For me, Christopher’s way of thinking is natural, obvious, and the only logical way to view the world.
I took a scientific and mathematical training path all through school and in my career work. I look at the physical aspects of the world through the lens of the laws of science, and I see the art and beauty of the world through mathematics.
I could easily and comfortably be just like him, except his behavior patterns have been “socialized” out of me from birth. His is the natural way to look at life.
Books like this give one pause to stop and wonder about life. Maybe that “retard” you’re either feeling sorry for or trying to trip is the next Stephen Hawking, world’s greatest genius in Cosmology. Christopher and Hawking have different problems at the base of their “uniqueness” from other people. What they do have in common, though, is focus. It does seem that people who are lacking in some areas tend to focus their unused energy in other areas. For Hawking and Christopher, the areas are mathematics and science.
I don’t want to tread into the more religious aspects of life & death, but one lesson to be appreciated from this cute short story is that all life is precious. No life is beyond exclusion from respect and consideration and everyone needs to be given as many chances as possible to succeed in their chosen areas. How do we know who will be the next Stephen Hawking?
The other lesson is that there is always hope for salvation from one’s demons, but it may take a lifetime, as it will for the father who has murdered an innocent dog and lied about a child’s mother, all caused by uncontrolled anger and jealous passion
I am also reminded of the movie, “Liar, Liar,” Jim Carrey, 1997, where Fletcher Reede must speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It results in uncomfortable situations like in our book, when the police sergeant wants Christopher to say that he didn’t mean to hit the policeman, but he can’t say that because he did intend to hit him and he can’t lie.
Part of the transition from childhood to adulthood is the graying of the spaces between truths and lies. It seems that full adulthood represents the ability to never quite tell the truth. The more respected and powerful the position: politician, media person, corporate president, even President Of The United States; the higher they go, the more these people have been seduced by the dark side of the force. It is a sad commentary that concomitant with the lengthening noses of those on top, is the population’s willingness to accept the lies.
The truth is often a bitter pill to swallow, but we’re better off to take it when the doctor orders.
I took a scientific and mathematical training path all through school and in my career work. I look at the physical aspects of the world through the lens of the laws of science, and I see the art and beauty of the world through mathematics.
I could easily and comfortably be just like him, except his behavior patterns have been “socialized” out of me from birth. His is the natural way to look at life.
Books like this give one pause to stop and wonder about life. Maybe that “retard” you’re either feeling sorry for or trying to trip is the next Stephen Hawking, world’s greatest genius in Cosmology. Christopher and Hawking have different problems at the base of their “uniqueness” from other people. What they do have in common, though, is focus. It does seem that people who are lacking in some areas tend to focus their unused energy in other areas. For Hawking and Christopher, the areas are mathematics and science.
I don’t want to tread into the more religious aspects of life & death, but one lesson to be appreciated from this cute short story is that all life is precious. No life is beyond exclusion from respect and consideration and everyone needs to be given as many chances as possible to succeed in their chosen areas. How do we know who will be the next Stephen Hawking?
The other lesson is that there is always hope for salvation from one’s demons, but it may take a lifetime, as it will for the father who has murdered an innocent dog and lied about a child’s mother, all caused by uncontrolled anger and jealous passion
I am also reminded of the movie, “Liar, Liar,” Jim Carrey, 1997, where Fletcher Reede must speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It results in uncomfortable situations like in our book, when the police sergeant wants Christopher to say that he didn’t mean to hit the policeman, but he can’t say that because he did intend to hit him and he can’t lie.
Part of the transition from childhood to adulthood is the graying of the spaces between truths and lies. It seems that full adulthood represents the ability to never quite tell the truth. The more respected and powerful the position: politician, media person, corporate president, even President Of The United States; the higher they go, the more these people have been seduced by the dark side of the force. It is a sad commentary that concomitant with the lengthening noses of those on top, is the population’s willingness to accept the lies.
The truth is often a bitter pill to swallow, but we’re better off to take it when the doctor orders.
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