The Mariners Harbor Messiah Read online

  On the domestic side, Lyndon Johnson passed a comprehensive program of economic reforms designed to alleviate poverty and advance civil rights for black people. LBJ’s war on poverty decreased poverty rates in America from 23 percent to 12 percent. President Johnson started government programs like Head Start, food stamps, and model cities, which improved the plight of millions of working-class people in America. LBJ also achieved major reforms in the area of medical care: Medicaid for poor people and Medicare for the elderly. He also provided funds for hospitals and funds to advance medical research. In the area of education, LBJ’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act dramatically increased funding for public schools, private schools, and higher education.

  In the area of civil rights, Lyndon Johnson advanced the economic and political status of black people. His landmark Civil Rights Bill of 1964, which ended discrimination in public accommodations and housing, and advanced black voting rights, was probably LBJ’s greatest achievement. His economic agenda changed America for the better in virtually every segment of our society. Johnson’s sympathy for poor people likely originated from his own struggles as a young man. He supported himself though college by picking crops—cotton, corn, and grapes. Along with Abraham Lincoln, LBJ was the only US president to work as a laborer in his adult years. Were it not for the Vietnam War, LBJ would have gone down as one of America’s greatest presidents.

  CHAPTER 3

  Superstition

  On Tom’s desk were the following items: a broken mirror, a rabbit’s foot, a horseshoe, and a card with the number thirteen on it. The aim of the lesson was written on the board: “What is superstition?”

  Barry entered the room and began singing Stevie Wonder’s popular song “Superstition.”

  “Very superstitious, writing on the wall. Very superstitious, ladder’s ’bout to fall. Very superstitious, nothing more to say. Very superstitious, the devil’s on his way.”

  “Now we’ll learn something useful—how to cast an evil spell on someone,” exclaimed Manny, who was as rowdy as Barry.

  Tom asked the class for some examples of superstition.

  “The rabbit’s foot and the horseshoe represent good luck,” a student called out from the back of the room.

  “That broken mirror,” said Wendy. “If a person breaks a mirror, it means seven years of bad luck.”

  “Girl, you break a mirror every time you look into it,” Barry snapped.

  “Now that’s enough from you. Give it a rest already,” Tom responded.

  “That’s right. Saying mean things can bring bad luck. What goes around comes around,” Ronnie chimed in.

  “And if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” Barry commented in a high voice.

  Someone from the back of the class asked why the number thirteen was connected to bad luck.

  “Judas sat in the thirteenth place during the Last Supper. He was the person who betrayed Jesus to the Romans,” said Riner.

  “Wow, Riner! You’re an expert on the Bible too, as well as that boring science stuff,” exclaimed Barry.

  “He’s just a learned guy,” quipped Manny.

  “Also, there are thirteen steps from the prisoner’s holding cell to the gallows on death row,” Tom indicated.

  “How did you know that, Mr. Haley? Have you spent time in jail?” the irrepressible Barry asked.

  “It’s amazing what a person can learn by reading,” Tom said irritably.

  “Now that sarcastic remark is immature. I should report you to the principal, Mr. Stout,” Barry retorted.

  Ignoring the pesky student, the skinny science teacher asked the class about the difference between black magic and white magic.

  “Black magic is associated with bad doings, and white magic is associated with good deeds,” Riner answered.

  “Now that’s racist!” Barry called out.

  Determined to press on with the lesson, Tom ignored the youngster’s remarks.

  “All this leads to the pivotal questions: What is superstition, and how did it originate?”

  “It’s folklore that grew out of coincidences in everyday life. Two things that occur together are often mistakenly connected as cause and effect,” said Riner.

  “So what’s the opposite of coincidence?” Tom inquired.

  “It’s scientific knowledge based on observations and conclusions. The scientific method is the way we learn about the world,” Wendy answered.

  “Excellent, Wendy. In the Middle Ages there was a Dutch philosopher, named Spinoza, who said everything in nature operates according to cause and effect,” Tom lectured.

