Chapter Five

“So we have to be enemies?”

“If I am going to make significant change within the status quo, I have to empathize with them,” answered the President. “Regardless of my true feelings, I can’t agree with you and I certainly can’t let anyone know we’ve ever even met. Furthermore, to truly stress the point, I have to fight you.”

“I thought it could be as easy as just telling it on the mountain,” pined Assange.

“It could, if you want me crucified. These people have been in power for centuries…not the individuals themselves, but the type of character and the family histories. Their culture is one of privilege, prestige and utilitarianism in regards to how it works. When you are raised by them, you learn how to ‘win at any and all costs.’ The ends justifies the means, and that means bending the rules is the norm and breaking them will happen if they trust they can get away with. They don’t consider it evil or immoral, it’s just going the extra step to achieve what they feel is rightfully theirs. The ONLY way of stopping this behavior is thru the People. Unfortunately, this culture has gotten great at steering public opinion with fear, to keep us off balance enough to stifle opposition.”

“I play whipping boy with Manning while you work their feelings? It just seems dirty.”

“To quote the Beatles,” said the President, “All you need is love.”

“Really? Your hippie roots actually held after you got into politics?”

“Forget the hippies. They were fun but likewise too overindulgent.”

“Did Dr. King and his Christian beliefs stir you up?”

“Religion has its merits, but it also has its martyrs. Think scientifically with me. If we believe what science now says; the human race is not separated by physical space, we are actually one life form, one being united by energy that can be mapped and measured absolutely, completely and unequivocally; can anything be accomplished if we fight each other anymore?”

“Well,” thought Assange, “when stated that way, the first thing that pops into my head is cancer.”

“You mean the body’s way of coping with inner struggle?” asked the President.

“Yeah…cancer is like your soul telling you you’re wrong. People have gotten so used to doing whatever they want, they often ignore the obvious. Then they just cut out whatever they don’t like about themselves.”

“Do you think we can ‘cut out’ certain people of power,” asked the President, “or is there a better answer?”

“Ideally, I would be in favor of healing the system,” said Assange.

“Thank you,” said the President. “Then let’s get busy.”