human
The point is well taken, I suppose. However, so was the one expressed by Mr. Jackson. We do what we must, and what we can. His eyes went over the assembly.
gpt
Is there any other group from which we haven't heard?
human
No group from the Soviet Complex?
gpt
Do you think they would admit it?
human
Or from the Arab Union? Crawford pursued.
gpt
Whether or not the Soviet Complex has agents in this part of Africa, we know that the Arab Union, backed by Islam everywhere, has. Frankly, we of the African Development Project seldom see eye to eye with them which results in considerable discussion at Reunited Nations meetings.
human
I am not an advocate of what the Soviets are currently calling communism, however, I think a point should be made here.
gpt
I know what you're thinking. When I was a student I signed a few peace petitions, that sort of thing. How--or why they bothered--the C.I.A. got hold of that information, I don't know, but as a Jamaican I am a bit ashamed of Her Majesty's Government. But all this is beside the point.
human
What is your point, Elmer? Crawford said.
gpt
You speak, of course, as an individual not as an employee of the Reunited Nations nor even as a member of my team.
human
Our team, Elmer Allen reminded him. He frowned at his chief, as though surprised at Crawford's stand. But then he looked back at the rest.
gpt
I don't like the fact that the C.I.A. is present at all. I grow increasingly weary of the righteousness of the prying for what it calls subversion. The latest definition of subversive seems to be any chap who doesn't vote either Republican or Democrat in the States, or Conservative in England.
human
So far as this job is concerned--and by the looks of things, most of us will be kept busy at it for the rest of our lives--I am not particularly favorable to the position of either side in this never-warming cold war between you and the Soviet Complex. I have suspected for some time that neither of you actually want an ending of it. For different reasons, possibly. So far as the States are concerned, I suspect an end of your fantastic military budgets would mean a collapse of your economy. So far as the Soviets are concerned, I suspect they use the continual _threat_ of attack by the West to keep up their military and police powers and suppress the freedom of their people. Wasn't it an old adage of the Romans that if you feared trouble at home, stir up war abroad? At any rate, I'd like to have it on the record that I protest the Cold War being dragged into our work in Africa--by either side.
gpt
All right, Elmer, Crawford said,
human
That's all,
gpt
Any comment, Mr. Ostrander?
human
Fuzzy thinking.
gpt
Any further discussion, any motions? He smiled and added,
human
Anything--period?
gpt
I don't agree with everything Mr. Allen just said; however, there was one item where I'll follow along. The fact that most of us will be busy at this job for the rest of our lives--if we stick. With this in mind, the fact that we have lots of time, I make the following proposal. This meeting was called to see if there was any prospect of we field workers co-operating on a field worker's level, if we could in any way help each other, avoid duplication of effort, that sort of thing. I suggest now that this meeting be adjourned and that all of us think it over and discuss it with the other teams, the other field workers in our respective organizations. I propose further that another meeting be held within the year and that meanwhile Mr. Crawford be elected chairman of the group until the next gathering, and that Miss Cunningham be elected secretary. We can all correspond with Mr. Crawford, until the time of the next meeting, giving him such suggestions as might come to us. When he sees fit to call the next meeting, undoubtedly he will have some concrete proposals to put before us.
human
Secretaries invariably do all the work, why is it that men always nominate a woman for the job?
gpt
I'll never tell.
human
I'll make that a motion,
gpt
Second,
human
All in favor?