h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Or is it the continuation of what started over 800 years ago?

I stood in a little group of anticrusaders, maybe children of the antichrist, according to some people, eh?

A little group standing outside the neo-gothic, red brick building I learned was built during the Great Depression at a bargain. In those days you could have a true mansion with sprawling grounds, gardens with fountains, servants quarters, and a ballroom for the price of a non-descript earth-tone box with pasted on victorian ornaments sited on a postage stamp size lot on the market the today.

The reason I know that is because when I first came to the university, they regaled me in such a mansion, a gift from a rich developer's family. I even got to see his smoked filled room, behind glass of course since the mansion is also a mini-museum of that age not so long ago.

I remember thinking, "Ah, so this is where the plots were hatched in a cloud of cigar smoke and the mist of straight bourbon breath." So far from what I'd known as a child both in time and space and socio-economic level. The community leaders so very very out of touch with the community in the way they lived and continue to live for all I know.

So that's why I stood in the little group on the side of the building housing the chancellor's office, a little protest for us little people. I'm shy around big crowds, especially enormous crowds of white people. Big crowds, big cities, big anything makes me a little uncomfortable.

I heard there was a riot in Colorado Springs. That's a day's ride south from here unless you drive, then it's maybe an hour and half and of course, everybody drives. A few people were gassed or arrested for blocking traffic. Like I said, everybody drives so we can't have traffic blocked. On my pony, I would simply maneuver around, but in a car, it's impossible, so somebody has to go to jail.

I thought about jail, thought about maybe seeing it again. Some of the others had never been in jail so they were a little nervous when the cops and security guys took our pictures. But I smiled and posed provocatively and, even though it was cold and snowy, the cops chuckled a little bit.

We traded jokes or jibes. They called me, "Pocahontas", and I called them "Wild Bill" or "Mr. Earp", stuff like that.

The head of Campus Security told us the chancellor wouldn't be in since it was saturday so we delivered our petition to him and he promised to give it to the chancellor. It said we students didn't support this war and wanted the university to reflect this view in their dealings with the government.

We were of course working locally for a global cause which is about the best anyone can do I think, adding our voices to the other 11 million in our own little ways.

One of the security guys approached me and asked what I'd do if he slapped me. I answered, "Grab you by the cup and twist real hard."

"Oh, so you're not such a pacifist are you?"

"No, I'm just thinking it's best if you just leave people alone to solve their own problems locally. Because you see, if you slapped me, then the police standing around here would have to decide if they should do something about it. And if I twisted your cup that you were hoping would protect your testicles, they would definitely do something I bet because you're wearing a uniform similar to theirs with a big shiny badge that advertises that you are a man of authority. And we mustn't question authority right?"

"You're really full of it, chick."

"Yes, I know, I'm full of life and liberty. You got a problem with that?"

"No, I got no problem at all, no problem at all."

"I'm glad. I wish the whole world could say the same, don't you?"

"I hadn't thought about it."

"Maybe you should."

"And maybe you should shutup."

"Hmmm, that wouldn't be a good thing right now."

"Why not?"

"It just wouldn't."

"Yeah, right... "

And with that he turned away, walked back to where a couple cops were chatting and gestured at me with his thumb. They all laughed and one of the cops winked at me. I waved back and grinned.

After awhile, we went away.

The trees divested of their leaves were silhouetted against the gun metal gray sky like skeleton fingers imploring heaven for relief. I remembered the springs of seasons past when they were verdant plumes against a blue sky. As I walked near one of them I noticed some buds, just a hint of what's coming later.

There are in this world a few people who can't abide other people or other creatures living in it. And so they kill them. And if the people or creatures persist in living, they kill them again and again. But even so, some still survive, because living is too good a thing not to keep trying.

The world has always been a dangerous place, but it has always been a nurturing place too. It's too bad that some people can't find or notice the balance of that.

Analiese, what you have written heartens me greatly. It is wise and humand and poetic, and it gives me some sense of the reality of different protests in different places.

Thank you.

Ben

I'm glad it gave you heart, Ben, because that was my intention.

While I found your piece very moving and eloquent, I also found it very discouraging and thought that besides peace the people of the world need hope, hope that even small things can be important in their way.

I don't aspire to conquest, fame or fortune. I aspire to someday dwelling in my own land unmolested. I suspect that if such aspiration was shared more widely, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

B