新视野大学英语第四册课文原文

1AAnartistwhoseeksfameislikeadogchasinghisowntailwho,whenhecapturesit,doesnotknowwhatelsetodobuttocontinuechasingit.Thecrueltyofsuccessisthatitoftenleadsthosewhoseeksuchsuccesstoparticipateintheirowndestruction."Don'tquityourdayjob!"isadvicefrequentlygivenbyunderstandablypessimisticfamilymembersandfriendstoabuddingartistwhoistryinghardtosucceed.Theconquestoffameisdifficultatbest,andmanyendupemotionallyifnotfinanciallybankrupt.Still,impuremotivessuchasthedesireforworshippingfansandpraisefrompeersmayspurtheartiston.Thelureofdrowninginfame'simperialgloryisnoteasilyresisted.Thosewhogainfamemostoftengainitasaresultofexploitingtheirtalentforsinging,dancing,painting,orwriting,etc.Theydevelopastylethatagentsmarketaggressivelytohastenpopularity,andtheirrideontheexpresselevatortothetopisablur.Mostwouldbehard-pressedtotellyouhowtheyevengotthere.Artistscannotremainidle,though.Whentheperformer,painterorwriterbecomesbored,theirworkbeginstoshowalackofcontinuityinitsappealanditbecomesdifficulttosustaintheattentionofthepublic.Aftertheirenthusiasmhasdissolved,thepublicsimplymovesontothenextflavorofthemonth.Artistswhodoattempttoremaincurrentbymakingevenminutechangestotheirstyleofwriting,dancingorsinging,runasignificantriskoflosingtheaudience'sfavor.Thepublicsimplydiscountsstylesotherthanthoseforwhichtheartisthasbecomefamous.Famousauthors'styles—aTennesseeWilliamsplayoraplotbyErnestHemingwayorapoembyRobertFrostorT.S.Eliot—areeasilyrecognizable.ThesameistrueofpainterslikeMonet,Renoir,orDaliandmoviemakerslikeHitchcock,Fellini,Spielberg,ChenKaigeorZhangYimou.Theirdistinctstylesmarkedasignificantchangeinformfromothersandgainedthemfameandfortune.However,theypaidforitbygivingupthefreedomtoexpressthemselveswithotherstylesorforms.Fame'sspotlightcanbehotterthanatropicaljungle—afraudisquicklyexposed,andthepressureofsomuchattentionistoomuchformosttoendure.Ittakesyououtofyourself:Youmustbewhatthepublicthinksyouare,notwhatyoureallyareorcouldbe.Theperformer,likethepolitician,mustoftenpleasehisorheraudiencesbysayingthingsheorshedoesnotmeanorfullybelieve.Onedropoffamewilllikelycontaminatetheentirewellofaman'ssoul,andsoanartistwhoremainstruetohimselforherselfisparticularlyamazing.Youwouldbehard-pressedtounderlinemanynamesofthosewhohavenotcompromisedandstillsucceededinthefamegame.Anexample,thefamousIrishwriterOscarWilde,knownforhisuncompromisingbehavior,bothsocialandsexual,towhichthepublicobjected,paidheavilyforremainingtruetohimself.ThemotherofayoungmanOscarwasintimatewithaccusedhimatabanquetinfrontofhisfriendsandfansofsexuallyinfluencingherson.Extremelyangeredbyherremarks,hesuedtheyoungman'smother,assertingthatshehaddamagedhis"good"name.Heshouldhavehiredabetterattorney,though.ThejudgedidnotsecondWilde'scalltohavethewomanpayfordamaginghisname,andinsteadfinedWilde.Heendedupinjailafterrefusingtopay,andevenworse,waspermanentlyexpelledfromthewidercircleofpublicfavor.Whenthingswereattheirworst,hefoundthatnoonewaswillingtoriskhisorhernameinhisdefense.Hispriceforremainingtruetohimselfwastobeleftalonewhenheneededhisfansthemost.Curiouslyenough,itisthosewhofailthatreapthegreatestreward:freedom!Theyenjoythefreedomtoexpressthemselvesinuniqueandoriginalwayswithoutfearoflosingthesupportoffans.Failedartistsmayfindcomfortinknowingthatmanygreatartistsneverfoundfameuntilwellaftertheyhadpassedawayorinknowingthattheydidnotsellout.Theymayjustifytheirfailurebyconvincingthemselvestheirgeniusistoosophisticatedforcontemporaryaudiences.Single-mindedartistswhocontinuetheirquestforfameevenafterfailuremightalsoliketoknowthatfailurehasmotivatedsomefamouspeopletoworkevenhardertosucceed.ThomasWolfe,theAmericannovelist,hadhisfirstnovelLookHomeward,Angelrejected39timesbeforeitwasfinallypublished.Beethovenovercamehisfather,whodidnotbelievethathehadanypotentialasamusician,tobecomethegreatestmusicianintheworld.AndPestalozzi,thefamousSwisseducatorinthe19thcentury,failedateveryjobheeverhaduntilhecameupontheideaofteachingchildrenanddevelopingthefundamentaltheoriestoproduceanewformofeducation.ThomasEdisonwasthrownoutofschoolinthefourthgrade,becauseheseemedtohisteachertobequitedull.Unfortunatelyformostpeople,however,failureistheendoftheirstruggle,notthebeginning.Isaytothosewhodesperatelyseekfameandfortune:goodluck.Butalas,youmayfindthatitwasnotwhatyouwanted.Thedogwhocatcheshistaildiscoversthatitisonlyatail.Thepersonwhoachievessuccessoftendiscoversthatitdoesmoreharmthangood.Soinsteadoftryingsohardtoachievesuccess,trytobehappywithwhoyouareandwhatyoudo.Trytodoworkthatyoucanbeproudof.Maybeyouwon'tbefamousinyourownlifetime,butyoumaycreatebetterart.1BOnesummerdaymyfathersentmetobuysomewireandfencingtoputaroundourbarntopenupthebull.At16,Ilikednothingbetterthangettingbehindthewheelofourtruckanddrivingintotownontheoldmillroad.Waterfromthemill'swheelsprayedinthesunshinemakingarainbowoverthecanalandIoftenstoppedthereonmywaytobatheandcooloffforaspell—naturalairconditioning.Thesunwassohot,IdidnotneedatowelasIwasdrybythetimeIclimbedtheclaybanksandcrossedtheroadditchtothetruck.Justbeforetown,theroadshotalongtheseawhereIwouldcollectseashellsorgatherseaweedbeneaththegiantcraneunloadingtheships.Thistripwasdifferent,though.MyfatherhadtoldmeI'dhavetoaskforcreditatthestore.Itwas1976,andtheuglyshadowofracismwasstillafactoflife.I'dseenmyfriendsaskforcreditandthenstand,headdown,whileastoreownerenquiredintowhethertheywere"goodforit".Manystoreclerkswatchedblackyouthswiththeassumptionthattheywerethieveseverytimetheyevenwentintoagrocery.Myfamilywashonest.Wepaidourdebts.Butjustbeforeharvest,allthemoneyflowedout.Therewerenonewdepositsatthebank.Cashwasshort.AtDavisBrothers'GeneralStore,BuckDavisstoodbehindtheregister,talkingtoamiddle-agedfarmer.Buckwasatall,weatheredmaninaredhuntingshirtandInoddedasIpassedhimonmywaytothehardwaresectiontogetacontainerofnails,acoilofbindingwireandfencing.Ipulledmypurchasesuptothecounterandplacedthenailsinthetrayofthescale,sayingcarefully,"Ineedtoputthisoncredit."MybrowwasmoistwithnervoussweatandIwipeditawaywiththebackofmyarm.Thefarmergavemeanamused,cynicallook,butBuck'sfacedidn'tchange."Sure,"hesaideasily,reachingforhisbookletwherehekeptrecordsforcredit.Igaveasighofrelief."Yourdaddyisalwaysgoodforit."Heturnedtothefarmer."ThishereisoneofJamesWilliams'sons.Theybrokethemoldwhentheymadethatman."Thefarmernoddedinaneighborlyway.Iwasfilledwithpride."JamesWilliams'son."Thosethreewordshadopenedadoortoanadult'srespectandtrust.AsIheavedtheheavyfreightintothebedofthetruck,Ididsowithease,feelinglikeastrongermanthantheonethatleftthefarmthatmorning.Ihaddiscoveredthatagoodnamecouldfurnishacapitalofgoodwillofgreatvalue.EveryoneknewwhattoexpectfromaWilliams:adecentpersonwhokepthiswordandrespectedhimselftoomuchtodowrong.Mygreatgrandfathermayhavebeensoldasaslaveatauction,butthiswasnotanexcusetodowrongtoothers.Insteadmyfatherbelievedtheonlywaytohonorhimwasthroughhardworkandrespectforallmen.Wechildren—eightbrothersandtwosisters—couldenjoyourgoodname,unearned,unlessanduntilwedidsomethingtoloseit.Wehadaninterestinhowoneanotherbehavedandourownactionsaswell,lestwedestroythenamemyfatherhadcreated.Ourgoodnamewasandstillisthegluethatholdsourfamilytighttogether.Thedesiretohonormyfather'sgoodnamespurredmetobecomethefirstinourfamilytogotouniversity.Iworkedmywaythroughcollegeasaporteratafour-starhotel.Eventually,thatgoodnameprovidedtheinitiativetostartmyownsuccessfulpublicrelationsfirminWashington,D.C.Americaneedstorestoreasenseofshameinitsneighborhoods.Doingdrugs,spendingallyourmoneyattheliquorstore,stealing,orgettingayoungwomanpregnantwithnointenttomarryhershouldinduceadeepsenseofembarrassment.Butitdoesn't.NearlyoneoutofthreebirthsinAmericaistoasinglemother.Manyofthesechildrenwillgrowupwithoutthesecurityandguidancetheyneedtobecomehonorablemembersofsociety.Oncethesocialtiesandmutualobligationsofthefamilymeltaway,communitiesfallapart.Whilethepopulationhasincreasedonly40percentsince1960,violentcrimeinAmericahasincreasedastaggering550percent—andwe'vebecomeexceedinglyusedtoit.Teendrugusehasalsorisen.InoneNorthCarolinaCounty,policearrested73studentsfrom12secondaryschoolsfordealingdrugs,someofthemrightintheclassroom.Meanwhile,thesmallsignsofcivilityandrespectthatholdupcivilizationarevanishingfromschools,storesandstreets.Phraseslike"yes,ma'am","no,sir","thankyou"and"please"getayawnfromkidstodaywhoareencouragedinsteadbycursingontelevisionandinmusic.Theysimplyshrugofftherewardsofagoodname.Thegoodnamepassedonbymyfatherandmaintainedtothisdaybymybrothersandsistersandmeisworthasmuchnowasever.Eventoday,whenIstopintoBuckDavis'shopormyhometown<49>barbershop</49>forahaircut,IamstillgreetedasJamesWilliams'son.Myfamily'sgoodnamedidpavethewayforme.2AHewasborninapoorareaofSouthLondon.Heworehismother'soldredstockingscutdownforanklesocks.Hismotherwastemporarilydeclaredmad.DickensmighthavecreatedCharlieChaplin'schildhood.ButonlyCharlieChaplincouldhavecreatedthegreatcomiccharacterof"theTramp",thelittlemaninragswhogavehiscreatorpermanentfame.Othercountries—France,Italy,Spain,evenJapan—haveprovidedmoreapplause(andprofit)whereChaplinisconcernedthanthelandofhisbirth.ChaplinquitBritainforgoodin1913whenhejourneyedtoAmericawithagroupofperformerstodohiscomedyactonthestage,wheretalentscoutsrecruitedhimtoworkforMackSennett,thekingofHollywoodcomedyfilms.Sadtosay,manyEnglishpeopleinthe1920sand1930sthoughtChaplin'sTrampabit,well,"crude".Certainlymiddle-classaudiencesdid;theworking-classaudiencesweremorelikelytoclapforacharacterwhorevoltedagainstauthority,usinghiswickedlittlecanetotripitup,oraimingtheheelofhisbootforawell-placedkickatitsbroadrear.Allthesame,Chaplin'scomicbeggardidn'tseemallthatEnglishorevenworking-class.Englishtrampsdidn'tsporttinymoustaches,hugepantsortailcoats:EuropeanleadersandItalianwaitersworethingslikethat.Thenagain,theTramp'squickeyeforaprettygirlhadacoarsewayaboutitthatwasconsidered,well,notquitenicebyEnglishaudiences—that'showforeignersbehaved,wasn'tit?Butforoverhalfofhisscreencareer,ChaplinhadnoscreenvoicetoconfirmhisBritishnationality.Indeed,itwasaheadacheforChaplinwhenhecouldnolongerresistthetalkingmoviesandhadtofind"therightvoice"forhisTramp.Hepostponedthatdayaslongaspossible:InModernTimesin1936,thefirstfilminwhichhewasheardasasingingwaiter,hemadeupanonsenselanguagewhichsoundedlikenoknownnationality.HelatersaidheimaginedtheTramptobeacollege-educatedgentlemanwho'dcomedownintheworld.Butifhe'dbeenabletospeakwithaneducatedaccentinthoseearlyshortcomedies,it'sdoubtfulifhewouldhaveachievedworldfame.AndtheEnglishwouldhavebeensuretofindit"odd".NoonewascertainwhetherChaplindiditonpurposebutthishelpedtobringabouthishugesuccess.Hewasanimmenselytalentedman,determinedtoadegreeunusualevenintheranksofHollywoodstars.Hishugefamegavehimthefreedom—and,moreimportantly,themoney—tobehisownmaster.Healreadyhadtheurgetoexploreandextendatalenthediscoveredinhimselfashewentalong."Itcan'tbeme.Isthatpossible?Howextraordinary,"ishowhegreetedthefirstsightofhimselfastheTramponthescreen.Butthatshockrousedhisimagination.Chaplindidn'thavehisjokeswrittenintoascriptinadvance;hewasthekindofcomicwhousedhisphysicalsensestoinventhisartashewentalong.LifelessobjectsespeciallyhelpedChaplinmake"contact"withhimselfasanartist.Heturnedthemintootherkindsofobjects.Thus,abrokenalarmclockinthemovieThePawnbrokerbecamea"sick"patientundergoingsurgery;bootswereboiledinhisfilmTheGoldRushandtheirsoleseatenwithsaltandpepperlikeprimecutsoffish(thenailsbeingremovedlikefishbones).Thisphysicaltransformation,plustheskillwithwhichheexecuteditagainandagain,issurelythesecretofChaplin'sgreatcomedy.Healsohadadeepneedtobeloved—andacorrespondingfearofbeingbetrayed.Thetwowerehardtocombineandsometimes—asinhisearlymarriages—thecollisionbetweenthemresultedindisaster.Yeteventhispainfully-boughtself-knowledgefounditswayintohiscomiccreations.TheTrampneverloseshisfaithintheflowergirlwho'llbewaitingtowalkintothesunsetwithhim;whiletheothersideofChaplinmakesMonsieurVerdoux,theFrenchwifekiller,intoasymbolofhatredforwomen.It'sarelieftoknowthatlifeeventuallygaveCharlieChaplinthestabilityandhappinessithadearlierdeniedhim.InOonaO'NeillChaplin,hefoundapartnerwhosestabilityandaffectionspannedthe37yearsagedifferencebetweenthem,whichhadseemedsothreatening,thatwhentheofficialwhowasmarryingthemin1942turnedtothebeautifulgirlof17who'dgivennoticeoftheirweddingdate,hesaid,"Andwhereistheyoungman?"—Chaplin,then54,hadcautiouslywaitedoutside.AsOonaherselfwasthechildofalargefamilywithitsownproblems,shewaswellpreparedforthebattlethatChaplin'slifebecameasmanyunfoundedrumorssurroundedthemboth—and,lateron,shewasthecenterofcalminthequarrelsthatChaplinsometimessparkedinhisownlargefamilyoftalentedchildren.ChaplindiedonChristmasDay1977.Afewmonthslater,acoupleofalmostcomicbodythievesstolehisbodyfromthefamilyburialchamberandhelditformoney.ThepolicerecovereditwithmoreefficiencythanMackSennett'sclumsyKeystoneCopswouldhavedone,butonecan'thelpfeelingChaplinwouldhaveregardedthisstrangeincidentasafittingmemorial—hiswayofhavingthelastlaughonaworldtowhichhehadgivensomany.2BModestandsoft-spoken,AgathaMuthoniMbogo,24,ishardlytheimageofarevolutionary.Yet,sixmonthsago,shedidamostrevolutionarything:SheranformayorofEmbu,Kenya,andwon.Ms.Mbogo'svictorywasevenmoresurprisingbecauseshewasvotedinbyhercolleaguesontheDistrictCouncil,allmen.ForthethousandsofwomeninthisfarmingareatwohoursnortheastofNairobi,Ms.MbogosuddenlybecameasymboloftheincreasinglypowerfulpoliticalforcewomenhavebecomeinKenyaandacrossAfrica.Ms.Mbogolaunchedherdreamofacareerinpoliticsin1992byrunningfortheEmbuCouncil,facingtheobstaclesthatoftentroubleAfricanwomenrunningforpoliticaloffice.Shehadlittlemoney.Shehadnopoliticalexperience.Shefacedridiculousquestionsaboutherpersonallife."MyopponentkeptinsistingthatIwasgoingtogetmarriedtosomebodyinanothertownandmoveaway,"Ms.Mbogosaid.Ms.Mbogoalsofacedmisunderstandingamongthetown'swomen,manyofwhominitiallywereunwillingtovoteforher.Shebecameanambassadorforwomen'spoliticalrights,givingspeechesbeforewomen'sgroupsandgoingfromdoortodoor,handbaginhand,spendinghoursatatimegivingacombinationofspeechandgovernmentlesson."Iwasdelightedwhenshewontheelection,becausemenelectedher,"saidLydiahKimani,anEmbufarmerandpoliticalactivist."Itwastheanswertomyprayersbecauseitseemedtobeavictoryoverthisideathat'womencan'tlead'."EducationofAfricanwomenhasbecomeatoppriorityforpoliticalactivists.OneorganizationhashelddozensofworkshopsinruralKenyatohelpwomenunderstandthenation'sconstitutionandtheproceduresandtheorybehindademocraticpoliticalsystem.Oneveteranfemalepoliticalactivistsaidthatmanywomenhadnotbeentaughtthebasicsofpoliticalparticipation.Theyaretaughttovotefortheonewho"givesyouahalfkilosackofflour,200gramsofsalt,oraloafofbread"duringthecampaign,saidtheactivist.Womenpoliticiansandactivistssaytheyarefightingdeeply-heldculturaltraditions.ThosetraditionsteachthatAfricanwomencook,clean,takecareofchildren,sowandharvestcropsandsupporttheirhusbands.Theytypicallydonotinheritland,divorcetheirhusband,controltheirfinancesorholdpoliticaloffice.Yet,politicalactivityamongKenyanwomenisnotanewphenomenon.Duringthestruggleforindependenceinthe1950s,Kenyanwomenoftensecretlyprovidedtroopswithweaponsandspiedonthepositionsofcolonialforces.Butafterindependence,leadersjealoustoprotecttheirpowershutthemoutofpolitics,asituationrepeatedacrossthecontinent.Today,menstillhavetheupperhand.WomeninKenyamakeup60percentofthepeoplewhovote,butonly3percentoftheNationalAssembly.NoKenyanwomanhaseverheldacabinetpost.Againstthatbackground,AgathaMbogobeganherpoliticalcareer.Afterwinninghercouncilseat,shedeclinedaspotontheeducationandsocialservicescommitteeafteracolleaguecalledit"awoman'scommittee".Sheinsteadjoinedthetownplanningcommittee,amuchmorevisibleassignment.Thenlastyear,shedecidedtochallengeEmbu'smayor,aveteranpolitician.Ms.MbogosaidshehadbecomefrustratedbecausethedonorgroupsthatprovidesubstantialaidtoKenya'sruralareas"didnotwanttocomehere"."Weweren'tseeingthingsdoneforthecommunity,"shesaid."Itwasascandal—thedonors'moneyseemedtobegoingtoindividuals."Afterafiercecampaign,thecouncilelectedher,7to6.ShesaidwomeninEmbucelebrated.Menwerepuzzled;somewerehostile.Theyasked,"Howcouldallofthosemenvoteforawoman?"sherecalled.Ms.Mbogohasnotmetwiththekindsofabusethatotherfemalepoliticianshavebeensubjectedto,however.Somehavesaidtheirsupportersaresometimesattackedwithclubsafterrallies.LastJune,Kenyanpoliceattemptedtobreakupawomen'spoliticalmeetingnorthwestofNairobi,insistingitwasillegalandmightstartariot.Whenthe100women,includingamemberoftheNationalAssembly,refusedtogo,officerstoredowntheirbannersandbeatthemwithclubsandfists,witnessesreported.Incontrast,Ms.MbogogenerallyreceiveswarmgreetingsfromthemenofEmbu,andmanysaytheyarenowgladthecouncilchoseher.DonorgroupsarenowfundingprojectsinEmbuinearnest.Anewmarketisgoingupdowntown.A200-bedsectionfornewmothersisbeingaddedtothehospital.Adormitory-stylehomehasbeenbuiltforthedozensofhomelessstreetchildrenwhooncewanderedthecity.Ms.Mbogoisespeciallyproudofthemarketandthehospitalbecause"theyhaveanimpactonwomen".Atthecurrentmarket,wherehundredsofpeople,shadedbyumbrellas,layoutfruitsandvegetables,onepersonwhosellslemonssaidshelikedthenewmayor."IfeellikeifIhaveaproblem,Icangotoheroffice,"shesaid."Theothermayorshouted.Heactedlikeanemperor.Hedidnotwanttohearmyproblems."Nearby,amansaidhefoundMs.Mbogoarefreshingchange."I'mtiredofmen,"hesaid,watchingoverhispileofonions."Theygiveussomanypromises,buttheydon'tdeliverthegoods.Aslongasshekeepsgivinguswhatwewant,sheisallright."3AAwelfareclientissupposedtocheat.Everybodyexpectsit.Facedwithsharingadinnerofrawpetfoodwiththecat,manypeopleinwheelchairsIknowbleedthesystemforafewextradollars.Theytellthegovernmentthattheyaregettingtwohundreddollarslessthantheirrealpensionsotheycangetalittleextrawelfaremoney.Or,theytellthecaseworkerthatthelandlordraisedtherentbyahundreddollars.Ihaveoptedtolivealifeofcompletehonesty.Soinstead,Igooutanddrumupsomebusinessanddrawcartoons.IeventellwelfarehowmuchImake!Oh,I'mtemptedtogetpaidunderthetable.ButevenifIyieldedtothattemptation,bigmagazinesarenotgoingtogetinvolvedinsomestickysituation.Theykeepmyrecords,andthatinformationgoesrightintothegovernment'scomputer.Veryhigh-profile.AsawelfareclientI'mexpectedtobowbeforethecaseworker.Deepdown,caseworkersknowthattheyarebeingmadefoolsofbymanyoftheirclients,andtheyfeeltheyareentitledtohaveclientsbowtothemascompensation.I'mnotbeingbitter.Mostcaseworkersbeginascollege-educatedliberalswithhighideals.Butafterafewyearsinasystemthatpracticallyrequirespeopletolie,theybecomeliketheoneIshallcall"Suzanne",adetectiveinshorts.NotlongafterChristmaslastyear,Suzannecametoinspectmyapartmentandsawsomenewposterspastedonthewall."Where'dyougetthemoneyforthose?"shewantedtoknow."Friendsandfamily.""Well,you'dbetterhaveareceiptforit,byGod.Youhavetoreportanydonationsorgifts."Thiswasmycuetobeg.Instead,Italkedback."Igotacigarettefromsomebodyonthestreettheotherday.DoIhavetoreportthat?""Well,I'msorry,butIdon'tmaketherules,Mr.Callahan."Suzannetriestolecturemeaboutrepairstomywheelchair,whichisalwaysbreakingdownbecausewelfarewon'tspendmoneymaintainingitproperly."Youknow,Mr.Callahan,I'veheardthatyouputalotmoremilesonthatwheelchairthanaverage."OfcourseIdo.I'manactiveworker,notavegetable.Iliveneardowntown,soIcangetaroundinawheelchair.Iwonderwhatshe'dthinkifshesuddenlybrokeherhipandhadtocrawltowork.Governmentcutsinwelfarehaveresultedinhungerandsufferingforalotofpeople,notjustme.Butpeoplewithspinalcordinjuriesfeltthecutsinauniqueway:Thegovernmentstoppedtakingcareofourchairs.Eachtimeminebrokedown,lostascrew,neededanewrollerbearing,thebrakewouldn'twork,etc.,andIcalledSuzanne,Ihadtoendurealittlelecture.Finally,she'dsay,"Well,ifIcanfindtimetoday,I'llcallthemedicalworker."Shewassupposedtonotifythemedicalworker,whowouldcertifythattherewasaproblem.Thenthemedicalworkercalledthewheelchairrepaircompaniestogetthecheapestbid.Thenthemedicalworkeralertedthemainwelfareofficeatthestatecapital.TheyconsideredthematterfordayswhileIlayinbed,unabletomove.Finally,ifIwaslucky,theycalledbackandapprovedtherepair.WhenwelfarelearnedIwasmakingmoneyonmycartoons,Suzannestarted"visiting"everyfortnightinsteadofeverytwomonths.Shelookedintoeverycornerinsearchofunreportedappliances,ormaids,oraroastpigintheoven,oranewhelicopterparkedoutback.Sheneverfoundanything,buttherewasalwaysathickpileofformstofilloutattheendofeachvisit,accountingforeverypenny.Thereisnoprovisioninthelawforagradualshiftawayfromwelfare.Iamanindependentbusinessman,slowlybuildingupmymarket.It'simpossibletojumpoffwelfareandsuddenlybemakingtwothousanddollarsamonth.ButIwouldlovetobeabletopayforsomeofmylivingandnothavetogothroughanembarrassingsituationeverytimeIneedasparepartformywheelchair.Thereneedstobealawyerwhocanactasachampionfortherightsofwelfareclients,becausethesystemsoeasilylendsitselftoabusebythewelfaregiversaswellasbytheclients.WelfaresentSuzannetolookaroundinmyapartmenttheotherdaybecausethechemistsaidIwasusingalargerthanusualamountofmedicalsupplies.Iwas,indeed:Theholethathasbeensurgicallycuttodrainurinehadchangedsizeandtheconnectiontomyurinebagwasleaking.Whileshewastakingnotes,myphonerangandSuzanneansweredit.Thecallerwasastatesenator,whichscaredSuzannealittle.WouldIsitonthegovernor'scommitteeandtrytodosomethingaboutthethousandsofwelfareclientswho,likeme,couldearnpartoralloftheirownlivingsiftheywereallowedtodoso,onestepatatime?Hell,yes,Iwould!Somedaypeoplelikemewillthriveunderanewsystemthatwillencouragethem,notseektoconvictthemofcheating.Theywillbefreetodeveloptheirtalentswithoutguiltorfear—orjustholdagood,steadyjob.3BItwaslateafternoonwhenthechairmanofourBangkok-basedcompanygavemeanassignment:IwouldleavethenextdaytoaccompanyanimportantChinesebusinessmantotouristsitesinnorthernThailand.Silentlyangry,Istaredatmydesk.Thestacksofpaperborewitnesstoahugeamountofworkwaitingtobedone,eventhoughIhadbeenworkingsevendaysaweek.HowwillIevercatchup?Iwondered.Afteraone-hourflightthenextmorning,wespentthedayvisitingattractionsalongwithhundredsofothertourists,mostofthemloadedwithcamerasandsmallgifts.Irememberfeelingannoyedatthisdensecollectionofhumanity.ThateveningmyChinesecompanionandIclimbedintoacharteredvantogotodinnerandashow,onewhichIhadattendedmanytimesbefore.Whilehechattedwithothertourists,Iexchangedpoliteconversationinthedarkwithamanseatedinfrontofme,aBelgianwhospokefluentEnglish.Iwonderedwhyheheldhisheadmotionlessatanoddangle,asthoughhewereinprayer.Thenthetruthstruckme.Hewasblind.Behindmesomeoneswitchedonalight,andIcouldseehisthicksilveryhairandstrong,squarejaw.Hiseyesseemedtocontainawhitemist."CouldIpleasesitbesideyouatthedinner?"heasked."AndI'dloveitifyou'ddescribealittleofwhatyousee.""I'dbehappyto,"Ireplied.Myguestwalkedaheadtowardtherestaurantwithnewlyfoundfriends.T