April 17
Art Hoppe,
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art: So Little!
I was going to write on this in memory of the late Edna Ferber. And she is in no way to blame for the behavior patterns that are characteristic of the dominant personalities in this country.
So long as we insist—and do we?—that some people are more equal than others, I do not see any way out but murder and assassination. The death of Martin Luther King was exceedingly dramatic and a repetition no doubt, of that of Mahatma Gandhi but have we any alternatives?
There is an article in the paper today which is characterized by two elements: (a) suspicion of the press against the exceedingly severe “only in America” form of censoring without a censor; (b) the inability of a learned public to take the press seriously.
In any event it is remarkable that a Nation which can solve problems of navigation, curing diseases, building up a vast education superstructure, is still trying to solve other problems by sermons, editorials and a plethora of words.
So long as any of us accept, or regret the dastardly death of a Negro, we are letting ourselves open to be compelled to accept, or regret the bastardly assassination of, let us say, an Arab, or somebody by an Arab. I am taking this as one of the many flagrant instances we try to solve problems by avoiding mentioning them; or by emotional editorials.
Shylock may have certain physical and emotional qualifications that would compel his being considered as a human being. But where are the same with and toward the Arabs? I am not urging any “solution” of any Palestinian complex nor can I because the Arabs “though right” are not considered and the Israelis— who are unfortunately confused with the Jews as a whole, “though wrong” are always considered equals.
The President is demanding democracy in Vietnam and yet excluding Vietnamese from conferences. But he is typically American, unfortunately. It is always what we can do for others: the others are not considered, until they either kill or are killed.
There is no Jew nor Greek nor Barbarian nor slave nor free in Christ Jesus.
Faithfully,
San Francisco Chronicle
March 5, 1965
Dear Samuel:
Consider Sag On to be declared the new capitol of West Vhtnnng, which is the Southeast Asian country I write about all the time.
Most gratefully,
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
November 4, 1965
Dear Art Hoppe:
Eye Not-Witness. In the paper this morning on Pridi Phanomyong expresses a Thai point-of-view. It is very interesting.
I have already told you what happened when her Serene Highness, Princess Poon Diskul, came here. Well I was with her in Thailand, and we are very close. But being her Sir Walter Raleigh I have tried to present her point-of-view.
You know by this time that some people are more equal than others, and those “bastard” Russians are equal but people of S.E. Asia are not. Every time I tried to present Her Serene Highness’ point-of-view I was told to sit down, politely or not politely.
By this time there have been several men, usually on the UCLA campus who have been entrusted with the affairs of S.E. Asia and who do not believe in our “Great God Brown” or UP-AP with top commentators versions which is the basis for all public discussions. Facts may determine Sally Stanford cases but they have no place in international affairs-discussions.
This afternoon I shall see one or two professors concerning a peace proposal for South Asia. It is based on eye-witnessing and and-witnessing. I has taken nine years to get Pridi Phanomyong’s point even presented to the American public.
I think when I get back to Asia I shall establish parades and anti- parades to determine the future of New York City or the Oroville Dam. This is what our marchers and counter-marchers are doing. I am glad that at last a human being has been given a little space—right or wrong.
It has taken nine years to get this point of view presented. Now I am hoping
someday, somehow a Kashmiri—or a Ladakhi or a Belti or a Shina or a Dard may
be permitted to express himself on the future of his country. We are about to
dedicate a big hunk of Asia to the Chinese. If you can’t lick ‘em laugh
at ‘em. That is what the Chinese are doing now and I am talking
realities, not
“realism.”
Faithfully,
San Francisco Chronicle
December 2, 1965
Dear Samuel Lewis:
I like your style. I always mingle with the natives.
Most gratefully,
San Francisco Chronicle
January 4, 1966
Dear S.A.M.:
I can’t think of anyone who could make better use of a legacy. Please keep me posted on where you are and what you are doing.
When the thoughts which you have planted in my mind ripen into a column, I want to send you a copy immediately.
May your plans meet with success beyond your hopes.
