“In the beginning God created the universe. It was good. He made the earth and all the living creatures—including man.” The pastor read his notes from the lectern. His congregation was overflowing the balconies. He loved to preach to the crowds.

“As you know, Adam and Eve were naked in the garden…unashamed and innocent, like new babies.” He paused for effect. He faced the camera with the little red light on it. “Naked and without shame; imagine that.”

The pastor continued his message as he picked up his Bible and strolled across the large stage. “No shame! No condemnation!” He was really getting into his words. “But then…that serpent shows up in the garden and tries to tempt Eve!” He pauses again to a roar of “Amen’s” from the congregation.

“He comes to Eve and tells her to eat the fruit!” His voice raises and the audience stirs into a near-frenzy. Shouting, he continues, “He told her she would be like God!” He stopped and looked toward the choir, “But she knew better! She was already like God! God made them in His image… His likeness! Ol’ slewfoot was barking up the wrong tree!”

His comment brought an outburst of laughter. The preacher smirked at his wit. “Satan failed to tempt Eve with the apple, and so Adam and Eve lived on in the Garden forever! But Cain…..their son…fell for Satan’s snare!”

The pastor opened up his Bible again and read, “And Cain did see the fruit that the serpent offered, and being of the earth and a husbandman of all growing things, he desired it for himself. He did take it and did eat it, and immediately he knew he was naked and felt ashamed!”

“Where’d the shame come from? From his nakedness? He was naked before, so why now? Because of his sin!” The preacher almost shouted this last phrase, bringing emphasis to every syllable. “Sin brought Cain to shame…and sin brought death to Cain and his descendants. So Cain was cast out of the garden, and clothed himself in animal skins to hide his shame. His clothing, and the clothing of his offspring marked them as sinners, and cursed by God.” Straightening, the pastor spoke slowly, “And his curse forever barred him from God’s heaven.”

Looking around at his congregation, and gazing for a long time into the camera at his left, the pastor concluded. “We know that those who wear clothes are children of Cain, and sinners cursed by God. These sinners are bound for Satan’s hell. But glory be to God that we who remain clothes free can return to the Garden of Eden, and live eternally with those who have gone on before, as God had intended.”

“So I beseech you, avoid the sin of clothing, and remain true to the image of God.” He looked over the hundreds of naked congregants, “Go…stay naked and pure…looking for the day when we are once again welcomed to the Garden which is our eternal home.”

“I have a dream…”

I listened in fascination as the flashlight danced over the precious book. I glanced around the darkened room, seeing faces both light and dark, all etched with same determination I knew they saw on mine. I have a dream…

Martin Luther King, Jr. had spoken those words 45 years before, and we were all here tonight to make it come true. King had dreamed of a time when white and black could live together in peace, live together as equals. Maybe if he had lived…

“…will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

But he hadn’t lived. The assassin’s bullet hadn’t only killed a man, it had killed a dream. As a people mourned, a new leader stepped in to fill the void. And Malcolm X had brought his own dream with him.

Sadness swept over me as I remembered my hopes and dreams. Malcolm X had been charismatic, forceful in his arguments. He, too, had faced the enemy’s bullet – but he had survived. He had survived to lead the revolution against the white majority “by whatever means necessary,” bringing the Nation of Islam to power. Like so many others, I had believed.

I had been blind.

Now I sat in a dark, damp basement, listening in secret to words that had been banned from society. Words that might lead us from the darkness into the light.

“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” Malik reverently closed the book after reading the last of the immortal words.

“Friends, we all know why we’re gathered here tonight. We all share a dream, the same one first planted by Dr. King. We believe that all men are created equal, regardless of race or religion. We believe in the words first written in 1776, that all men are ‘endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’ Last night, Charlie Goldstein was stripped of these rights.”

A muffled sob came from the corner of the room. I could just make out the pale face of Charlie’s wife, her features distorted by grief. I listened as Malik continued.

