“Well, I’m glad you liked them.”
“Best damn cookie I have ever tasted,” spoke up one of the Senators who had been present at the meeting.
*****
Some of the celebratory parties lasted all night long and may well have continued for days. The political front, racing at an unbelievable pace, began setting up a joint session consisting of members of both legislative bodies, with members of the Supreme Court and Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and, of course, the President of the United States attending. An unpopular president, sure to make an ass of himself, as he usually does. Grabbing the spotlight, claiming it was his idea, his and his political party alone —the venture into space and discovery of a new planet—giving little credit to the real hero, Allison. The United States has become the least trustworthy of any nation on the planet. Issues of National Security leaked within minutes of disclosure. Confidential information given at Allison’s debriefing was leaked by attending staff members within minutes after her talk. For money, of course. Our Allies no longer trusted us to keep secrets.
Sleazy television talking heads around the globe were busy distorting facts. Finding every conceivable way to trash the entire discovery. Substituting known facts with their usual unsolicited opinions on a subject, they knew absolutely nothing about. But it did not stop them from pontificating their own point of view. Some were saying this was a wasted trip at the taxpayer’s expense. Wasting our country’s limited resources puts our country in further debt.
“These wasteful Space projects are taken only to justify the reason to have a space program in the first place,” offered one local New York radio jockey.
Still, others say that sending an inexperienced girl into space, hardly wet behind the ears was foolhardy. “How can we respect someone so young and of so little experience to carry out such an important mission—a snobbish university professor at that.”
“Not one to be afraid to use her political clout, pretending to know the workings of an entire global network? The whole thing is nothing but a sham and should be called out as such.”
“Boy! The bloated weevil heads were glowing hot on this one!” The thoughts of many who refused to listen to such garbage broadcasted twenty-four hours a day.
Just when thinking the criticism had hit rock bottom, it got worse! Disrespectful pseudo-journalists and paparazzi- unscrupulous photographers - were popping up everywhere. Demanding an interview. Every night show host begged Allison to appear on their show, willing to pay well. From the very beginning, Allison made it perfectly clear, “My message is to the American people and hard-working people around the world. It is not my intent to give an exclusive interview to anyone. The way you people act is disgraceful!”
Of course, remarks like that did not improve her standing with the media. In no time, talking heads offered the theory that Professor Dawkins refused to talk to reporters because she was holding something important back from her trip into space. Something that might be a threat to our national security; something harmful to our very survival and should be shared with the public. Just more lies from the creators of ‘fake’ news.
Recognizing that badgering Allison had become a national sport, one that could turn violent, a team from the United States Secret Service under the Department of Homeland Security was assigned to protect her. Incidentally, the names she learned were Tom, Dick & Harry. How cool is that? If she was asked by friends who were her Security detail, she responded: Every Tom, Dick, and Harry from the United States Secret Service. ****
Professor Allison entered the packed floor of the House. Walking down the aisle, feeling chills running down her back, stunned by the deafening sounds of applause and cheering which seemed never-ending. After several minutes, with applause continuing, unabated, she took her position near the podium. When hush finally prevailed, the President of the United States, addressed members of both houses, members of the Supreme Court, and distinguished guests, which included members of Allison’s own family.
After stressing that it was: “his administration that initiated the search for the unknown planet.” Not stopping there, he continued by putting in a few jabs aimed at the do-nothing opposition party. Finally, after running out of bull shit, he remembered to introduce Allison, the keynote speaker—addressing her as Professor Dawkins, nee Astronaut Dawkins.
Again, the applause was deafening. Following every remark, the audience, like little pop-up dolls, stood and clapped. Allison’s planned fifteen-minute speech stretched into two hours. She limited her comments to all the positive things coming from her historic landing on planet Zorbus. Never mentioning a possible contentious and hostile problem posed by an army of intelligent robots, threatening the life and stability of planet Zorbus, and, maybe, someday, even planet Earth.