  “He was a determinist,” said Riner. “He didn’t believe in random events. Nor did he believe in established religion.”

  “Sounds like a Communist to me,” said Manny.

  “Actually, he was a free thinker. And for his troubles Spinoza was excommunicated by both the Catholic Church and the Jewish authorities of Holland,” Tom indicated.

  “I’ll bet you he told those Holy Rollers to go blank themselves,” said Barry.

  “No, Barry. Spinoza was a stoic who lived a simple life and didn’t make trouble.”

  “If you don’t believe in God, you’re looking for trouble,” retorted Ronnie, who was naive and mild mannered.

  “Truly, Spinoza did believe in God. He said God and the universe were one and the same. He also said that when we harm others, we actually harm ourselves,” the skinny science teacher continued.

  “That’s true, Mr. Haley. When I punch somebody, I often get punched back by that somebody,” said Barry.

  “So why don’t you just punch yourself and save others the trouble of punching you back?” commented the winsome Wendy.

  “Shut up, bitch!” yelled Barry. But observing his teacher’s angry stare, the impulsive teenager changed his tone. “I mean ‘Hush, my little hussy.’”

  With that unexpected conciliatory remark, the bell ended the lesson on superstation, and the students rushed out of the classroom, as if to avoid bad luck.

  CHAPTER 4

  The Hermit

  On a windy Saturday morning in late November, Tom walked down Morningstar Road amidst the fluttering yellow and red leaves borne by the shifting wind currents. Clad in a light jacket, the skinny young science teacher could feel the chilly autumn air, which was a sign of the approaching winter. Drawn to the rotting docks and abandoned ships of the old Bethlehem Steel shipyard, Tom headed west on Richmond Terrace. As soon as the ramshackle tugboat came into view, Tom saw Amon wave at him. Amon jumped off the boat and approached him on the rotting wharf.

  “Let’s go for a walk,” he shouted to the young teacher. Tom nodded, and the two men walked briskly eastward on Richmond Terrace, passing under the arched Bayonne Bridge. This magnificent steel bridge was matched only by a bridge of similar design in the land down under, Australia.

  As the two young men walked beyond the bridge, they came to an overgrown, weed-filled field with a dirt road that was familiar to Tom. They soon reached a dilapidated wooden shack where a red-bearded hermit had once lived. Stopping abruptly outside the shack, Amon said he felt a strange aura, the spirit of dead person.

  “He was a recluse who died alone and in despair. May his tormented soul rest in peace,” Amon uttered in a low tone.

  Tom was amazed that the stranger’s perception defied rational explanation.

  “That’s right! In fact, I was the one who discovered his body a few years ago. He was a red-bearded hermit—kind of scary-looking. As a teenager I once delivered a newspaper to him. But when I came back to collect my money, the sight of his face frightened me, and I ran away.”

  Running his finger along the dust-laden windowsill, Tom asked, “How did you know about the hermit?”

  “It’s something I’ve always had. I am able to pick up vibrations that most people miss. It�
��s metaphysics—the realm of reality beyond the five senses,” Amon answered in a matter-of-fact manner.

  “I’m a science teacher. Scientists deal with real phenomena—matter and energy—susceptible to the five senses and measurable in terms of numbers. It’s weird. I gave a lesson on superstition the other day,” Tom said.

  “There’s a good deal of truth in superstition, which is based on folklore passed down through the ages. And there are no coincidences in life. Everything happens for a reason,” Amon continued.

  “What about random events like flipping a coin or tossing dice?” Tom asked.

  “You’ve heard of gamblers who constantly win at cards and games of chance. It’s a gift that some people have—myself not included,” Amon replied.

  “You seem to be a determinist like the Dutch philosopher Spinoza. We talked about him also. Now that’s a coincidence for sure!” the young teacher said.

  “I’ve always had this hypersensitivity to things, similar to animals before an earthquake. We all have a purpose in life. The trick is to find out what it is and try to fulfill that purpose,” Amon asserted.