“Charlie did not deserve to die at the hands of an angry mob. His only crime was the color of his skin and his hope for a better world. Today, his hopes dangle at the end of a rope.”

Malik looked slowly around the room, his dark eyes weighing our resolve.

“Tomorrow, we rekindle Dr. King’s dream. Not for ourselves, but for our white brethren. Starting tomorrow, we will fight for that dream.

“Tomorrow, the whites will move to the front of the bus.”

“Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” The three voices in the backseat chimed in unison. Sharon slowly counted to ten before she answered.

“No, we are not there yet. I told you, we have to go through the checkpoint before we cross the border. Have any of you seen a checkpoint yet?”

“No, Mommy. Mommy, what does a checkpoint look like? Will they have ice cream?”

“We already went over this. Peter, tell your sister what the checkpoint looks like.”

Peter proudly started to recite the facts in his best schoolteacher voice.

“The checkpoint is made of concrete and steel and has a small opening for cars. When the car pulls up – OW! Mom! Jenny kicked me!”

“I did not – it was Sally.”

Sharon forgot to count to ten.

“I don’t care who started it – I’m ending it! If the three of you don’t behave, I’m going to leave you in the Confederate States and you can pick cotton for the rest of your lives!”

The car was filled with silence. Then she heard a quiet voice.

“Would you really do that, Mommy?” The question was punctuated by a noisy sniffle.

She was instantly filled with remorse. “No, honey, I would never leave you behind. But you need to make sure that you follow all of the rules when we get to the checkpoint, or we will have to turn around and go home.”

“I’ll remember, Mommy. I promise.” At 5, Jenny was the youngest of the children and the most anxious to please.

“That’s good, honey. Now let’s go over them one more time. What is rule number 1?”

“Don’t stare,” Peter said.

“That’s right,” Sharon responded. “You have to remember that people in the Confederate States of America have different rules than we have. So you’re going to see some things that might look strange to you. But you can’t say anything, or they’ll get very angry.”

“What kind of things, Mommy?” Sally asked.

“You might see some people with chains around their necks or ankles,” she answered.

“Why?” Sally questioned.

“Because they don’t treat people like we do.”

“Why?”

“Well, they think that some people are better than other people.”

“Like the Cookie Monster is better than Oscar the Grouch?”

“Sort of.”

Sally thought for a moment. “How do they decide who’s better?” she asked.

“It’s based on the color of your skin,” Sharon replied.

“What color has to wear the chains?” Jenny asked.

Sharon hesitated, trying to think of a way to get the conversation back to safer ground.

“Dark people wear them,” Peter replied.

“People with a suntan?” she innocently asked.

“No, honey, people who are born with darker skin. We don’t believe that, but they do. I know it doesn’t make sense now, but you’ll understand it when you get older.”

And then you can explain it to me, she thought.

“OK. But they have ice cream, don’t they?”

“Yes, honey, they have ice cream.”

…And on the seventh day He rested. But rest did not come easy for it was on that day that His last creation strayed from the course of righteousness. God stared in dismay as Adam and Eve savored the fruit from the forbidden tree. And so it was to be that the sated sinners were expelled from the Garden of Eden and sentenced to extinction. Although they desperately tried to keep their species alive, Eve bore only sons. With no other women to be found, the human race returned to the dust of the earth from which it was created.

Evening came and morning came: the eighth day. And on that day God reflected upon mans’ indiscriminate nature to take without weighing consequence. He decided to ready the world for the second coming of His failed creation. And so it came to be that all of God’s efforts from that day forth were channeled into preparing a foolproof planet where man could not only survive, but also flourish.

On the ninth day, God began with renewed energy. He multiplied the abundant species upon which man could thrive. The food supply was vast and never ending and God saw that it was good. Buffalo roamed the plains in herds as far as the eye could see. Passenger pigeons by the millions filled the skies and provided a readily available source of meat. Salmon swam the oceans in schools as deep as the waters themselves. No one would ever need to hunger.

