Solomon's Private File #194
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 23 in this story, in the Winter of 2049-2050.
Solomon's Private File #194 "CNN Election Therapy"
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A Balkan country was having problems with their elections, including
armed violence. Fraud and corruption were suspected. The government
publicly asked for my help in getting an accurate count. Then a lot of
other countries pilled on top of that, almost demanding the same. I
asked CNN if they would be willing to have a program with me, about it.
After the laughing at my stupid question stopped, they scheduled it,
with representatives of the governments who were asking for my help.
Greg was the host. He introduced us.
I started right into it, by saying to the first man, "How do you feel
about the other governments riding on your first-in public request for
my help with your election?" He didn't want to say. I said, "I see you
don't know me very well." Greg tried not to grin. They noticed. The man
said, "We were first!" I said, "In public, not in different ways.
Please answer my question." He sighed and said, "We dislike it. There
is honor in being first." I said, "Please help us to understand how
there is honor in announcing that your country is unable to run a valid
election? AND having to actually beg for help from an outside source?"
He looked totally horrified. The others weren't feeling all that happy
then, too. I said, "You let the possible honor of being somehow
associated with me, blind you to that reality. Am I correct?" He could
only nod. I said, "Please tell me why I should do this for a government
that has shown itself to be er, well, foolish?"
He was unable to say anything. I said, "Did you win in the past
election?" He said, "I did." I said, "There is the evidence that your
election was bad. Result speaks for itself." He started to get up to
leave. I said, "So you don't want my help?" He was indecisive. He sat
back down. I said, "Why did you decide to leave and not have my help?"
He said, "I didn't." I said, "You will speak the truth to me, or I will
compel you, which will last your lifetime. Answer me!" He blurted out,
"I refused to stay and be insulted!" I said, "So your personal pride,
unjustified, was more important to you than the future of your
country?" He clearly didn't want to answer, but he said, "Yes." I said,
"In your truthful opinion, would your opponent have been any different
in this?" He said, "I think not." I said, "So, for your country, it
doesn't actually matter who wins your elections. No matter how it turns
out, they get the same kind of people. And you know this. All you care
about is that YOU and your friends stay in power. Is this correct? You
WILL answer!" He said, "YES!"
I said, "I refuse to give your political system any legitimacy. I
won't help you to keep doing what is holding your country hostage to
selfish would-be rulers who care only for enriching themselves, and
making all others virtual slaves. You show me you can do better for
your people with real actions, which include better laws, and fair
enforcement, and I will allow you to ask for some future assistance.
You may now go." He did that in a hurry. I said, "So, who's next? Oh,
after the break." We went to break. There were wows all over the place.
Greg said, "I can't believe you did that!" I said, "If that's the best
they can send to meet with me, they're in real trouble." One of the
other reps went almost hysterical with laughter. I said, after looking
at him, "I think we'll need a longer break. Good thing you can't hear
Hawk." Added chuckles.
Back on air, I said, "Who wants to say why he really wanted my help?
Hmm, don't all speak up at once." Chuckles. One said, "I think I know.
You speak for God. They wanted to USE you and God to make their
government legitimate! I see it now! And why you said what you said.
You actually had to!" I said, "And you have earned my respect with that
insight." He almost cried with humility. I said, "Now we can discuss
how to improve your election processes." We did, and it was very
productive. After several breaks, I said, "I think this has been a
useful session. Before each of you are printouts of interest, and
memory cards, and crystals. I expect some good decision making from
your governments. I'll be watching. No, I won't be listening to your
singing in the shower." Laughter. I said, "For your information, the
acoustics in that environment makes your voice sound much better than
it really is. Oh, I see that one of you is severely disappointed by
that." Laughter. Greg did the closing, and then we were off air.
Greg said, "I still have trouble believing how rough you were. Going
to be a little less demands on you for sure." The others were grinning
and nodding. So was I. He said, "Oh." I said, "Don't be embarrassed.
You were focused on your job, and not after." He said with a grin, "I
can make up my own excuses, thank you." We chuckled. I said, "You don't
actually want my help? Wow, it's working!" More chuckles. I said him,
"You can refer to this in the future, 'People who come to me without
honor, may leave me with even less.' He said, "Well said. I think we'll
use it." I hugged all of them, and left.