Happy New Year,
San Francisco Chronicle
July 28, 1966
Dear Sam:
You are so right; it would be a wonderful day. Your joyful philosophy brightened my return to work after my vacation and two weeks in the East.
Thanks so much.
Gratefully,
San Francisco Chronicle
August 3, 1966
Dear Sam:
You consistently delight and amaze me. I shall be looking for that further notice.
Gratefully,
San Francisco Chronicle
September 22, 1966
Dear S.A.M.:
You are most certainly alive; I think you are probably the most vitally alive man I know. I particularly liked the idea of keeping the American men in Vietnam to love and learn to learn from the Vietnamese.
Gratefully,
San Francisco Chronicle
October 19, 1966
Dear S.A.M.:
That was a fine comparison of reality as compared to realism. And I liked your Oriental garden in Santa Barbara bit, as well as your analysis of hair length. But tell me more about that movement to put trousers on the statues of Jesus Christ; that really tops them all for Occidental vs. Oriental “realism.”
Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
October 27, 1966
Dear S.A.M.:
Your latest literary efforts are priceless. Have you ever considered having some of those lovely remarks you make printed in book form?
“to say the least…,” “funny things … to the Forum,” “Everybody counts but Asians….”—to name a few.
A friend sent me a brochure on a conference to be held at Palm Desert on Southeast Asia. He was mainly concerned (because of the registration fee) with the cost of saving the world. But you should enjoy the fact that the whole thing substantiates yours thesis; even the ersatz Oriental hotel.
Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
November 2, 1966
Dear S.A.M.:
You are so right. Now that you have made me aware of it, I keep seeing evidence of the apparently deliberate confusion of headline Asia with RM Asia. Sometimes it is funny, but more often, tragic. I am reviewing our correspondence in the hope of coming up with a column. But my space is limited and you are not. Wish me luck.
Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
January 3, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
Thank you for your kind Christmas greeting and for your thoughts on saints, sinners, and particularly the younger generation.
It seems to me you are doing a wonderful thing with your young people. I hope they can understand and really value the things you have to give them.
Happy New Year,
San Francisco Chronicle
January 20, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
I don’t blame you. The closer we approach our most greatly desired goals, the more frightening it becomes, even when we know it’s right. And opening doors have all sorts of things behind them.
Good luck with your crusade. I think it is a good one.
Love,
|
|
San Francisco Chronicle
March 7, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
You have convinced me. And, like you, I will say, “I am leaving.” To collect a few facts.
So I’m off to London, Moscow and points east, leaving San Francisco the end of the week. I’ll try to check the European version of reality vs. realism.
Keep the faith,
San Francisco Chronicle
April 7, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
How good it is to come home and hear of the wonderful progress you are making. With both the hippies and MIT coming to you for real facts, I too am greatly encouraged. I have great hopes particularly for those young people and their viewpoint. And I have great respect for what you are contributing to that viewpoint.
Love,
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
May 20. 1967
Art Hoppe.
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco 19, Calif.
Dear Art:
I am slowly recovering. My diet eschews salt and welcomes acids so if my letters are tinged with that is part of my regime.
I am enclosing copy of letter to Senator Kuchel. His interest in salt-water conversion is to me, highly important. I have been shocked by California politics that in the midst of everything else so little attention has been paid to water problems and we have to face them. But we are. And this may be the first stop toward a new world.
I have around copies of letter written to Arnold Toynbe and it I find it it will be enclosed. My Pakistani friends all complained that it was so easy to talk to and with the British savant and totally impossible to communicate with Mr. Salzburg (I think Arthur) who visited each place between A.T. and yours truly. Only my visits could not possibly be real of important. Anything that promotes misunderstanding is important and news: when man bites dog it must never be mentioned. All my Asian “adventures” were man bites dog type.
I am about ready to write to the new President of India, Hon. Zukair Hussain. The contents are “impossible.” There was once a man named Fielding Hall who wrote “The soul of a people” regarding Burma. This book must be avoided; it would lead to understanding real people of real Asia. Another of the same type was Dr. Gardner Murphy. Murphy is in the dog-house, the Indians love him. Ambassador Bowles is in the pent-house, Madison Ave. loves him. This is “America.” Therefore “everybody” must listen to Bowles but nobody must listen to Senator Cooper who did not go around India with cameras and who quietly penetrated the hearts of Asians. This is, of course, off course.
