"You see," Sanchez continued,,,"Chaplin once said that Hitler imitated his mustache," He heard a small laugh. "So, to return the favor, Chaplain made a movie called "The Dictator. He plays the role of a dictator who has been mistakenly elevated to a position of power. Also, the brilliance of it all is that Chaplikn represents an oppressed minority like the Jews in Hitler's Germany. At the end of the movie, he mocks Hitler's speech with a different version of his diatribe and evil ranting. Let's look at it." On the screen, Charlie Chaplin, wearing a pseudo-Nazi unjiform labeled with X's instead of swastikas, sat with some cronies and reluctantly decided to gtive a speech. Despite his apprehensions, he nervously spoke in front of citizens and party officials...
I Have Three Things to Tell You My Friend
By RM DAmato
Perhaps because of living in a small town where we knew our school teachers, but especially after I started working for a university and realized that instructors made less than many working at that university, I've always felt strongly about the lack of support for education and especially teachers. This book reminded me of not only that fact, but that I was, as told to me by a counselor, used and abused by an institution and then thrown aside... Sure, there are others like me...but not as bad as it's going to get according to the author of this futuristic novel...
I started by sharing a video that I never knew existed. It's by Charlie Chaplin... Had you ever heard of or seen it? In the novel, it is part of a lecture by a provisional teacher. His mentor is allowing him to take over his class as he decides whether he wishes to stay teaching for his career. His partner wants him to become a lawyer, seemingly to me because of the low pay as opposed to anything else... Not only was I impressed with the lecture, which of course, was created by the author whose professional experience supports that role, but because it was one of the few lectures he might ever give. Amazing! You see, in the future, there are few teachers who do more than provide support as our youth are taught electronically by a canned and, more importantly, approved course curriculum... There is no free thinking on the part of teachers, or little of it...
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| Teacher (Photo credit: ben110) |
While the setting is within a college, the rules and regulations actually are government controlled. It is hoped that Education professions will ultimately be eliminated due to electronic advances. Until then, funds have lowered routinely... Mr. Sinclair is the main character, although the Janitor is just as much in the same situation as Sinclair. In fact, everything regarding your career includes the need to know how old you are. Both Mr. Smith and Mr. Sinclair are near the time of, well, shall I just say, rehabilitation at this time...
You see, new medical sciences advances have allowed age to be stopped and your body energized and enhanced to a point that the individual is just about ready to start his career...The catch? You must choose a new profession, be retrained and committed to that career for the remainder of your life... 160 years... Don't want to keep on working, especially if you can't stay in the career you love? Well, you can choose to retire. But don't plan to live beyond your 80th birthday... THAT'S THE LAW!
Not exactly a great time to be living; that is, if you ever planned to have some kind of life outside of working... After all, you are owned by the government once you sign your job contract...
Now while Sinclair is mentoring his possible replacement, he also is spending time talking to lawyers and friends about what he should choose to do. He's considering a new field in Engineering! And is working on an old motor bike even though he hasn't been able to get it running. His wife has left for Japan and he's almost sure she won't be back as she leaves. So he could potentially be alone or perhaps try to find somebody new...
Ironically, the janitor has taken a liking to him, almost as an equal. Mr. Smith has self-educated himself, although that cannot help him in his possible reassignment. He hates his boss and loves a woman who is also a janitor... But his greatest love is opera and he spends time listening to it and even invites his beloved to go to an opera. She announced at the end of the evening that she hated it... and without saying it... a whole lot more!
Daily activities of these individuals are also included and readers can see that there is not much "life" to celebrate... Life is centered around work... And the same old philosophical debates are, of course, still going on because nobody will ever agree...
I had most of what would be happening figured out...or at least I thought I did! But I was totally wrong, except for the young man who was being mentored by Sinclair... So, I was wrong--but-- you know, I was totally accepting of the ending! In fact, if I were living at that time...
Now you are not going to understand why this video is added unless you read the book...Still, it fits soooo well... I just can't tell you why and not let you be surprised!
"So decide...Go the easy or go,,,a crazy Pagliaccio..."
It is hard to say that I loved this book, but, for me, it was mind-blowing! And, yet, as I consider my own evaluation of the work environment in the world, I find it both memorable and believable--
tooooo believable. Ponder whether you work to live or live to work... I once lived to work and found that nobody really appreciated it as long as contributed to the bottom line and expected no respect, courtesy or a life beyond that job...
If you've ever felt like that, this might be a must-read to help you face reality... You decide!
GABixlerReviews
About the Author
RM Damato received a B.A. in English from California State University, Northridge in 1982 and an M.A. in English from U.S.C. in 1983. He worked as an assistant editor for the Los Angeles Times but spent most of his career as a teacher in California and Florida. He is married with one daughter. Currently, he is an adjunct professor at Florida International University. His second novel, I Have Three Things to Tell You, will be completed in 2014 and it will illustrate the state of the public educational system in the near future. Also, a collection of poetry, The Random Musings of a Late Baby Boomer, will be completed in 2014.
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