Tribute to a Nobel laureate

My spouse Lori & I drove from Long Island to Manhattan under a torrent of rain and amidst heavy traffic. The programme started on time at 8:00pm at New York City Town Hall on 43 street and 6th Avenue (Theater District). All the participants, including Salman Rushdie, William Kennedy (New York Times), Rose Styron (New Yorker Magazine), Jon Lee Anderson, Edith Grossman, Paul Auster, Francisco Goldman, Jaime Abello came to the dais and made their speech paying tribute to the guest of honour. The Nobel Prize winner, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, did not come to the United States. He sent a written apology and it was read to us. He wrote due to a superpower and its leader our world is sad. So am I. So sad that my mind did not want to fly to the US.

The programme started with a welcome speech by our former President Bill Clinton. Mr. Clinton is a close friend of Gabo (the nickname of Gabriel Marquez). We were told that Bill Clinton could still read the entire novel "Hundred Years of Solitude" (by Gabo) from his memory.

Salman Rushdie added a bit of humour to his speech. For example, the world became so dirty due to bushes all over the world. (of course he meant President Bush). Finally, I am providing two comments from Mr. George Bush and you be the judge of them:

"God created humans and no government can kill them" (Abortion Issues) November 6, 2003.

"God gave us the power to put a human to death" (Death Sentence act of Texas signed by Bush)