At home, Hawk was waiting for me. He said, "You were like they never
saw before! Great work!" I said, "Er, thanks. I shouldn't, but I didn't
feel too badly sticking it to that slimeball." Mom laughed. Galya said,
"You needed to get countries off your back." I said, "Right. Separation
of Church and State. I'm not an actual church, but to a lot of people I
am, so for them, I have to act that way." Mom said, "Really?" I said,
"And it's the right thing to do. How much different is that?" They
nodded.
There were a lot of comments about the show. Some of them were that I
shouldn't judge a whole country by one person. That was countered with
the well known fact that I thoroughly research things before I say and
do anything, which showed in the discussion that followed. I would know
in advance what was likely to happen. My doubters had to agree with
that.
The new president of CNN asked to see me. I shifted to his office. He
said, "I've been thoroughly briefed." I said, "Something of an
oxymoron, briefed." He chuckled and said, "With this, yes. We've had a
good relationship with you, which we would like to continue." I said
with a grin, "You mean, 'we desperately need you or we'll be a dismal
failure'?" He laughed and said, "Not quite, but I do have to admit it
would be a struggle. They told me you would be like this, but I
couldn't make myself believe it." I said, "Reality bites harder than
any speech. Er, not that I do that often." Chuckles. He said, "You use
us to benefit the world. Even at a loss, we would want that." I said,
"I know. That's why I'm still doing this here." He said, "Why won't you
do a regular show?" I said, "My father did that. Some results weren't
the er, best. Even now, some of your hosts are having problems with
their feelings for me personally, and well, awe. They're good and
skilled people, but brain freezes on air aren't good for anybody.
Better that we have themed shows where the topics are controlled, than
a free form that requires mental gymnastics. And to be more effective,
I shouldn't be overexposed." He nodded and said, "Wise. Oh, I know.
You've heard that before." I said, "Even GOD does that!" He couldn't
quite laugh.
He said, "You ran that show." I said, "Didn't they tell you I run all
my shows, even if it doesn't look like it? Can't be helped, actually.
Not when I can control what goes on the air, directly." He said, "Have
you done that?" I said, "Sure, with illustrations. A direct feed. Not
much else, though. Well, a few times I messed with the direction, to
make the active camera catch one of Don's priceless expressions in
time." He grinned and said, "Please keep doing that." We chuckled. He
said, "Your movie. How long did it take you to make it?" I said,
"Seconds. I know what you mean. I can do the direction, everything,
actually, better than anybody. I will, if I think it's important enough
to do it at the time. You don't need to ask, so you can say truthfully
that you didn't." He said, "Thank you isn't enough." I said, "Not
needed. We're using each other. We each benefit, and that benefits the
world. But one thing. Best not to investigate us." He said, "Already
got that in the briefing. Wondered why others haven't." I said, "They
have. We show them why it won't be helpful. Want to see the last one?"
He said, "Anything you want to share, please." I gave him the crystal.
He said, "Wow! You really tore into him!" I said, "Sometimes tough love
is best." He said, "But eating flies! Good one!" I grinned and said,
"Thanks. Hawk had a problem with that." He laughed. I said, "Right." I
said, "Want the real time fact verification to continue?" He said,
"Absolutely! Keeping them honest is what we're for." I said, "A never
ending task." He nodded. We hugged with love.
The Director of the FBI wanted to see me. He said, "End of this
administration, I'll be retiring." I said, "If you want me to talk you
out of it, beg." He laughed. He said, "I did NOT expect that! I know,
good. I'll miss things like that, but not some other things. I expect
my original party to win. I don't want to be a part of that. It might
work out, but I don't want that uncertainty at my age." I said, "I
understand. Still a while to go, before the election. Stick around. You
won't want to miss briefing the new guy if he's a stranger. Going to
blow his mind! Tell him to bring a tarp." He laughed, and said, "I know
what you mean. I can play the loyal party man enough to maybe have some
influence in the choice." I said, "You could have an assistant for the
briefing; Rose?" He said, "Oh how I wish!" We shared chuckles.
At home, Mom said, "Using me again." I said, "Comic relief. He wasn't
feeling all that great." She said, "I know. It's alright." We hugged
and kissed with love.
The Conservative Senator said, "I'm thinking of running for
president." I said, "Not running from?" He smiled and said, "That's
your opinion?" I said, "Well, I sure wouldn't want the job. A big
headache. A person would have to be highly motivated, and have an armor
plated skin, just to survive the primaries. Personally, I wouldn't want
anybody I loved to have to go through that. But then, they actually do
some odd things, though." He grinned. I said, "What about your
contamination?" He said, "Your middle ground sounds like a plan." I
said, "About me, for a politician, that will be tough to do without
lying. You know I won't stand for any lies about me." He said, "I know.
