Cat’s Cradle
Ambassador Minton went to the seaward parapet with his memorial wreath still in its case. And he delivered an amazing speech in honor of the Hundred Martyrs to Democracy. He dignified the dead, their country, and the life that was over for them by saying the “Hundred Martyrs to Democracy” in island dialect. That fragment of dialect was graceful and easy on his lips.
The rest of his speech was in American English. He had a written speech with him—fustian and bombast, I imagine. But, when he found he was going to speak to so few, and to fellow Americans for the most part, he put the formal speech away.
A light sea wind ruffled his thinning hair. “I am about to do a very un-ambassadorial thing,” he declared. “I am about to tell you what I really feel.”
From the archives
·
2001
The Corrections
After Christmas Denise moved to Brooklyn and went to work in a new restaurant, and in April she sent Enid a plane ticket for her birthday. Enid thanked her and said she couldn't possibly leave Alfred, it would not be right. Then she went and enjoyed four wonderful days in New York City. Denise looked so much happier than she had at Chrismas that Enid chose not to care that she still didn't have a man in her life or any discernible desire to get one.
Back in St. Jude, Enid was playing bridget at Mary Beth Schumpert's one afternoon when Bea Meisner began to vent her Christian disapproval of a famour "gay" actress.
"She's a terrible role model for young people," Bea said. "I think if you make an evil choice in your life, the least you can do is not brag about it. Especially when they have all these new programs that can help people like that."
Read more of this excerpt...
The Corrections
After Christmas Denise moved to Brooklyn and went to work in a new restaurant, and in April she sent Enid a plane ticket for her birthday. Enid thanked her and said she couldn't possibly leave Alfred, it would not be right. Then she went and enjoyed four wonderful days in New York City. Denise looked so much happier than she had at Chrismas that Enid chose not to care that she still didn't have a man in her life or any discernible desire to get one.
Back in St. Jude, Enid was playing bridget at Mary Beth Schumpert's one afternoon when Bea Meisner began to vent her Christian disapproval of a famour "gay" actress.
"She's a terrible role model for young people," Bea said. "I think if you make an evil choice in your life, the least you can do is not brag about it. Especially when they have all these new programs that can help people like that."
Read more of this excerpt...
WORDS TO LIVE BY
1974 ·
NON-FICTION
NEW MUSIC