A letter from Isaac Asimov to the good people of Troy, MI whose library recently opened: “Congratulations on the new library, because it isn’t just a library. It is a space ship that will take you to the farthest reaches of the Universe, a time machine that will take you to the far past and the far future, a teacher that knows more than any human being, a friend that will amuse you and console you—and most of all, a gateway, to a better and happier and more useful life.”
I love this. I’ve been reading trash books, good books, inspiring books, and politically motivated ones that oppose my point of view (whatever that means).
Books are thoughts and imaginings of authors. And none should be off the table. None.
My middle name is Isaac. Sometimes I like to imagine I was named after Isaac Asimov, the prolific artist, scientist, and humanist. But I was not. Likely I was named after the Isaac of the Bible who was Abraham’s heir supposedly born to his parents when they were in their 80s pushing 90s, well past child-bearing years. This was after Abraham slept with the couple’s servant and bore his first son, which was bastardized and banished.
You know, great moral values.
It’s written in the Old Testament that Isaac was a word for “Laughter” because of how laughable it was that 80 year olds would have a child. But what a miracle!
In the same book, we’re to believe Noah and his sons had children in their 500s. Their children were all named derivations of “Hysterical” and “Regrettable”.
But there are no contradictions. None.
Le Café Wittypoots 