The Silent Minority

progressive and liberal bloggers, although there are quite a few conservatives and right wing parties. It is the first time this phenomenon appears; with progressive-liberal and conservative- right wing groups having a common enemy, though for different reason of course.

  "There is also considerable opposition from religious organizations and the so-called new age movement.

  "Now I will give you some examples from Face book, and tweeting reactions, that represent the mood of the majority of the data we have collected. I quote:

  The most anachronistic things, I ever heard.

  It is time, to put this guy back in his hole.

  Whoever thought a layman, a mister nobody, would managed to stir such upheaval in these modern times we live! What has the world come to!

  Is there nobody to stop this agitator before is too late? This is how Hitler started after all, with rhetoric.

  Mark my words; this guy's days are numbered.

  Is this the preview of the new world order? Is this guy the forerunner of what is to come? If this is the case, surely we are entering a medieval age, but certainly not a new order.

  How dare the WCFET allow this agitator to propagandize for two days live around the world, with no bounds whatsoever? You should be ashamed of yourselves.

  Had the WCFET acted the right way with their recommendation, an international warrant would be issued, forcing this agitator to lie low, or he would be by now charged, and waiting the court's decision, somewhere in The Hague.

  Here the vice-chairman intervened, obviously annoyed, and asked the secretary to move on to the next section of the data.

  "So we move now into the television version. This segment constitutes two sections, the news segment, and the talk shows, mainly panel shows that analyzed the issue.

  The bigger impact on the news section was the photo taken during the hearing of the two smiling at each other merrily in the WCFET hall. Here all the main networks that we have dealt with approached this matter with a caustic humor with indescribable comments; in other ways, they tried to stick to the news format.

  "The panel shows are a different story. Here although the majority condemned this guy there were many arguments and disagreements as to why he should be condemned. So we have conservatives condemning him for saying that it is irrelevant in God's eyes whether a couple participated in a marriage religious ceremony or not. The homosexuals fumed against him for the explanations he gave about homosexuality. Doctors and professionals with professional names starting with the word psyche are angry. Right wing advocates call this guy every name under the sun; because he suggested it is futile to hold someone in prison if he genuinely repented for the crime he committed. Pro-abortion advocates charge that he is not even a woman so what right has he to intervene in this manner. Atheists claim that for whatever he says he has not proof. Religious leaders denounce him for calling them organizations with the main aim of power and money etc. and the list goes on and on.

  "On the newspaper section we have here again the photo of the two men in their front pages ridiculed with various innuendoes. Some of the major newspapers around the world approached it with a news-format manner but most of them in their editorials criticized the way WCFET handled the whole thing.

  "And now we came to our last section that comprises the incoming messages here on the WCFET headquarters. These messages come in the form of e-mails, telephone, letters and texts.

  "The absolute majority of them criticize harshly the way WCFET handled the situation. I will start read some of them.

  You should resign all of you. You are incapable for this job.

  Is there anybody with balls there? Shame on you.

  Two days of monologue without any one to challenge him?

  As both sides of the political spectrum are against him it is hard for me to comprehend who is behind all this.

  At my work everyone seems to be offended by this guy. Who is he anyway?

  Why don't you quit your job and became his disciples? That would suit you much better.

  "I can go on and on. This is the mood of all the rest."

  "If this is the mood of the people before the recommendation issued by our 'great leader', I hate to see what is going to be next," said the vice-chairman.

  "We also have some messages that seem to support the way WCFET handled the whole thing. If you want I can read you two or three."

  The vice-chairman signed the secretary to go on.

  "I am quoting:

  I honestly did not expected from you lot to act in such honorable manner

  It would take much courage to go against this populist tsunami of easy.

  Although I hardly agree of whatever your 'guest' said I must say you really honored the title of your organization today.

  At last we finally heard a fresh word against the worldwide status quo as it stands today. Bravo.

  The vice-chairman signed for no more. He took the chair and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is obvious that the far majority of people around the world demand from us to do something about this guy. To us happened to fall the responsibility to deal with this situation. Let's hope we will be worthy for our cause.

  "To start with do we all agree that we have to do something about this guy to stop him from agitating people around the world and stirring up things on an international scale?"

  The answer was unanimous. "Yes!"

  "Well then, first of all, as one of our committee members said to me' it is not as bad as it looks. If we carefully read the whole situation we will come to a conclusion that we can rectify it as easily as it appeared. In order to do that, I would like to hear from you first. Any suggestions? Any ideas you may have about it? Please don't hesitate to speak.

  "Well...after we come to an agreement we will form a small group of committee members to implement the plan. Any suggestions?"

  "If we only could charge him with something to stick, then we could ask Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant. Then two things could happen. He would either stay low in order to avoid arrest or else he would probably finish up in court in The Hague. Either way would serve our purpose."

  "That is a good point but don't forget others tried before us and failed."

  "There must be a way to make the charges stick."

  "There are surely ways."

  "Do you imply what I am thinking now?"

  "We must include all the avenues left open for us."

  "Even to frame someone?"

  "Have you got another idea?"

  "If we dig hard in his past life we may find something to assist us."

  "There is no much to dig until his late middle age. He has nothing to hide. He spent all his life in this small village with nothing extraordinary about him until he started to preach."

  "What shall we do then? In a short time he will start roaming the states with unpredictable results after all this publicity he got thanks to our chairman."

  "There must be a way to stop him."

  "How about if we deny him the means to accomplish his goal?"

  "You mean restrain him against his will?"

  "Gentlemen, do we all agree to form a committee with the smallest possible number—

  Let's say of five members— in order to prevent any leaks. Then we will give them total authorization to act according to how they feel fit to solve this problem? The rest of us need not worry about this. Anyway, in these cases the less you know the better."

  "Yeah, I'll second that."

  "Then we all agree?"

  "Yeah!"

  "In this case then let's proceed with electing the committee. Is there any volunteer for it?"

  "Yes, and I propose the vice-chairman to lead the group."

  "I second that and I volunteer for it."

  "Me too!"

  "Count me in too."

  "With honor, ladies and gentlemen, I accept your proposition. I and our committee members will do our best to bring this assignment to the most favorable solution for the benefit of WCFET
and mankind."

  THE CHAIRMAN

  The chairman went to his office, still holding his head with the paper towel. He put his personal belongings in his bag and looked the photos of his grandchildren.

  They've grown quite a bit, he thought as he took the bronze plaque that he adored so much, reminiscing on the day his wife gave it to him for his birthday present the year he was elected as chairman of WCFET.

  I DISEGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY BUT I WILL FIGHT WITH ALL OF MY HEART TO GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO SAY IT.

  These were words that he worshiped and that he had tried to defend wholeheartedly. There where moments though that he had yield in order to save his position. He had a last glance at his office and with a mixed feeling of sadness and relief that it is all over he walked out. Some of the committee members tried to get an explanation for his behaviour. There were cries of, how dare you; you must be ashamed of yourself, goodbye mister ex-chairman, and more. They tried to block his path but all in vain. The only thing they could do was open up the path for him as the peasants would open up the path for their king when he happened to pass from their village. Never before had the chairman looked so imposing or so majestic. His pace was firm, his eyes clear and focused straight, and his posture straight and tall. He looked grand and the only thing they could do eventually was to open up the road for him.

  He went to his car and drove off from the back gate in order to avoid the media.

  On the way home he thought it may be better to see an old friend, a retired medical doctor, to patch him up before his wife saw him in this mess. Then he went for a drink in a nearby bar. Never before in his term as chairman had he ever done this but today was