Solomon's Private File #93
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 17 in this story, in the Summer of 2043.
Solomon's Private File #93 "Who's a Terrorist?"
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An Islamic community center in New York City was in the news. There
were protests outside of it. I looked. I pushed what I saw to the
family. Mom said, "We're going with you." Hawk nodded. We ported to
inside the center and asked to see the person in charge. We introduced
long enough for that to be an issue. There are guns outside. And a
sniper waiting to pick off leaving people. All but one of the guns are
legal. Don't expect the police to do anything until after the shooting
starts." I said, "We are going to go out there and stand right in front
of them, and DARE them to do anything. They want to see terrorists,
we'll give them a mirror!" He had some conflicting emotions. He noticed
me studying them, and smiled. He said, "I request that you tell them
that you are doing this without our authorization." I smiled back and
understand. We're going to port to outside, so they won't be forced to
make a connection." That we did.
To say they were startled, is like saying the Moon is a pebble. At
least they weren't in orbit. I made my voice big, and said, "WHAT ARE
YOU DOING?" Silence. I said, "Ah, quiet. So deceptively peaceful.
Anybody here who can answer my question? A leader, maybe?" They pulled
away from a big man. I said to him, "So, they er, indicate you are the
leader. My question!" He said, "We don't want them here." I said, "So
we've heard. And I think they know that, too. So, you have succeeded in
telling them that. Then why are you still here?" He said, "Because they
are still here!" I said, "I see that. Tell me, if you were them, and
really wanting to leave, would you step one inch outside that door,
with people like you outside of it, just waiting to beat them up and
kill them? YOU are preventing them from leaving, at the same time you
are telling them to leave. Do you know how ridiculously STUPID that
is?" He started to get angry, when the man next to him said, "He's got
a point there. I sure wouldn't want to go though this kind of crowd."
The leader said, "But we want them to leave for good." I said, "Good is
nice. They are being good right where they are. YOU are not."
Angry again, he said, "What do you mean?" I said, "You are saying
hateful things. They are not. You are threatening people. They aren't
doing that. You are blocking their their movement, their freedom. They
aren't doing anything against you at all. They are behaving as good and
loyal citizens of America should. YOU are not." He said, "They're
terrorists!" I said, "Actually, they are not. But YOU are. Why did you
bring guns here?" I named them who did. I said, "Why is your friend
Steve Richards up there on the roof of that building with a sniper
rifle pointed right at this door?" A lot of them looked at each other
in confusion. He said, "But they're NOT CHRISTIAN!" I said, "NEITHER
ARE WE!" He was confused. I said, "I'm Jewish by choice, and a Rabbi.
My father was Buddhist by choice, and preeminent among them, and my
sister is the Buddhist Dalai Lama. My mother and uncle here with me are
of the Navajo religion. We don't kill people. REAL Christians do NOT
kill people, or use the language you did. You are not Christians, no
matter what you claim. Just as Islamic terrorists aren't real Muslims.
You both use religion as an EXCUSE to justify your selfish intolerance
and hate, to make you in your small lives that you have made for
yourselves, feel superior, but in fact it makes you inferior to just
about everybody. You should know that Jesus would NOT approve of what
you are doing here, even that you thought it. Those of you who are
Catholics; I pity the Priests who have to hear your next confessions."
Some couldn't help smiling at that.
One said, "There's really a sniper over there?" I said, "Here's an
image if him in place. No, he can't see it. Would wet his pants,
probably." Strangled laughter. I said, "Here's something. Guess. How
many of you here are wanted criminals?" They all looked at each other.