Next week I hope my first interviews on “How California Can Help Asia” and I expect no difficulties whatsoever. We have Lord Snow’s “The Two Cultures, the scientists (who love facts) and the literary-humanities (who love conclusions). Like Shaw who hoped to convert some banker to socialism, I am still hoping to convert some of our literary-humanists to the world of facts.
Faithfully,
San Francisco Chronicle
June 15, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
What do you mean, “nuisance”? What do you mean, “last”?
Not only do I admire your knowledge, persistence, and hopeful work with the young, but my vast ignorance of the East would have been even greater without you and your letters.
Don’t desert me now.
Desperately,
Art Hoppe
|
|
|
San Francisco Chronicle
June 30, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
How would I ever have gotten through my sessions at the United Nations and in Washington without you. And then, to return to San Francisco and find your delightfully true comments on the Israeli untelevized war was delightfuller.
Thanks to you, I now keep a watchful eye out for Asian Asians when I want to know about Asia.
Most gratefully,
Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
September 1, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
As you know, I was out of town when you had the fair, but I understand that my friend, Eloise Mitchell, enjoyed it and particularly enjoyed her visit with you. I expect to have a full report from her next week.
I particularly enjoyed your bird battle letter. I think the Crows sound the most interesting, too.
Love,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
September 27, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
Good luck with your seminar. Perhaps you can throw in your “Superzen.” Your letters, as usual, are full of things to think about.
Love,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
October 20, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
I am pleased to note that you are so busy with things relevant to your philosophy. Objective awareness is a good thing to pursue, methinks.
Gratefully,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
November 15, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
The last batch of “Sqawk’s” were absolutely enjoyable. They were all so good I can’t single out the best.
Yours in faith,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
November 22, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
With you in there belly-aching and fighting to get knowledgeable people to be the experts, maybe the Aryans will let the Asians be Asians.
The best,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
December 1, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
Maybe if we could find the child in us that became disillusioned and change that habit we will be in a position to learn from the youth outside us. I for one am glad they are searching for God consciousness.
Keep the faith,
Art
P.S. I’m stealing your idea about Vietnam and Texas for a column next Tuesday. Many, many thanks.
San Francisco Chronicle
December 18, 1967
Dear S.A.M.:
I am glad your seminar for you was such a success. How about—“If you can’t lick ‘em, laugh at yourself”? Best wishes in your doing.
Peace,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
April 15, 1968
Dear S.A.M.:
Your letter on Dr. King’s passing was one of the best I have ever read. I only hope that that much of humanity is indeed awakened and not asleep.
It is hard for us to remember ourselves all the time and be aware of the deaths, births and resurrections of life daily that we must attend to in order to keep our self awake.
Peace,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
May 24, 1968
Dear S.A.M.:
I can’t decide whether you have actually bridged the generation gap or have changed generations. Whatever it is, I like it.
You are the one who can challenge the script, too
Keep the faith,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
October 30, 1968
Dear Sam:
But I want love and reality, and I’m not young.
Love,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
November 6, 1968
Dear Sam:
I love to, but can’t—I’ve already made plans to take the family out of town that weekend.
Shouldn’t a beautiful philosophy have beautiful followers?
Love,
Art
November 10, 1968
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco 19, Calif.
Dear Art: Angel-Strators
There is nothing in which I profess to be more proficient than in plagiarizing. Even from my best friends and when I read your editorial on Demon-Strators. I thought it was time to present the other side (something permittable in many lands not claiming “democracy.”
Evidently I have lived—judging from my last birthday and not having been born a robot I have read and among those read was one Havelock Ellis. Especially his literature before he became an “expert.” Chief among these was The Dance of Life that you could judge people (even those in North Beach) by their dances.
