Monday, July 14, 2008

Short Story: The President's State


An Absolutely Marvelous Story! You Won't Regret Reading!

By Samah Sabawi
Palestine Chronicle

"Once upon a time, in a land called Occupied, there lived people who yearned to have a State of their own. Two powerful scoundrels wanted to control these people and divert their quest for statehood - so they came up with a plan.

'We heard about your desire to have a State of your own and we can help,” they told the people of Occupied. “We have created an extraordinary process that will lead to the establishment of a State so amazing and so large, but it is one that only peaceful and smart people can see. In fact our State is invisible to anyone who is too stupid, radical, extremist or incompetent to appreciate its quality.'

Many in Occupied heard the scoundrel's strange story and after decades of being stateless, they were eager to believe it is true. The scoundrels asked the people of Occupied first to appoint a prime minister and a President for how else can a State be created.

The people of Occupied were very excited and they quickly did as the scoundrels told them. The Scoundrels were the first to congratulate the new President and to assure him of his soon to be created State.

'Mr. President” the Scoundrels said, “this state will be created especially for you.'

The people of Occupied were known to have a very precious commodity called “Time”, so in exchange for the scoundrel’s promise to begin working on the State Process immediately, the President gave the Scoundrels all the precious time available in Occupied.

'Just tell us what else you need to get started and we'll give it to you.' The two scoundrels asked for maps and security guards to ensure their safety and then pretended to begin working.

The President thought he had spent his time and that of Occupied quite well: in addition to getting an extraordinary State, he would discover which of his subjects was too stupid, radical, extremist or incompetent. The President was also very pleased when he received many invitations from world leaders who made him feel very stately. He even bought a residency in Rome where he invited them for dinner.

Many years passed before the President called the old and wise Prime Minister.

'Go and see how the State Process is coming along,' the President told him, 'and come back to let me know.'

The prime minister was given a Stately welcome by the two scoundrels.

'We're almost finished, but we need a little more of your time commodity. Here, Mr. Prime Minister, look at how many Ministries this state has, look at its buildings!'

The old man bent over the maps and tried to see the state that was not there. He felt cold sweat on his forehead.

'I can't see anything,' he thought. 'If I see nothing, that means I'm stupid! Or, worse, radical, extremist or incompetent!'......

The farce continued as the two scoundrels had foreseen it.

'Yes, this is a beautiful State and it looks very good to me,' the President kept on repeating while trying to look away from anything that proved him wrong. 'You've done a fine job.'

'Mr. President” the prime minister said, 'we have a request for you. The people of Occupied have run entirely out of time and they are in a very bad shape. You must go out to them and assure them they will have their State. “....

A child who had no important job to worry about, who didn’t hope to be employed in any of the invisible Ministries and could not understand the fear of the elders went up to the carriage.

"This is not a real State and you cannot be a real President if you don’t have a real state.” he said.

'Fool!' his father reprimanded, running after him. 'Don't talk nonsense!' He grabbed his child and took him away. But the boy's remark, which had been heard by the bystanders, was repeated over and over again until everyone cried:

'The boy is right! We are Stateless! It's true!'......"

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