I said, "Now guess if I know who. Oh, and if I've notified the police
about that. And this. Those inside didn't ask us to do this, but we
are, even if it might be against their wishes, because we care about
everybody. None inside are criminals. In fact, some have even worked
with the police in assisting them in their duties. Have any of YOU done
that?" The leader said, "They're illegal immigrants!" I said, "No, they
are legal in American law. But if you really want to bring up that
issue, to ME as a Native American, you are ALL illegal immigrants! My
people have been here for more than ten thousand years. How long have
YOUR people been here, and who invited you?" Some were thoughtful. I
said, "You are all the same in that status, but those people in there
are being a lot nicer about it. In fact, they are demonstrating the
very Christian values that you are violating here, neither of which are
unique to any religion. One more thing. YOU ARE FRIGHTENING CHILDREN! I
will help you to understand that by experiencing that with them." Some
of them actually screamed. I gave them a full minute of it. I said,
"Doesn't that make you happy to know you did that? Don't you just love
causing them to feel that?" Some said "No! You're making us out to be
monsters!" I said, "Not I. YOU are the only person who can make who you
are. You chose to do this, knowing full well what the affect would be,
and to you it was fun. Don't lie to yourselves. You DID know. If you
think that somebody who does that is a monster, then the mirror is
being held by you, for your own appraisal." Some were crying.
One said, "I didn't understand before, but when they called you wise,
they weren't lying." I said, "I've just been asked by the police to
immobilize all here who have warrants. I see the question. I've been
letting the Commissioner see what's been happening here, and he said
that to my image I was showing to him, and with some language I won't
repeat." Some chuckles I said, "As an American citizen, I obey the
police." There was a shot. I said, "HOLD! There is no danger. The
sniper just shot at me. Here's the bullet, hanging right in front of my
face. Attempted murder. He's immobilized now, too. Hmm, interesting
day. I suggest to the rest of you who can move, well, you might
actually want to do that now. For any of you who want forgiveness, we
will accept hugs." Mom and Hawk tried not to look as surprised as they
felt. Some actually did come for hugs, and had tears, too.
The police arrived, and after taking the bullet from me in an
evidence bag, they took the immobilized into custody, and the sniper on
the roof. As the officers led them away, some turned to look back at me
in wonder. I gave them a friendly wave. Confused them, but not Hawk. He
almost choked, trying not laugh. Mom said, "I didn't expect the hug of
forgiveness!" I said, "I know it's difficult for people to understand,
and more so for you, who have known me since I was a baby, but I was
just being a Rabbi, doing what a Rabbi should do." She hugged and
kissed me. I said, "A Rabbi who has a mother who is embarrassing him in
public." Hawk had to laugh. He said, "Did you know she and I were
feeding CNN, and they caught that?" I said, "Yes. I don't care, as long
is that doesn't interfere with the mission, and it can help people. But
and gave it to Mom. We ported to inside, and she put it over her hair.
We were mobbed by people with an assortment of expressions. Some were
in awe. Some were grinning. Some were trying not to do those things,
and not succeeding very well. The leader said, "On behalf of all of us,
I thank you for being, er, you." I said, "Well, who else could I be?"
Hawk poked me, and I said, "Ouch!" They laughed. I opened my arms, and
the kids rushed to me. I hugged them all, and their parents had tears.
I offered to hug them, too, and they accepted. Hawk said, "We should be
going. I think some news people might be around soon asking for
comments." The leader said, "Please stay for a while. We have a music
room, and we can neglect to tell them you are in there." I said, "But
you must not lie, and they will ask if we were here and where we went.
But if we port home and then to that room, you can truthfully say we
ported away. I see what you are thinking. Yes, your face is very
expressive." He laughed. I said, "We who can't lie have been forced by
that into thinking very creatively, when we need to say some things
that others would want to lie about." He pointed with a big grin, to
where the music room was. We did the porting, and some joined us there.
The kids were all in there, and delighted in showing us the
instruments. I said to the music teacher, "I see more students than
instruments." She said, "That's true. Funding is a little low." I said,
"We have a lot of extra instruments. Please help us to give them to a
good cause. Er, this one." Some of the women chuckled, and with some
tears. Hawk tried not to laugh, but they noticed. He said, "We LIVE
with that!" They laughed, while Mom poked him. They had to find some
extra space, I gave them so much. Reporters did come, and when they
left, the leader came into the room with some men, and were told about
the gifts. He said, "You didn't need to do this!" I said, "That's why
we did it." They took a while to figure that out, and then they bowed.