And if you came into this house instead of having a “Big Brother is Watching You” we have “Sri Mati is watching you” meaning the late Miss Ruth St. Denis. And methinks she is very much alive and is constantly “blessing” me with new dance patterns. They are all Pied Piperish in that the young join in and the old sit by and criticize and criticize. The theme to the Psychedelics “Joy without Drugs” is demonstrable but not newsworthy. If a man builds a better mousetrap and lives in the midst of the woods the world will beat a pathway to his door but the newspapers and TV, never. You go to demon-strate, and the demons are all over, demon-strating.
Yesterday as we completed our lessons on the Precita Park Lawn (we accept anything but Keep Off the Grass, all interpretations). I saw all my young people, men and women with arms around each other—they not only love their teacher but each other. Such “love” ain’t Hashbury and it cawn’t be, but it will some day, Art, it will.
After writing this I am prepared to do my “thing “in G.G. Park below Hippy Hill.
Workers of the whirled unite. You have nothing to lose and you might gain a lot of delightful chain-reactions, by which I mean chains.
Tonight we are going to shock or please our friend, Mr. Paul Reps. We have lots of revolutions, but none “newsworthy.” And two big meetings coming up for San Francisco State, where I shall present real Asian philosophies of real Asians. And by the way, Art, I met the new Swami at the Vedanta Temple. It was just like with Rabbi Schlomo, the last thing that “could possibly happen” between a … and a ….!
Samuel L. Lewis
San Francisco Chronicle
November 19, 1968
Dear Sam:
My sympathies for your petering “Pied Piper.” Please continue….
Love,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
November 20, 1968
Dear Sam:
A way out is for it never to get in. And, sadly, the wise and knowing are too often soft-spoken.
Sincerely,
Art
November 22, 1968
Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
Mission & 5th Sts.
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Art:
I am a scab. You can pay $10 to hear a German named Lama Anagarika Govinda speak on something he calls “Buddhism” to a veddy select audiences. Or you can come here and hear an Asian speak on his religion, also called “Buddhism” at nothing per. This, of course, is contrary to our culture.
It came about this way: My campaign to become a pied piper has been attracting only the young. Lots of ‘em and they want me to do more Pieding and Pipering. But last night a more mature person invaded this place:
My friend. Prof. Thich Thien An of Vietnam and UCLA came here and was very welcome. Of course he had the wrong “credentials” and of course he is totally ineligible to make any suggestions about his country.
Once we elected a man named Woodrow Wilson who came out for “self-determination” of nations. In fact he got re-elected. But people not adept at spelling had to get rid of “self-determination” and substitute “experts” which we now have. Along with war, misunderstanding and oodles of editorials from experts of all kinds, excepting they don’t speak Vietnamese, have never mingled with the people and are totally ignorant on the history and culture of S.E. Asia.
I must say that Dr. Thien An is also a gourmet. That will never do, but I hope to take him out today anyhow. His talk last night was enjoyed by the 20 odd young people here. They all prefer an Asian to speak on Asia over an “expert” either at $10 a throw, o less.
Peace, it is wonderful.
November 29, 1968
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif.
My dear Art:
I have for some time taken a cynical attitude toward the General Semanticists. They have never forgiven my primal sin of having studied under Prof. Cassius Keyser of Columbia, the friend and mentor of Count Alfred Korzybski who is regarded as the chief exponent of General Semantics.
We are still almost totally under the analytical psychologies and regardless of our word, stem mostly from Aristotle or Hegel. As my G.S. friends have seldom studied higher mathematics or Mathematical processes it is impossible to establish communication with them on the very levels on which they purport to base their teachings.
My own God-son is a Negro and I have worked alongside of “blacks” both in the Deep South and here, something most of the proponents of “radical” movements have not acutely done. I consider this as part of life and have dwelled among persons of all races often as one of them.
In the letter, copy enclosed, a few hard facts are given in regard to the policy of the University of California Extension. I can say further that UCLA especially and Santa Barbara in part have already granted or include in their basic policies some of the things the so-calling “Black Students” claim to want. We cannot have African Studies all over, but we have plenty of them ignored by all connected with channels of communication of every ilk. Propagandists want propagandists.