But even if I lose the primary, it could increase my stature here, and
my effectiveness." I said, "Possibly. Or trash your career. In any
case, it's sure not going to be boring." Chuckles. I said, "Going to
need money. Got a gold mine somewhere?" He said, "I don't, but there
have been some who do, who are exploring the issue." I said, "They want
to ride your new notoriety and newly upgraded personalty?" He said,
"Actually, you put it better than they did, but yes." I said, "Don't
let it go to your head." Which I examined. He chuckled.
I said, "Got any hanging skeletons, them bones are gonna be shakin'!"
He chuckled and said, "Well said! I don't know of any." I said,
"Extends to your family, even though it shouldn't." He said, "My oldest
son had a drug problem. Sober now. Er, could you check?" I said, "Only
if he asks. You should have known that about me." He said, "I should
have. I'm sorry. It's just that you don't act like one would assume,
who is so ethical and er, Godly. It's so easy to forget who you are." I
said, "So you're going to blame it on me now." I smiled to take the
sting off. He said with his own smile, "If I can. But you can check my
homes for drugs." I said, "Only common and your personal areas. Clean
out your medicine cabinet. Some expired prescriptions, and an aspirin
bottle is severely out of date, and almost ineffective. Here's the
list." He said, "Wow!" I said, "Out of date, too." Chuckles. I said,
"Oops! Car registered to you has ecstasy in it. Yes, your sons drive
it. Legally yours, though. Prints of only one person. Police database
match to your oldest. Wait! It's under the seat. No telling how long
it's been there. Yes, I could do a time dive, but that would violate
his privacy. I think you wouldn't want a criminal investigation that
would authorize that." He said, "What should I do?" I said, "You could
ask him. Or you could ask me to." He said with tears, "You would do
that for me?" I said, "I would do it for HIM." He cried some more, and
said, "I would be very grateful if you would do that." I said, "Needs
to be private. You don't want to give your enemies ammo." He said,
"Right." I said, "And it still doesn't qualify for you for Speaker." He
laughed.
At home, he asked to speak with his son in private. He said, "I've
got some career decisions to make. How would you feel if I were to run
again?" His son said, "I'm not sure they'll back you, but, and I don't
like how this is going to sound, I like you better now than before. You
SHOULD run!" They hugged. The Senator said, "They're going to look at
me more closely. That includes my family." Son said, "Right. My drug
problem. I'm clean. Almost two years clean." Senator said, "I've
great! Oh, don't look like that. I'm a big fan of his. Inspired me to
get clean." Senator said, "Just to make sure, I asked him to check my
property for anything that could cause us problems. Well, he did find
some things. I had to clean out my medicine cabinet. Very expired
prescriptions. No, he didn't check your room. Wouldn't." He said, "I
knew that." He said, "But your car is under my name." He said, "Oh!
Something got left? That's bad. Tell him he can do any investigation of
me he wants to. That you want to. In fact, I want to. You can't have
even a little suspicion to bother you. None at all!" Senator said,
"Solomon?" I said in the air, "Port in for hugs?" He said, "Please!"
I shifted in and said, "Didn't expect you to refuse." Awe and
chuckles. I said, "Under the car seat. Old news. All spoken here,
truth. May it always be so." Some tears. I said to the son, "It's
alright now. Yes, you can." He said to his father, "I'm gay." Senator
said, "Son, I'm glad you didn't tell me before. I would have hurt you
terribly." He really cried. They hugged each other. Son said, "I'll
keep in the closet until after the election." Senator said, "Then I can
shove it in their faces." I said, "Careful! You don't want them to bite
THAT!" They laughed hard. I said, "Hawk might survive that. Someday."
They laughed more. I said to the Senator, "Going to tell him more?" He
grinned, "Afraid to go home now?" I said, "Don't do that." Laughter. He
said to his son, "I'm thinking of running for president." He said,
had any. Been afraid of you finding out. A strain. Still won't, but
opposition?" I said, "We don't know who yet, and I can't play
favorites. I would do what I've done with you and your father for all
in high office, if they ask and need it. Actually, they all need it,
but if they aren't about to cause trouble with one of my actions, I
don't bother with them unasked." He said, "Their loss." I said, "I
Well, they DID." Laughter. I hugged them with love. The son kissed me,
and the father was alright with it. I shifted out.
Hawk said, "One of your best." Galya said, "So unexpected, made it
so. Great one." Mom said, "I'm not going to say." Chuckles.
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