The Silent Minority
Page 24
learning which network it was, the Teacher said, "Oh I remember that. It was quite a good production."
Teacher this is a one hour weekly show around the world and they are willing to dedicate it to you. I think this is too good of an offer to refuse.'
"All right then, we'll sleep on it," the Teacher said.
The same day the young representative came back and asked the Teacher's secretary if he informed the Teacher about the network's offer.
He said he had.
"What did he say?"
"He said he'd sleep on it."
"That's all?"
"No actually he said, 'we'll sleep on it'."
The representative telephoned back to headquarters and informed them what the Teacher's answer was to their offer.
"What did he say?" asked the person on the other end.
He said he'll sleep on it."
"That's all?
"No actually he said...forget it, that's all."
It was not long before they called him back to the headquarters.
They tried to figure it out.
"What is the Teacher's game? What do you think is his weak point?" someone asked.
"I don't know. I am not acquainted with him. The closest contact I have with him is with his organizer."
The general manager intervened and said, "Look, we have this information that he is going to another state soon. If we don't pull this off now on our own turf in our headquarters it is as good as lost to another network." He thought for a moment and then said, "Go back and try to persuade him. Ask him what his demands are and ask him how much he wants."
So he went back. It was hard to get hold of the Teacher's helper with so many reporters surrounding the gate in front of the house. Finally he managed to do that and he asked the Teacher's companion for any news. He replied in the negative, so then he told him ask the Teacher his demands and how much he wanted.
The secretary went inside the house but the Teacher could not be disturbed. He had this sign on the door, and that meant the Teacher was praying or meditating.
He went outside and informed the young representative that he could not see the Teacher and when the network representative asked for how long, the secretary lifted his shoulders, saying, "It is hard to predict. Could be hours. Maybe tomorrow morning, I don't really know."
The young representative informed headquarters and they recalled him. This time most of the board was there waiting for him and he sensed they had started to panic.
"Well what did he say?" the director asked.
"Nothing," the young representative replied. "He cannot be disturbed."
The director looked distraught. Then he said, "Maybe we should send a senior negotiator before it is too late. I am sure that he is negotiating with another network."
"That would be too much of a risky move," an executive officer said. "The main thing in these cases is to break the ice and we have already done this. If we send someone new we my blow the whole thing apart."
"What are your suggestions then, gentlemen?" the director asked.
"This guy is the man of the moment. Every network and every newspaper would love to have him. I think we should go heavy on him to lure him out," said the executive officer. "I think we should send him a format of the show with a blank check to write his amount. We should also inform him that we will send a limousine to pick him up to meet the presenter of the show and the CEO to straighten any possible grievance. I am sure our CEO would be interested to meet him."
"Any more suggestions? Well then..." He turned to the young representative and said, what is your name son?
Michael Sir, Michael Armstrong.
"Well Michael we rely on you. If you pull this off a nice holiday is waiting for you; I suggest you take a sleeping bag with you."
The representative left and to his surprise when he reached the Teacher's house and the butler saw him he told him that the Teacher was available but he had not talked to him yet.
"That is good, for I am bringing a new offer for him. Tell the Teacher that..." and while he was talking he pulled a piece of paper out of his bag and handed it to him. "Tell him this is the format of the show, that we will send a limousine to pick him up to meet the anchorman of the show and possibly the CEO if need be. Ask him how much he wants. I will not go away until you give me an answer. I brought my sleeping bag with me."
The butler nodded and went into the house. He found the Teacher in good spirits and after the usual morning briefing he told the Teacher of the new offer made by the television network.
"Yes, and what is it?"
"This is the format of the show," he said, and he handed the paper to him. "They want to send a limousine to take you to the headquarters to meet the television presenter and to meet the CEO if need be and they want to know how much you want for it."
The Teacher did not seem to take much notice of the section of the last two offers but seemed to concentrate on the format. Then, deep in thought, he asked his friend; "Is the man from the network still here?"
He nodded. "That he is. He told me he won't go away without an answer and that he brought his sleeping bag with him."
The Teacher smiled and told his friend that he would like to meet him. Swiftly the butler went out and brought in the young representative to meet the Teacher.
"It is my honor to meet you, sir," he said, shaking hands heartily with the Teacher.
"It is nice to meet you too," said the Teacher smilingly. "Let's hope you won't have to use your sleeping bag tonight."
"I hope so sir."
"Now I want to ask you about the format of the show. Can you tell me the general procedure? Anything you can tell me will help."
"It is a one hour live weekly show broadcast live around the world. It deals with interviews, usually the show stars with the anchorman introducing it while the guest sits next to him. The introduction lasts about one minute then starts the interview with possibly some videos to bring out the story. The whole real show lasts about forty minutes with twenty minutes of commercials."
"And when is the next show taking place?"
"Next Wednesday."
The Teacher turned to his friend-organizer and asked if it is possible to squeeze in this interview knowing the tight schedule they had. His friend-organizer told him he had to consult his notes and that he would know in ten minutes. He left the two together.
"And how long are you in this line of work?" the Teacher asked in a friendly manner.
"Not very long sir and I hope for not much longer either."
"And why is that?"
"I am saving money to open a bakery shop. I hope it won't take that long."
"So you want to become a baker? Sure, it is an honorable profession. I am also sure that if you really want to do it, you will succeed. But nevertheless you do very well with your present work."
"That is because they promised me a vacation." He laughed. "No, this is not the reason, well... to be honest, that counts too, but I also like many things you said in the hearing, and the press conference. Although I don't agree with many of these, I think voices like that should be given a chance to be heard too."
"You must belong to the small minority that think like that. The vast majority think differently."
"You will be surprised. It appears so because they are vociferous. They talk loudly. They remind me of the bullies at school. A handful of them would impose their will upon the rest of the class."
"But here we have a different story. There are polls that suggest otherwise. Do you deny the polls as a scientific tool? They informed me that a poll on the spot, when the hearing was taking place, suggested the vast majority of the people thought otherwise."
"I deny the polls not for the reason you think, but for a different reason. You see, most of the polls are made by phone. I for one, and some friends I know, do not answer them, neither do we ring or tweet for something we don't like, or for something we feel strongly about it. It takes certain kinds of people to do that. Any
way, we may be the minority, but we make up for it by our tolerance, patience, and common sense."
The Teacher was pleasantly surprised to hear this young man talking in this rational fashion. He could talk with him for hours, but as the time was always his concern, he decided to press on.
"Tell me; when you say forty minutes of show, do you think we'll be able to divide it into two sections? In one, I can represent my view, and the other could be for the interview?"
"That I cannot answer, sir."
"And why is that?"
"Then I would give you inside information, and I have signed a declaration form against it."
"That is interesting. Tell me, if you happened not to sign it, would you tell me?"
"That I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"Then, I probably would have to ask my conscience sir. I don't think I would do it either even if I knew."
There was a knock on the door, and before the Teacher answered it, he said while shaking the young man's hand, "It was a pleasure to meet you. Keep up the good work." Then he turned to the door and said, "Come in please."
It was his friend the organizer. "It will be all right, Teacher, if you decide to do it. There was a minor problem, but I took care of it."
"Well then," the Teacher said, "let's find out if we are going to do it or not. Let's go."
"Let's go where?"
"To the television station of course."
At that moment, the network's rookie representative nearly choked on the glass of water the butler offered him earlier. "Please give me one minute, sir," he said, running towards the door; "I will be back in two minutes."
He went out in a corner behind the house and rang the headquarters