In her speech, Allison commented, among other things how impressed she was with the cleanness of the streets and buildings. “No trash in evidence, anywhere. Everywhere I went, crowds of Zorbus citizens lined up to meet me. With no police barriers, no pushing and shoving everyone seemed to respect the space of his closest neighbor. No public drinking or disturbance of any kind.”
“I had the chance to speak with several Zorbus’ leading citizens, noting that cancer and several other wasting diseases had been almost completely conquered by leading Zorbus scientists. Free medical care for all citizens, unconditionally. For recreation, men, and women of all ages excelled in all types of sporting activities, including their form of football, basketball, soccer, sailing, cross-country running, tennis, bicycling, and many other sporting activities. The Zorbian people are not quite the social animal as we are, but, nevertheless, seemed keen on enjoying their nights out.”
“Going out to theatres to watch live productions or the latest cinema. Enjoying the beach or going on a retreat to some remote island: taking trips out at one of the local restaurants which there were many. On weekends, entire families, stood on the streets to watch the parade go by, parades which go before every home football game.”
“Just moments before my departure and return to planet Earth, a brief meeting was called, with all eighty-three Zorbus Security Council members in attendance. Those present at the meeting recognized the importance of Earth and Zorbus, working together. The added importance of both planets sharing and exchanging ideas; particularly ideas related to technical advances in the fields of both medical and education. Zorbus scientists admitted that they are probably decades behind our level of technology. The only area in technology where Zorbus excels, as far as we know, is in the development of robotic science, i.e., A-I robots.”
In the medical field, Zorbus, scientists devoted to finding treatment for the dreaded cancer disease admitted that they are very close to conquering and defeating the dreaded disease—as well as most other known body-wasting diseases. The consensus among doctors is that within the next two years, they will have their answer for a cure, concluding many years of research for an answer. The same thing can be said for our country.”
“Not mentioned earlier, on a brief tour of a local hospital, I saw very little evidence of patients with serious medical complications—the type of medical complications we face globally every day. IF we could arrange to have the study of medicine of both planets shared, there is a very good chance that this country’s prohibitive cost of medicine, driven by greedy pharmaceutical, companies, may go down significantly.”
“Just consider esteemed members of Congress. If, one day, planet Zorbus scientists are capable of providing us with a cure for cancer, would not that knowledge alone revolutionize the entire medical profession around the world in how we treat cancer and other body-wasting diseases, saving millions of lives.”
“Just the discovery of how to cure cancer alone, not to mention what value of a trade agreement between our two planets might bring, more than justify the recent trip to this alien planet, if, in fact, justification was necessary in this case. Sadly, there are too many people who just sit on the fence, urging our Congress to do nothing. These are the voices, unfortunately, that usually get the ear of our elected officials; the ones they listen to. Ignoring sound advice from our dedicated medical scientist to our collective detriment.”
“On education, planet Zorbus has no identifiable causes of illiteracy—all citizens begin their education at an extremely early age. Children of Zorbus are provided the educational tools to fast-track any subject. Why do you think that is? Could it be the people of planet Zorbus are more interested in providing their people with a good education than we are? Putting their educational needs ahead of the politics of building huge stockpiles of weapons—weapons capable of mass destruction. Illiteracy in this country is a national disgrace. A contagion that is going to get worse before it gets better if it ever does.”
“The next time you see a homeless person on the street, which, by the way, planet Zorbus has none; be sure, in passing, tell that homeless person, for there is no shortage of them: I’m Sorry I failed You! The educational tools you needed to lift you out of poverty, providing you with the knowledge to succeed were kicked to the curb to make way for another super expensive military weapon that will be obsolete in less than five years.”
“In closing, I would like to thank this proud nation, and those present for granting me the privilege of being the first American woman astronaut to land on an alien planet; fulfilling Sharon Christa McAuliffe, an American school teacher whose dream was to be the first woman astronaut in space. Thank you for supporting me on this historic flight into outer space. A journey that will, for good reason. go done in history as our country’s greatest achievement of all time.”
