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Show PAGE 10 THE ZEPHYR APRIL 1992 F some thoughts in a election year presidential Robert Fulghum by Just above the light switch by the door to the studio where I work, I often place a photograph-pinnin- g it to the wall with a red pushpin. When, in a magazine or newspaper, I find a particularly arresting picture- -a visual image that provokes my mind- -I tear it out and put it by the light switch so that I see it and consider it as I come and go. Something to inspire me or confront me. For most of the month of March 1990, three photographs were pinned there by the light switch together. man doing some A small one, in color, showed a middle-age- d carpentry. Wearing aged leather hightop work shoes, blue jeans, flannel shirt, nail apron. d red baseball cap, and around his waist, a well-use- d He is working about eight feet off the ground, straddling a wall header while he nails it to the comer post. He's framing a house, and by the look on his face and the way he holds the hammer, it is clear that he not only knows what he is doing, but is intent on doing it right and well. You see carpenters every ing wood to wood with hammer and nail day doing this common and muscle and blood and sinew and brain. Men who say, when asked, blue 'Well, I'm in construction work." I like looking at this picture-brig- ht ing very honest and positive going sky, new wood, an ancient sweat-staine- one of the oldest and harshest arenas of place, to build structures of peace in conflict in human history. The man's name is Carter. Used to raise peanuts in Georgia. Had a teacher. And when the historians government job once. Carpenter now. And settle up accounts on the twentieth century someday, his name will shine. He is too soon to say. But it is not may not be in the list of great presidents-- it in our century, and maybe too soon to say the he is the finest ; ent ever. Each night as I finished my work and paused at the switch, I looked at the three pictures. Gallant is the word that comes to he has lost big. Forces beyond his courageous. He knows how to lose-f- or control may have made him the wrong man for the wrong job at the wrong time. Still, he lost as few men have. mind-high-spir- ited, task-nail- trade-someth- on. The second picture by the light switch was a grainy news photo from the morning paper earlier in the month. Showing a middle-age- d d khaki shirt. The man is smiling man, in a a great smile. And the other people in the picture are also smiling. The in powder-ke- g occasion is the conclusion of an election-a- n honest election-he- ld conditions in a Central American country. Nobody was killed during the elections, and the losers accepted the results, leading to a major change in government. The man in the shirtsleeves was there risking his credibility and brains and skills-ev- en his life-- to help bring about the impossible. He was there on his own, representing only himself and his concerns, without compensation other than the wages of conscience. black-and-whi- short-sleeve- d, te sweat-staine- He might have tucked his tail between his legs and spent the rest of his life sorting his papers and fishing and playing golf. Others who have had his government job have done as little. But to fose and to be a bser are very different matters. Besides, he still had work to do. Tasks he accepts because of who he is and not because of any office he may or may not hold. He is ' proof that there is no limit to the amount of good a man may do if he does not worry about who get? the credit. He is not one of those who gained the whole world and lost his own soul. ' His example is not lost upon me. Thanks to that man. To him, the noble prize. .. . i ' " ' . observations from Reprinted with permission of the author. From both sides of the refrigerator door. Copyright 1991 by Robert Fulghum. Villard Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York Uh-Oh..so- me The third picture by the light switch shows a man in white shirt and tie. He is not smiling. The look on his face is a combination of vexation and determination. He has come once again to meetings in the Middle East to get enemies to talk to one another face to face. Not on behalf of his government or any govemment-n-ot on behalf of any organization. On behalf of peace and justice. An agent of progress in human affairs. It's the same man in each of these pictures by the light switch. And he is truly in the construction business. Giving of his time and life to build houses for poor people, to build an atmosphere wherein free elections can take Kokopelli Gallery & Gifts Home of the Original Kokopelli Potter and.Petroglyph headquarters for all southeastern Utah Come to Kokopelli for your ancient Indian Rock Art creations on pottery. silver sandstone and various other arts by various Indian Artisans T-shi- rts AVAILABLE Noted authority on Ancient Indian Rock Art and history of the ancient Anasazi and Fremont Indians art crafted by local artists authentic Indian Art of the Four Corners Open 10 AM to 6PM Monday thru 90 East Center 259-606- 6 259-6982(wo- rk) Saturday Moab, Utah |