On the tenth day, God created the ozone to encompass the earth with care. This protective layer shielded man from the sun’s harmful rays. It blocked radiation and prevented burns, lesions and cancers from forming on the skin. This layer contained all that was good and repelled all that was not.

On the eleventh day, God created the rainforests and the photosynthesis cycle. This cycle ensured that the plants and trees would filter all of mans’ harmful emissions and replace them with a never ending supply of clean air. Since the forests were so thick and the trees so numerous, air would always be pure.

On the twelfth day, God created the clouds to water the trees and keep them growing strong and tall. The clouds showered the earth with an endless supply of potable fresh rain, free of acids, chemicals and impurities. This fresh water continually replenished whatever man consumed. No one would ever need to thirst.

Evening came followed by another dawn: the thirteenth day. God reflected on His latest creations and He saw that they were good. It wasn’t long before He came to the realization that this newly created Utopia was ideal on its own. The consuming nature of mankind was neither necessary, nor welcome. The human race remained extinct. And so it was that on that thirteenth day, God rested.

History flows downhill. It tends to go where it wants to go, cause being more or less optional to effect. For example, the following clandestine inter-faith meeting may or may not have taken place on the shores of the Red Sea around 40 A.D.

Luke: Brothers, I called you all here tonight because we need to present a united front. We've been arguing who had the real messiah for years and I think it's time to put that behind us. I propose we gather all our pamphlets together into one book and claim it's the same person. Face it, we've been borrowing each other's miracles for long enough.

John: I notice nobody wanted my Lazarus story, I was really proud of that one!

Luke : Enough of the vampire stories already. At least my messiah never did the walking on water stunt.

Mark: Hey! That one was pretty impressive!

Luke: Over by the sandbars? Come on, it was only two inches deep!

Mark: Well, it was still impressive with a bright moon in the right direction!

Luke: Look, with all the messiahs we've had, one of them was probably the real one and they were all happy enough to stand in for each other for the resurrection, so let's just wrap it up and call it quits.

Mark: How can we do that? None of our stories tally. We all have different famous last words for a start, although my version was the same as Matthew's.

Matthew: That's because you cribbed my notes you hack!

Mark: Hey, I would have been there! I just slept late that morning!

John: What about the others? I did hear the other John's got his post-apocalyptic story he wants including.

Mark: But none of the messiahs even mentioned that!

Luke: So what? We can't have a bestseller without some good gory prophecy thrown in.

Mark: Alright, but stick it somewhere near the end. I know Peter wants more emphasis on chastity.

Matthew: He still has his little problem then?

Mark: Hey, he says it's voluntary ok?

Luke: Whatever. Nobody reads his stuff anyway so let it stand.

John: But people are still going to notice.

Luke: Who? Anyone who was there has either written their own version or moved on. So long as you tell everyone what they want to hear they won't even bother to question it.

John: Uh...about that. All the messiahs were pretty down on wealth and that hasn't been going over too well.

Luke: Don't worry about it. So long as it refers to other people's wealth, it's fine. Our customers are either going to be poor or too rich to care. Trust me on this.

John: Oh well, let's just do it. I mean, 2000 years from now who's going to care?

