A TALE OF TWO CITIZENS

WHAT FOLLOWS IS A TALE ABOUT TWO AMERICANS. LET THE READER DECIDE WHO IS DOING THE "FAR, FAR BETTER THING," OF CHARLES DICKENS' TALE.

FAITH IS A 37 YR. OLD MOTHER OF 3 SONS IN CALIFORNIA WHOSE HUSBAND WAS CONVICTED AS A STOCK FELON. SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF A CHRISTIAN MINISTER, NAMED EPONYMOUSLY AFTER THE CARDINAL VIRTUE, FAITH. FAITH, HOWEVER, "CHALLENGED WHAT SHE WAS TAUGHT" AT HOME AFTER MEETING HER EVENTUAL HUSBAND WHO RAKED IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ILLEGAL PROFITS OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME. HE CLAIMS HE'S INNOCENT. HE ALSO ADMITS TO CHEATING ON HIS WIFE AND BEING THREATENED BY HER WITH DIVORCE. YET FAITH STOOD BY HER MAN. SHE AND HE SPENT 'MONEY LIKE WATER.' SHE IGNORED SEVERAL OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS AS SHE SHARED IN HER HUSBAND'S UPS, DOWNS AND FINAL UPSCALE WORLD OF WEALTH. HER HUSBAND'S BUSINESS DEALIINGS PROVIDED THEM WITH A 2.2 MILLION DOLLAR HOME, REPLETE WITH A LAVISH POOL AND FISH POND. AFTER HIS CONVICTION FOR THEFT, SHE WAS ABLE TO FLY BACK AND FORTH TO VISIT HER HUSBAND IN JAIL AND RENT AN APARTMENT TO BE NEAR HIS COURTROOM. SHE EXPRESSED MUCH BOOHOO WHEN THE LARGESSE CAME TO AN END. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS FORCED AN ENSUING 'POVERTY' THAT CAUSED HER TO LOSE HER $10,000 A MONTH LIVING EXPENSES, HER HOUSEKEEPER AND HER GARDENER. SHE ALSO "DROPPED HER THERAPIST VISITS." SHE MAY NOW NEED TO SELL THE 2.2 MILLION DOLLAR MANSION FOR A REDUCED PRICE IN THE 3 MILLION PRICE RANGE. SOME FEDERAL OFFICIALS ACTUALLY EXPRESSED "SYMPATHY FOR HER PLIGHT."

JOE IS A 79 YR. OLD RETIRED OYSTERMAN AND SELF-TAUGHT CARPENTER WHO WAS WASHED OUT BY HURRICANE KATRINA IN LOUISIANA. HE HAD BUILT HIS HOME WITH HIS FATHER 60 YEARS AGO. EXCLUDING HIS 2 YEARS IN THE U.S. ARMY, JOE'S PRIZED THIS PIECE OF PARADISE AS HIS PERMANENT HOME. HE CARES FOR HIS WIFE, AGE 78, AND FOR HIS DISABLED SON. HIS MONTHLY SOCIAL SECURITY STIPEND IS $800.00. THE STORM SWEPT THROUGH HIS HOUSE AND HIS BELOVED SHED FILLED WITH TOOLS. THESE TOOLS WERE A VALUABLE COLLECTION HE HAD ACQUIRED OVER THE YEARS. HIS ATTITUDE? "I CAN REPLACE THEM." JOE'S ATTITUDE ABOUT HAVING TO PERSONALLY RAKE THE RUBBLE FOR A PLACE FOR FEMA TO INSTALL A TRAILOR WAS HIS SILENCE. JOE PREPARED FOR THE STORM BY STOCKING UP FOOD AND FISH AND SECURING HIS PRIZED POSSESSION - A DREAM BOAT. FOR 25 YEARS HE PERSONALLY ASSEMBLED THIS OYSTER BOAT, FROM KEEL TO CABIN IN HOPES OF SOMEDAY SAILING IT TOWARD THE GULF OF MEXICO. PRESENTLY JOE, HIS WIFE AND SON LIVE IN A TINY CABIN IN A BORROWED BOAT, A MAKESHIFT HOME.

WHERE DO THE DISSIMILARITIES BETWEEN FAITH AND JOE BEGIN AND WHERE SHOULD THEY END? FAITH HAS DECADES IN WHICH TO SALVAGE HER LIFE, BUT THE OLD MAN HAS ONLY YEARS TO FULFILL HIS DREAM. FAITH THOUGHT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WERE NECESSARY TO CREATE A REFLECTING POOL AND FISH POND; JOE KNEW SUCH BEAUTIES THAT SURROUNDED HIM WERE NATURALLY FREE GRANTED BOTH JOE AND FAITH INHERITED LIFESTYLE FLAWS. . FAITH HAS NEVER KNOWN THE UNPRIVILEGED WHIRL. JOE HAS ALWAYS SHARED THE UNDERPRIVILEGED WORLD OF WORK AND CIGARETTES. NEVERTHELESS, I ASK WHICH OF THE TWO IS LIVING THE HERETICAL LIFE? WHO LIVES IN DENIAL OF TRUTH? WHO HAS INTERNALIZED THE MEANING OF HONESTY? HERESY DOESN'T APPEAR - TO ME - POSSIBLE IN JOE'S HONEST SLOGGING. I THINK, HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE TO PROSECUTE FAITH.

I ASK MYSELF WHAT RIGHT DOES FAITH HAVE TO LIVE OFF OF THE MONEY HER HUSBAND STOLE FROM OTHER PEOPLE? WHY WAS SHE UNQUESTIONING ABOUT THE WEALTH? WHY WAS SHE FAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND OTHER THAN TO HELP HERSELF TO A HEDONISTIC, DISHONEST AND UNCHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE?
I HOPE JOE GETS TO SAIL HIS DREAM BEFORE HE DIES. HE DESERVES IT.
I HOPE FAITH, WAITING TO CUT A DEAL TO SALVAGE SOME OF 'THE MONEY' BUT NOT INCREASE HER HUSBAND'S JAIL TIME, GETS A 'CLUE.'