human
But why do you show us this and shame us for our foolishness?
gpt
I do not shame you, my son, but your fathers and the Hogons and the so-called witchmen. For long ages the Dogon have been led by the oldest members of the tribe, the Hogons. This can be nonsense because in spite of your traditions age does not necessarily bring wisdom. In fact, senility as it is called can bring childish nonsense. A people should be governed by the wisest and best among them, not by tradition, by often silly beliefs handed down from one generation to another.
human
But why do you tell us this, after shaming our fathers and the old men of the Dogon?
gpt
Because you will be the leaders of the Dogon tomorrow, most like. And it is necessary to learn these great truths. That you attend the schools and bring to the Dogon tomorrow what they did not have yesterday, and do not have today.
human
But suppose we tell them of how you have deceived them?
gpt
They will not believe you, boy. They will be afraid to believe you. And besides, men are almost everywhere the same. It is difficult for an older man to learn from a younger one, especially his own son. It is vanity, but it is true. His mouth twisted in memory.
human
When I was a lad myself, on the beaches of an island far from here in the Bahamas, my father beat me on more than one occasion, indignant that I should wish to attend the white man's schools, while he and his father before him had been fishermen. Beneath his indignation was the fear that one day I would excel him.
gpt
You are right, Hinnan said uncomfortably,
human
Instinctively, the son of the head chief assumed leadership of the others.
gpt
We will keep this secret between us,
human
Good luck, boys,