Conversations with Calliope- Lost in Translation

(Dream of the Earth)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. You were going to tell me more about the book you were reading.
JOE: You mean Lost in Translation. I finished it Saturday after we talked.
CALLIOPE: So tell me more.
JOE: The story portrayed an archaeologist in search of the lost bones of Peking Man in China. The translator for the archaeologist was the protagonist and she balances dealing with her own father, Chinese culture and her attraction to a government representative accompanying the expedition.
CALLIOPE: What did you like about the book?
JOE: I mentioned my interest in the subplot of a priest, Teilhard de Chardin, his book The Phenomenon of Man and his relationship with a woman in the 1930's as well as his involvement in possibly trying to preserve the Peking Man bones.
CALLIOPE: Tell me more about him.
JOE: He wrote about evolution of the earth and mankind at a time when the Catholic Church was not ready for his thoughts. He lived and worked under a cloud.
CALLIOPE: Did you have some personal involvement.
JOE: Yes. I fell under a cloud as well when I read his works and discussed them in the monastery in which I lived.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you were a bit of a rebel.
JOE: No doubt. While the cats were away, several other monastic mice and I attended a week long conference at Fordham University which further cast suspicion on all involved.
CALLIOPE: I see. And now?
JOE: I still like to challenge peoples' perceptions with my writing but now try to do it a little more subtly. Talk with you tomorrow.

Cooperation or Confrontation

I was reading this morning about the likely presidential candidacy of Barack Obama. The column was by a conservative writer. I was surprised to see enthusiasm on his part for anything smacking of the Democratic Party. After his initial enthusiasm, he went on to list some of his positions which were diametrically opposed to those of conservative Republicans. He wondered how Obama could compromise on these issues. I have been thinking for quite a while that this country needs a person who would listen to others and find ways for us all to cooperate. No one of this nature appeared on the horizen until Mr. Obama came onto the scene. I don't know how he will be able to meld opposite positions and get us to work together. But he is the first politician who has expressed any interest in doing so in recent years. It gives me hope that it will be possible for us as a country to work together again for a change.