Allison continued, adding, “I am expected to go before the United Nations on Friday, to address that august body with news of America’s recent discovery—an alien planet supporting intelligent life. Hoping for the U.N.’s support in helping this nation, and all humanity to develop good relations between the two planets. Many of the nations around the world are waiting patiently to hear me speak more about this country’s first historic flight into outer space.”
“What was it like for me, being the first human being, a woman at that, to set foot on an alien planet? An alien planet, incidentally, populated with intelligent people –-not barren like the moon. Until now, a planet no one ever believed existed. Allison did not share the fact that her intended message to the UN would be entirely different than the message delivered to Congress.
From her studies of the United Nations' past record, it was abundantly clear, “The UN, as part of its charter, has demonstrated time after time it is incapable of keeping the peace around the globe. Making it clear its action or inactions were questionable, if not, in some cases downright, shameful,” she found. However, agencies under the umbrella of the UN have done a remarkable job around the globe, providing critical aid and life support when and where needed the most.
“But it is the UN Security Council,” she concluded, “that has repeatedly taken political sides on every issue that comes before it. The UN, when it comes to global conflicts, seems unable to do or understand conflict resolution. Several observers and critics of the UN suspected the organization of being politically motivated, too weak, incompetent, and impotent to carry out its mission: to keep the peace.”
Allison, Zorsbian by birth, not raised like her fellow American compatriots and women friends, is less tolerant of the actions of our elected politicians. Specifically, elected officials, by design, always put their own political agenda ahead of protecting our global, and national interests. “How many people, around the world know or understand the purpose and role of the United Nations? I promise you, very few.”
“If these international charlatans attempted to impress the general population of Zorbus with their pomp and ceremonious bloviating, they would be laughed out of the country. The UN is an organization mandated by the people of many member-states to protect and maintain the peace, and to hold forth the right of all free people of all nations to always be capable of maintaining their sovereignty. However, what is questionable today is this: Why does the United States continue to support in every respect this questionable organization with two of its members of the Security Council, China and Russia that does nothing but condemn the United States at every step of the way, siding with our enemies on all issues that comes before it.”
“The United Nations was initially chartered to keep world peace. But, in the end, it has turned into nothing but a propaganda tool for our enemies. Unbelievable! When in fact, the UN’s capability, in the eyes of many, barely merits the supervision of a dogfight. The UN, in its governing power, lacks in capability or will; refuses to resolve contentious issues presented by hostile nations.” Allison after completing her review of the history of the UN, comfortably resting in her hotel room began reflecting on what she planned to say when addressing the UN, heard to whisper to herself: “No matter how much I detest this organization, I must go forth, soliciting their support to save planet Zorbus.
29
The United Nations
The evening before her scheduled presentation before the United Nations, Allison met Paul and Pauline for dinner at a well-known New York restaurant. Allison decided to dress in a modified Arabian niqab, allowing just part of her face to show. Augmented by a very dark, and flowing dress, and dark glasses. Many Arab women wear the niqab with only their eyes showing. Brad, unable to accompany her on this trip to meet Paul and Pauline, planned to be sitting in the UN gallery the following day to hear her speech to the UN delegation.
In the beginning, Paul and Pauline did not recognize Allison. She explained the purpose of the disguise was necessary because of the impossibility for her to walk outside, anywhere without being attacked by mobs, especially media types.
“This disguise seems to be the only way to enjoy my freedom of movement around crowds.” Pauline asked: “Who are-- if I may ask—those well-dressed, good-looking, young men, decked out in dark glasses, hanging around you?”
When she told them they were her security team assigned by the Secret Service to protect her, giving their names as Tom, Dick, and Harry, they all had a good laugh.
“It could be worse,” said Paul. “It could have been Peter, Paul, and Mary.”