“The Greeks, one thousand ships strong, gathered at Aulis,
In order to prepare for their voyage across
The mighty Aegean Sea. Achilles, Ajax,
Odysseus, Nestor, and the great general
Agamemnon were all there, ready to attack.
The lust and fire for war burned in all their hearts.
The spears were sharpened, the shields polished to a gleam,
All men were anxious to spill the blood of Trojans.
But, General Agamemnon had second thoughts,
‘Why spend life fighting over the woman, Helen?
It’s her own husband’s fault she ran off with Paris.
Menelaus, the king of Argos, is so old,
That he could easily be his bride’s grandfather.’
Roused by the thoughts inside of him, Agamemnon,
Facing steep ridicule and humiliation,
Felt compelled to voice his worries to all the men.
He brought all the leaders of the land to his tent,
Where he said they would begin to plan the voyage.
The men arrived, eager to plan their trip from Greece
To Troy, where glory and riches surely await.
Agamemnon’s spirit wavered, seeing his peers,
So riled up and ready to go off to war.
But, the man stood resolute in his conviction,
So he caught the attention of all his captains,
And the god-like man began to speak of his plight;
‘My good captains, Achilles, son of Peleus,
Odysseus, great thinker, King of Ithaca,
Ajax, mighty warrior, son of Telemon,
And all other men of the Achaean Army,
I speak to you not to rouse you for the battle,
Or to plan out our trip to the city of Troy;
I speak to you of the thoughts that lurk inside me.
My great, venerable brother, Menelaus,
Has told us to go forth for revenge on Paris,
The Prince of Troy who has stolen his bride, Helen.
I ask you captains, what is the use of dying,
Simply to capture and return his harlot bride?
Many Achaeans will surely perish at Troy,
Including even the greatest among our ranks.
Many Trojans will also die in their defence,
Such as King Priam and his honorable sons.
So answer me; why is Helen worth all these lives?’
The men, stirred by the thought in Agamemnon’s speech,
Agreed not to pursue their quest of sacking Troy,
And returning the bride of King Menelaus.
The one thousand ship armada sailed for their homes,
Leaving the city of Troy unharmed, and in peace.

“So that, children, is how the wise, and great Agamemnon avoided going to war in Troy,” said the teacher, Mrs. Cassandra. “We can only guess what the effects would have been on Greek dominance throughout the world if they had decided to go to war. Not only were King Alexander’s Trojan troops a determining factor in conquering India and China, when King Alexander died, his successor was Priam, a descendent of Hector. Without a clear successor, gods forbid, the Hellene Empire would have surely fallen, breaking into many factions, and destroying Greek rule throughout the world.”

AP NEWS BREAK: 20 JULY 1969 3:49 AM EDT

MOSCOW: The Soviet Union has won the race to the Moon, landing their lunar lander "Victory" at 1:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time on July 20, 1969. Mission Commander Georgi S. Shonin uttered these words upon his landing on the lunar surface: "This is one small step for all of mankind." Commander Shonin and Mission Specialist Anatoly Flipchenko spent approximatly one hour on the surface collecting soil samples, rocks and performing various scientific tests. They planted the Soviet flag near the lander and took pictures of the Earth, the first pictures taken on an alien world.

Flight Commander Valery Yeliseyev was left on the Soyuz 6 spacecraft orbiting the Moon. The Soyuz 6 space craft had left the Soviet Union on July 16th, and spent the intervening three days preparing for the eventual landing.

How this new development will affect America's planned missions to the moon are undetermined at this time. The U.S. planned lunar mission Apollo 11 was scratched due to inclement weather. NASA plans to launch Apollo 11 as soon as the conditions improve.

Soviet Premier Brezhnev was quoted as saying, "This accomplishment by our brave cosmonauts prove to the world that the Soviet people can and will overcome any and all problems to achieve our goals. This is a great day in Soviet history. Long live the Soviet Union."

APRIL 20, 1865

FROM: President Abraham Lincoln
TO: General Robert E. Lee

Dear General Lee,

I will forever be in your debt, as you saved my life on the night of April 14, 1865. The attempted assassinations of General Ulysses S. Grant and myself, by Mr. John Wilkes Booth was only thwarted by your quick response to his presence.

Although you refused, with a heavy heart and a strong sense of moral will, to lead the Union's armies, I did and still repect your character. Most men who have lost what you have lost would not act such as you did on that night.

I sincerely believe that your actions on April 14th, may prove to the country, and the world, that our two houses, once divided, will reunite and be strong once again.

I have asked for and recieved from Congress a proclamtion declaring that you will be given amnesty from procecution in any charges that may be brought against the leaders of the Confederacy. I have also restored your rank, with your permission and acceptance, to General of the United States Infantry. I also ask, if you will accept that you personally will oversee the reconstuction of the southern states.

Once again, General Lee, the nation and I thank you for your actions on that night, and may God be with you all of your days.

