mankind after the extinction of bald eagles, coyotes, panthers, etc.
DUANE LOCKE
1. Man’s relationship with his family: six boys
The first boy said, “My father can beat up all your fathers.” The second boy said, “My father can beat up all your fathers.” The third boy said, “My father can beat up all your fathers.” The fourth boy said, “My father can beat up all your fathers.” The fifth boy said, “I don’t have a father.” The sixth boy said, “All your fathers can beat up my father because my father refuses to fight.” The first five boys beat up the sixth by, and then the first four beat up the fifth boy, and then they went home and beat up their fathers.
2. Man’s relationship to history: Columbus Day
When I was a child, my teacher told me to honor Columbus. I even lived on a street named Columbus Drive. My uncle lived in Columbis, Ohio. My parents were planning to send me to Columbia University.
I thought about all the tortured, raped, robbed, crippled and murdered Indians. I asked my teacher why we do not honor Charles Manson and the man who went up into a Texas Tower and shot people at random. Why are there no days, streets, and universities named after them?
She replied, “Because they did nott try to find a shorter route to salt and pepper.”
3. Man’s relationship to his work: The tiger trainer
With a sharp sick the tiger trainer forced the tiger to sit still on the sawdust. The tiger trainer jumped through a flaming hoop. The tiger trainer bowed before the tiger, but the tiger did not applaud. The tiger trainer jumped again through the hoop, but the tiger did not applaud. The tiger trainer jumped again. No applause from the tiger. The tiger trainer shot the tiger, and now the tiger trainer is unemployed.
4. Man’s relationship to his self: Self Reliance, based on an essay by Emerson
That night somebody stole my radio, and I had to do my own singing.
5. Man’s relationship to progress: The restaurant that turns in the Peachtree Center at Atlanta, Georgia
The current went off, and I had to pick up my plate and run around in a circle.
