Dorothy's Mystical Adventures in OzEvans, Robert J.
Science
Dorothy's Mystical Adventures in Oz
Evans, Robert J.
Fantasy literature; Oz (Imaginary place) -- Juvenile fiction
"Yes, it's very sad," said Dorothy. "But the happiness they feel is not
true, so when the effects of the chemical wear off they feel even worse
than before. Then, in a desperate effort to feel better again, they take
even more chemicals. Of course, they are doomed to repeat the cycle over
and over. This causes great anguish -- not only for themselves -- but for
their family and friends."
"How frightening!" gasped the Girrephalump.
"Yes, it's an awful, awful thing," said Dorothy. "Now the chemical is
the master. It now directs the person's life. He or she has lost
control, and is now a slave to this new master. Not only that, some of
these chemicals can affect the brain in such a way as to cause the
person to do awful things to other people, or to themselves. At the very
least their personality becomes distorted: they can have terrible mood
swings, and their natural drive and creative ability severely
diminished. Sometimes seizures, or even death can occur."
"Can't anyone stop all this?" said the Girrephalump. "Why do people make
these chemicals and sell them?"
"For money," said Dorothy. "They love money so much, they don't care who
gets hurt."
"Thank goodness I don't have to live in your mortal lands," said the
Girrephalump.
"Well, it's not all bad," said Dorothy. "There are many kind and
wonderful people there -- like Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. It's just the few
that spoil things for the many."
"It still seems to me that the place to start is with the little
children," said the Girrephalump. "If mortals were taught kindness and
love and gentleness and understanding, and all of these things as
children, the world would be a very happy place when they grew up, and
they could teach their children the same things. Then, by the time they
grew up, all the bad adults would have died off."
"I'm afraid it's not that simple," said Dorothy. "Some parents are full
of hate and resentment, or show contempt for other races or creeds by
the way they talk. This all influences the children."
"Why can't the schools teach the children differently?"
"I'm sure they do their best," said Dorothy, "but they are busy teaching
reading, writing and arithmetic."
"Well, I don't see much hope," said the Girrephalump.
"Yes, mortals are sort of locked into their ways of thinking," said Dorothy.
"Perhaps when you get back to Kansas, you could write a book about your
experiences in Oz," said the Girrephalump. "Then children who read it
will know that there's a place where no one really hurts anyone. And
perhaps they will treat each other a lot better. And when they grow up
they will be loving and kind to one another too, so that your country
will be as happy a place as Oz."
"That's an excellent idea," said Dorothy, though she knew that she was
far too young to write a whole book by herself and would have to confide
in an adult for help.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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