some more. He said
"But your opinions on gay marriage?" I said ""I'll tell you. There are
two separate issues with marriage, the religious, and the legal. A
secular government which actually adheres to the principles of due
process and equality, has no right to prevent any legally responsible
adults from acquiring the legal benefits of a marriage contract. On the
other side, a secular government has no right to dictate the religious
part of marriage, and cannot force clergy of religions which promote
prejudice, discrimination, and hate, to preside over marriages to which
they would object. Justice's of the Peace who are not clergy, should
not have the right to refuse any legal marriage because of prejudice. I
can find no valid argument in opposition to my position."
He said "Wow! But I noticed something. The way you worded it, doesn't
say anything against polygamy." I said "That's right. I can find no
logical objection to adults engaging in group marriages. They have
existed throughout history, and is in the Bible, the Quran, and in the
writings of many other religions. In the remote Tribal areas of the
Himalayas, where there is a shortage of women, brothers sometimes share
a household and a wife, in what is called polyandry. In that society,
it benefits the community, in creating less fighting over dividing
estates, and in creating stable families where otherwise there would be
a critical shortage of them, enabling the survival of their society in
that harsh territory. In the Bible, it is the duty of a brother to
assist a brother who can't father a child, by performing that service
himself. I'm not saying that I recommend that, or recommend any group
marriage, but I can't find a logical reason to object to them, or
justification to prohibit them in the writings of the founders of the
major religions." He said "Wow!" I said "I hear that a lot." He almost
choked.
I said "However, most modern industrial societies, and the cultures
in them, including the legal systems, are against public group marriage
dynamics. For that reason, I recommend against, in general, group
marriages, but you might be surprised at how many do exist in secret.
Well, how many married men are fathering children with their mistresses
and domestic help? There have been some famous people who made the
newscasts with that." He thought a moment, and said, "Will you have a
group marriage?" I said with a smile, "In a way, I already have one
with everybody on Earth, with sharing my love." He said "Thank you for
expressing your opinions with us." I said "You're welcome."
A few hours later, I was asked at a different station, "We heard your
opinions on gay marriage. Would you be willing to debate that issue on
our station?" I said "I have no desire to debate the issue. Neither
side needs me, and I do NOT like to be in the presence of those who
want to cause heartache and misery to others!" That settled that. For a
short while. At another station, one asked, "Some say that any marriage
other than between one man and one woman, devalues the institution of
marriage." I said "I've heard that, and that it would hurt the
marriages of other people. What I've not heard is HOW it can possibly
do that. How can what happens, or doesn't happen, in one marriage,
effect what happens in another marriage if they're not using the same
bedroom? Will husbands and wives love each other any less, if gays are
allowed to marry? They don't, even if a married couple next door murder
each other. As you can see, that devalues the institution argument is
completely ridiculous, and is one of the most stupid things I have ever
heard in the over 70,000 years of my lives. If those people who say
that, REALLY cared about what they say is the 'institution' of
marriage, who work so hard and loudly to prevent gay marriages, they
would work at least as hard and loudly to reduce the number of divorces
and domestic abuse, which they should. Do they? No. That shows the real
basis of their position; prejudice and hate, which they are too
cowardly and deceptive to admit in public. And that they think people
are so stupid that they won't see that."
She said "Wow, those are some strong words!" I said "Well, isn't that
the only kind those who hate, listen to? They sure say more than enough
of them. I am against hate. I am against discrimination. I am against
injustice. I am for equality, equal justice, and love. All have felt my
love. I can't be anything other than who I am, and that is love, and
that is incompatible with hate." She said "Thank you."
Back at the Boston station I had started from, the manager said in a
private meeting, "It's been all over the news. On gay marriage. Quite
some controversy." I said "So I won't be invited back." She said "I
don't believe that for a second! While we can't make that public, I
think all of us in PBS admire you for what you say, all of it, and the
way you say it, even if we might not agree with parts of it. We like
real and honest debates." I said "I did leave out something else. Would
have made a bad sound bite." She whispered, "What was it?" I laughed,
and so did she. I said "After the last pledge week, a friend asked me
about my position on gay marriage. I said 'Top'." She laughed. I said
"Then I said what I said in the first interview this time. I was
advised not to make that public, because they noticed the group
marriage opening that somebody could jump into. I decided to risk it
this time. Unfortunately, they were right. Chad loved it. My other
advisors haven't told me yet." She said with a grin, "That could be
interesting!"
After we signed off, Chad and I had a meeting with the President of
PBS, who said, "Our viewership for this pledge week hit an all time
high!" I said "Oh, that addiction thing again." Chad laughed the
loudest. He continued with, "That's another thing. Your great humor
and, I have to say it, playfulness, helped some people who might not
have otherwise er, swallowed your er, opinions on controversial
topics." I said "So carefully worded, you could become president of
PBS!" They both laughed well. I said "Well, next time, if they don't
want to swallow, you could advise them to use a condom." Chad almost
fell on the floor, he laughed so hard. PBS wasn't far behind. In the
far distance, I wondered if what I heard from Hawk could even be
possible.
When he recovered enough to speak, PBS said, "While I can't make it
official, I loved what you said. So have most of the people of PBS,
unofficially, of course. We have had some complaints, but much less
than we expected, so far." Chad said "He poked them right where they
live. They might want to accuse him of being of the Devil, but all know
the Devil can't give love. Makes them so frustrated, they might burst.
I love it!" We laughed. I said "I don't mind if you don't want me back.
I wasn't planning to, but then, I wasn't planning to do it this time."
He said "I can't speak for the future I can't see, but as of now, you
are still very welcome." We thanked him, and ported home. I was mobbed
by a lot of classmates. After a lot of hugging and kissing, they
settled down.
I told Hawk, "You laughed so hard, I was afraid you would hurt
something. That was amazing!" He laughed again. I said "Oops!" He and
others laughed some more. Rose said "I know it might create problems,
but I love what you said, and how you said it. Such heat, I'm sure it
surprised a lot of people, but it makes it stick all the more. Cowards!
I absolutely LOVE that!" I said "Wait until after the next love
broadcast. Going to be something really interesting on CNN, after. No,
I'm not going to tell you, because I haven't decided yet, but I'll give
you a hint. It's about something that's NOT being cured." Hawk said
"I've got it! Gays! Homosexuality isn't being cured." I said in mock
disgust, "You couldn't play along?" He laughed and tried to say he was
sorry at the same time, and choked. We poked him. Then we all hugged
each other with love.
END Page
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Grant
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