Albert was much younger than Thomas. He knew he had a daunting task ahead of him. The goal was simple but the rules were governed. The challenge had been made and there was no turning back. The fight was “on,” and the end result would mean “undisputed destiny” for the winner; while the loser would squander at the bottom of the page as only an historical footnote. IT was a coin toss as to who would win.
As the crowd shuffled in, Albert gave them a grin and Thomas scoffed and cussed a bit. The arena was vast with enormous historical figures brimming over the clouds out of the heavens to watch this epic battle. At this point, both ‘iconic gods’ of their time were in deep concentration.
The elder statesman had let his ego outweigh everything else. So, on his own birthday, Thomas issued a challenge. HE was furious about all the accolades given to Albert. Thomas, after all, had exclusive rights to over one thousand patented and proven tools designed for this contest. They both had their own style; each with unique perceptive qualities. Throw all physical strength out of the equation. This match would take mental agility & impromptu moves to divide the two equals. A line was chalked between them and the battle would begin.
The crowd was quick to silence when Albert began to speak. At first his voice was soft and direct; but then it intensified with an echo punching a hole in the clouds. Space began to bend and streams of air gave way to words; clear, concise and in precision with time. A mass of historical figures felt his weighted breath and were wary, even of a whisper.
Albert issued a decree. In his Germanic vernacular, he barked, “Thomas, we don’t have to do this you know… Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools!”
The peaceful calm fell into a low rumble of whispers. Were these the words of a coward or a stroke of genius? Albert had forced Thomas to hesitate. It was obvious. Thomas, “the instigator” had begun to question the moral aim of his own directives. This “Giant” from the land where eagles soared, paused, examining facial expressions of all attendees.
Sitting next to each other, Genghis Kahn & Alexander the Great lifted their chins, as if to urge the two rivals to battle. Disgusted, Winston puffed a large volley of smoke into the air; while Franklin Delano took a chance to glance at Jefferson as if to say, ‘Who’s your money on, Enlightened One?’ Then, by tapping his sword on the front of his shield, Leonidas brought calm back to the event.
Thomas then beamed and looked more relaxed. He whisked his finger into the air and said, “Albert Einstein! I’m responsible for ‘moving your image’ through history.”
Albert resisted only with a nod and a smile but added, “Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.”
“Religion is all bunk!” exclaimed Thomas. Then he noted, “Who are you to judge? I am proud of the fact that I never invented weapons to kill!”
Albert declared, “Thomas Edison! Didn’t you once say, ‘What a man's mind can create, man's character can control?”
“Yes!” said Edison .
“And the value of an idea lies in the using of it?’”
“YES! I said that and I stand by it!!”
Einstein swallowed and looked to the ground.
In a gesture of sorts, his arms opened up as he looked up and said, "Mr. Edison, Where do you think the light came from that I used to study by?”
Thomas Edison’s birthday today… Edison, the “Inventor”: Phonograph (record player), motion pictures, & the most famous invention, the light bulb. And perhaps unwittingly contributed to a number of other inventions
No comments:
Post a Comment