  “So what’s your purpose?” Tom inquired.

  “That’s a good question!” Amon replied, shaking his head.

  CHAPTER 5

  Saturday Morning

  It was Saturday morning, Tom’s favorite time of the week, when he read the New York Post and chitchatted with his mother. Weekday mornings Claire Haley gobbled some toast and slurped instant coffee before dashing around the corner to catch the #3 Castleton Avenue bus to St. George. After crossing New York Bay on a packed ferryboat, his mom walked to the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Lower Manhattan, where she handled stocks, bonds, and securities, and hobnobbed with middle-aged carriers of those aforementioned financial instruments. Unlike her son, who had a love–hate relationship with teaching, Claire Haley loved her job with a passion that mystified Tom.

  “I met this guy who lives in an abandoned tugboat in Mariners Harbor,” Tom said as he ate his usual breakfast of Wheaties topped with a sliced banana.

  “Lives in an old tugboat. What is he, some kind of a nut?” she replied archly.

  “No. He’s an interesting person. Very resourceful. He seems to have ESP.”

  “Oh, sure. He reads tea leaves and wind currents from the air. Reminds me of your father. He was always bringing some old drunk around. I’d come home from work to find him sitting on the front stoop, drinking beer with one of his cronies. He’d tell me the old bum had a gift—a gift for taking up space!” his mom complained.

  “Mom, you’re always comparing my situation with Dad’s. You should have an open mind about such things.”

  “Listen, McGee. You have to live life on a basis of reality. Why doesn’t he get a job?” she retorted heatedly.

  “I know, Mom—one of your famous old adages. You either go to school or you go to work. A car is a luxury. Use your head for more than a hat rack. And of course, you have to die of something. Such pearls of wisdom that pour forth from thy mouth!”

  “Well, don’t invite him here. I’m tired of those downtrodden bums sponging off me!” she said with blazing eyes.

  “Spoken like a true Marxist. Keep the downtrodden proletariat off my steps. We all make mistakes. To paraphrase Shakespeare … the fault, dear Mom, is not in ourselves, but in the stars.”

  “Talking about the stars, isn’t it about time you trimmed the hedge? It’s so high you can’t see the stars, or the moon, or the sun,” she said stridently.

  “Oh, yes. I mustn’t forget the hedge from hell. How about another of your infamous tautologies—hedges cannot trim themselves,” said Tom, finishing his coffee and leaving the kitchen in a huff.

  Richard Nixon

  Richard Nixon grew up in poverty in Northern California, attending Whittier College and then Duke Law School, where he graduated in 1937. He served in the navy during World War II and was first elected to Congress in 1946 and to the Senate in 1950. Nixon rose to prominence in 1948 when he investigated Alger Hiss, who was identified as a member of the Communist Party. He attracted the attention of Dwight Eisenhower, who chose Nixon as his running mate in 1952.

  In 1960, Richard Nixon ran for president against John Kennedy, losing in a very close election. The highlight was the televised Kennedy–Nixon debate, which Kennedy appeared to win due to his appearance, confidence, and motto to “get America moving again.” John Kennedy also talked about economic growth, civil rights, the missile gap, and medical care for the elderly. Nixon’s message of eight years of peace and economic progress under President Eisenhower did not resonate with the American people, and Kennedy was victorious.

  In 1968, Richard Nixon ran for president a second time. This time, he defeated Hubert Humphrey by a close margin. The Nixon administration recognized Red China, and Mr. Nixon himself visited China and shook hands with its leaders, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. Nevertheless, the Vietnam War continued to rage, with Nixon intensifying the bombing of North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He began a program of Vietnamization, in which the South Vietnamese Army would take over the fighting. However, the latter was unable and unwilling to fight the Viet Cong and its North Vietnamese Army. A humiliating defeat appeared inevitable as America lost its enthusiasm for the war.