I said, "Wouldn't each of you do this if you could?" They agreed. I
said, "Then stop complaining, and let's make some music!"
They did, while I helped the younger kids get used to the
instruments. Then the music stopped, and the adults were watching me
and the kids. They knew I was aware of it, but I ignored them. The kids
were all staring at me, and weren't aware of anything else. Soon, I had
them playing simple songs together. Then we took a break, so they could
tell their parents about what they had learned. They were VERY excited.
So was the music teacher. She said to me, "You were wonderful!" I said,
"Er, thank you, but could you keep the embarrassing things a little
quiet?" Hawk laughed. I said, "I live with that!" All the adults
laughed.
I got a call from the Imam from my CNN show. I said to the leader, "A
friend is asking to visit with us." I told him who, and his eyes went
wide, and he really agreed to it. I ported him in, and we hugged. He
introduced himself, and received a lot of respect. He and the leader
talked. I moved to the other side of the room. I said to Hawk, loud
enough for everybody to hear, "Sometimes I wish I didn't have such good
hearing, that I can hear people embarrass me on the other side of a
room." Hawk laughed, and Mom poked me, and the rest grinned. It
eventually wound down, and I ported the Imam back, and we left.
Mom said to me, "Watching you work right there with you, is more
different than I ever thought it would be. You were magnificent!" I
said, "New name not accepted." Instead of poking me, she kissed me with
tears. CNN wanted an interview. I declined, but with a private message
to them of, "I would be disappointed if you gave any of the protestors
air time." They didn't comment on that, and did what I asked. Other
stations did try it, and things didn't go well. The next morning CNN
called me and thanked me for my advice. I sent that person a great big
grin, and he laughed.
At the Bureau, things were unusual again. The former bathroom bomber
was waiting for me, and followed me back into my office. He didn't say
anything, but he hugged me with tears, and left. An applicant walked
in. She was very distracted. I said, "Are you all here, or did you
leave some part of you elsewhere?" She said, "I'm sorry. I was
distracted. They're talking about Solomon out there." I said "I don't
have to love it, but it's good policy not to make and try to enforce
rules that one knows won't be obeyed." After she figured that out, she
nodded. We did the interview, and she was approved. She said then,
"What do you think of what happened?" I said, "I can't help wondering
why the whole group didn't scatter when they found out about the
sniper. After all, did they know how skillful he was? Well, I'm a
psychologist. I DO have an interest in unusual human behavior." She
said, "Oh! Maybe they felt safe knowing that Solomon and his family
wouldn't let anybody be killed?" I said, "That could be part. I think
it could also be in part, the plain fascination they had for the whole
very unusual situation. A kind of a mind freeze. Who's ever seen all
three of them in action at once? I know I wouldn't leave in that
situation, for practically anything." She said, "I see what you mean.
I'll think about that. Thanks."
The next applicant walked in. He was distracted too, which I
commented on. He said, "I know, and I'm sorry. I can't stop thinking
about Solomon." I said, "Well, you'd better stop before supper, or you
should be really careful with your knife and fork." He grinned and
said, "I know what you mean. I think I'm in love. Yes, I'm gay." I
said, "You know he uses disguises. What if he's really ugly under
that?" He laughed, and said, "I would still love him. I said, "You
underestimate the power of the face in love. Still, he has a
girlfriend." He said, "He could be bi. His uncle is." I said, "A
possibility, but only food for fantasies. You might not want to stand
up for a while." He laughed and said, "How did you know?" I said,
"Shrinks don't just study the words of patients, but the whole face and
body language, which often communicates much more, and with much more
honesty." He said, "I see. I'll be more careful." I said, "No you
won't." He laughed. We did the interview, and he was approved. After
that, he said, "What do you think of him?" I said, "Such a feedback
loop, I don't want to get caught in." He nodded in understanding, as an
audio engineer. He left. Galya said in my mind, "Little does he know
that you being him, how really true that is, and you LIKED that." I
said, "Absolutely!"
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Grant
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