Abraham Lincoln

** NEWS FLASH **

Columbus and his crews have finally reached their destination. Though it is not India, it is a land full of fruits, vegetables, and a foreign race of human life.

Upon arriving in the New World, Columbus sent out half of his men to survey the land. After three days with no word from them, he sent out half of the remaining crew to search for the missing men. Three days later, Columbus came to the conclusion that the New World was a dangerous place to be. With caution, he and the remainder of the crew, snuck onto the land in the middle of the night. They crept along the beach, over a hill, and crouched in the weeds at the top. What they saw was appalling! Hundreds of Indians were circled around a huge fire. Wearing nothing but animal skin skirts and face paint, they danced around, chanting and singing in a foreign language. Five of Columbus’ men were tied to a post near the fire. Brutish-looking Indians, assumed to be warriors, were guarding the rest of the captives in a tee-pee. Fearing for their own lives, the men returned to the ship to plan a rescue mission for those taken captive. Columbus sent us [Spain] a letter requesting backup and the decided the best thing to do while awaiting help would be, first, to learn the language of the Indians. With language specialist, John Smith, aboard, this was a simple task. Within a week of observation and research, Smith was able to write the Indians a letter informing them that they came from Spain in peace.

The next morning half of the captives were set free and returned to the ships. One crewmember brought along a note from the Indians, stating the rules that would have to be agreed upon before any others were set free. The rules, as deciphered by Smith, were as follows:

1. The New World belongs to the Indians and shall not be claimed by any other country.
2. Foreign visitors can explore the land as long as they don’t interfere with Indian affairs, steal Indian goods, or disturb the peaceful environment currently maintained by the Indians.
3. Foreign visitors must leave the land if ordered to by the Indians.

In the best interest of the remaining captives, Columbus signed in agreement and returned the treaty to the Indians. Within minutes, the captives were set free. They returned to the ships, followed by a band of Indian women, each carrying a basket of food. They set the baskets in the sand along the beach and hurried off.

The crewmembers brought the food onto the ships and held a meeting. They decided that it would be safe to explore the New World with caution as long as they followed the rules set forth by the Indians. Their current plan is to explore, document their findings, and learn more about the Indians. They anticipate to journey back home to Spain in early August.

"Hey, man!"

"Hey, how's it goin'?"

"Pretty good, pretty good. Just thought I'd stop by and say hi."

"That's cool. Have a seat."

“Thanks. Watcha watchin’?”

“Nuthin’ much. The president’s getting impeached.”

“Man, he's not even a year into his first term, is he?"

"Nope. Pass me the cheez-its, will ya?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks.”

“What’d he do again?”

“Who?”

“The president.”

“He invaded Afghanistan, dummy.”

“I knew that. I mean why’d he do it?”

“It’s on the front page. Here.”

“’President Bush and several members of his cabinet’ blah blah blah . . . oh, here. “Included in the terms of impeachment were the arrest and incarceration of twenty foreign nationals on charges of plotting a terrorist act. The charges were thrown out by the federal courts on the grounds of insufficient evidence.’ Dum de dum . . . “President Bush also stands accused of aggressively and needlessly invading a sovereign nation on the grounds that it harbored the terrorist group "Al Qaeda.”’ Who the heck is Al Qaeda? I’m not even sure how to say it.”

“Your guess is as good as mine. I think they blew up an embassy or something a couple years ago.”

“So why did he invade Afghanistan?”

“He says that’s where they were hiding, but nobody’s been able to prove anything. ‘Sides, the CIA says they weren’t much of a threat.”

“Huh. Well, you have fun watching C-SPAN or whatever. I gotta get home before seven.”

“Sure thing. See you later. Hey, is the game tonight or tomorrow night?”

“Uh, lemmee see . . . nope, it’s tomorrow night. September 12th. Nothing's going on today.”

“Right. See you tomorrow night then.”

“See ya. Oh, dude?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you as bored as I am?"

"Yeah."