  On the domestic front, President Nixon took measures to reduce inflation through wage and price controls. The Nixon administration formed the EPA to protect the environment, passed the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, and OSHA for the workplace in the early 1970s. However, federal funds for these environmental initiatives were limited. With regard to racial desegregation, Nixon worked quietly behind the scenes to accomplish that objective. Richard Nixon also supported equal rights for women and appointed more women to his administration than Lyndon Johnson had done in the 1960s.

  Richard Nixon’s downfall was the Watergate scandal, in which he tried to cover up a burglary at the Democratic Party headquarters. There were White House tapes indicating Nixon’s involvement in the cover-up. At one point in 1973, Nixon asserted that he was “not a crook. I’ve earned everything I got.” With the tide of public opinion turning against him, Nixon found it impossible to govern. With the threat of impeachment looming, Richard Nixon resigned the presidency in the summer of 1974. His vice president, Gerald Ford, became president for the remaining two years of his term. In his final speech, Richard Nixon talked about his own great effort and devotion in fighting for worthy causes—“knowing both his triumphs and his failures while daring greatly.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Forms of Energy

  On Tom’s desk was a hand-cranked generator connected to a light bulb, plus six-inch lengths of metal, glass, and plastic. The aim of the lesson was written on the board: “How is electricity produced and transmitted?” As his sophomore students filed into the room, a few of them played with the hand generator, turning it to get the light bulb to glow.

  “Come over here, Wendy. Put your hand here while I turn the generator,” said Barry, pointing to the light socket.

  The pretty, long-haired teenager ignored him as she chatted with a heavyset girl who sat across from her. Tom shooed the mischievous student away and began the lesson. Turning the generator handle, which caused the light bulb to glow faintly, the young science teacher asked the class to explain what was happening.

  Riner raised his hound. “You’re changing mechanical energy to electricity and then to light energy.”

  “Very good, Riner. So it’s clear that energy can be changed from one form to another. By the way, what is energy?” Tom asked.

  “I know. Energy is the ability to do work. Now give me ten points extra credit,” said Barry.

  “If I stopped to give extra points to each person that answered a question correctly, I wouldn’t have time to cover all the material I’m supposed to.”

  “That’s exactly the point, Mr. Haley,” replied the mis
chievous youngster with a sly grin.

  Moving to the front of the class, the skinny science teacher held an eraser high above his head and then let it fall to the floor. When it struck the floor, the eraser released a cloud of chalk dust.

  “You’re polluting the air. That’s against the law!” Manny called out from the back of the room.

  “What’s the energy transformation shown here?” Tom inquired.

  “Gravitational energy to kinetic energy,” Ronnie, a mild-mannered black girl, responded.

  “Define those two kinds of energy.”

  The same youngster answered, “Gravitational energy is due to the height of an object above the ground. And kinetic energy is due to an object’s motion.”

  “That’s absolutely right, Ronnie!” Tom exclaimed energetically. He had learned that showing enthusiasm was important when teaching adolescents, whose passion for science was limited.

  Tom had Barry come up and turn the generator. He asked what happened when the light bulb was connected and then disconnected from the generator.

  “It was harder to turn the generator when the light bulb was connected to it. This is truly amazing, Mr. Haley!” Barry said with feigned excitement.

  Tom also bridged the generator circuit with the metal, the plastic, and the glass wires. He demonstrated that only the metal wire could conduct electricity, while the glass and plastic lengths acted like insulators, stopping the flow of electric current.

  Turning to the board, Tom told the students to get out their science notebooks. This caused the usual collective sighs and groans, which Tom had learned to ignore. Teaching was akin to marching uphill with one hundred pounds on your back. Talking and writing simultaneously, Tom summarized the outcomes of the day’s lesson.

  “Energy is the ability to do work and move objects. Potential energy is energy of an object due to its position above the ground. Kinetic energy is energy of an object due to its motion. Electricity is energy of moving electric charges through a wire. Other forms of energy include light, heat, chemical energy, and nuclear energy.”