I may follow this by writing to the U.C. Alumni where unlike Hayakawa, they read my articles and accept them very seriously and where I can go any time and talk man to man. I am also placing a copy of this correspondence into the hands of one of the leading philosophers of their region who is neither an Aristotelian (or the variant of Aristotelian called non-Aristotelian) nor a Dialectician nor an Existentionalist.
The “young” will receive copies of this correspondence too, and I think some of them will do something.
Faithfully,
December 9, 1968
Mr. Art Hoppe.
S.F. Chronicle,
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
What has come over “The Chronicle?” This morning they had articles written by students enrolled at San Francisco State College: how come? Since when are we permitting “Vietnamese” to express themselves on the future welcome of their country.
I eye-witnessed the Berkeley campus melodrama. It was two years before I saw an article in print from the president of the erstwhile Student body. It just isn’t done! (in a “democracy,” of course.) The article was from my point of view absolutely honest. Objective and direct reporting of events in which the person participated.
Therefore it was useless to go to S.F. State. I saw many TV programs, all kinds of stations and they all had in common ignoring the students and programming the participants in “the show.” “The show” must go on. They never asked whether the mouths were in the bodies of enrolled students. First comes, first serve and it was obvious non-students stole the show.
In fact I met a man who told me he was a Trotskyite organizer and what he was going to do. He is not a student at S.F. State. Two days later he got top billing on TV: Along with Negroes and non-Negroes not enrolled at the college. Students and processors are alike ignore by the radio, TV, Press, publications and others. They are the last ones to be given consideration.
Now General Hayakawa, one of the founders of the “science” of communication (!) is in charge. He had to rely upon Irish logic having long discarded Aristotle and perhaps Irish logic is the one which is needed now. Having frozen his own ears he may be surprised he has founded a cult of frozen ears, and these cultists are out to get him. Nobody thinks of upfreezing ears. Perhaps it might help but I won’t suggest it.
Faithfully,
July 6, 1973
Dear Art:
This is written at Malmö and I am anticipating by writing ahead of time.
World Prize in Literature, won by Sady Tompkins, graduate of San Francisco State College. “And what were you doing during the turmoil in 1968?” “Oh, that!” “We thought it was the antics of some Hollywood producer, we paid no attention. What about class attendance?” “I never even noticed; it was so usual.”
World Prize in Botany won by Ralph Slobatsky, graduate of San Francisco State College. “And what were you doing during the turmoil of 1968?” “Oh that! We were so busy collecting Afhega Bulzabai; it was such a wonderful discovery. Indeed class attendance was above normal.”
World Prize in History won by Angela Icaresque, graduate of San Francisco State College. “And what were you doing in the early winter of 1968?” “Oh that, I was in Cambodia getting the real facts, of real history. I have no time for fiction mongering.”
World Prize in Radio-Active Cosmology won by Paul Von Paul, graduate of San Francisco the College. “And where were you in December, 1968? Weren’t you on the campus?” “Sure, but we just had some new equipment which needed adjustment and we were busy day and night.” “Didn’t you notice anything strange happening?” “Something strange is always happening. But the universe is so big and the earth so small, what did you expect us graduate students to do then?”
And son on and on. (Don’t newsmen and cameras ever get into the class rooms and labs and ascertain what is going on?)
Cordially,
Sam
San Francisco Chronicle
December 11, 1968
Dear S.A.M.:
As “the show goes on” it could sure use some canned laughter.
Love,
Art
December 16, 1968
Dear Art:
This is a delicate letter. I know that any newsman found talking to an enrolled student during the times of turmoil may be fired from his job. His task is to interview only the dramatis personae whomsoever he sees doing a “thing” and he never asks them if they are enrolled students and what courses they are interested in. This is not in his script.
Now Prof. Hayakawa of Japanese ancestry believes, or believed that Zen Buddhism was the produce of brilliant British minds. “Brilliant” meant he knew or knows them, e.g. Alan Watts, the late Aldous Huxley, etc. In fact he turned his back on Japan because he felt it was unworthy and incapable of producing such a wonder as “Zen Buddhism.”
A friend of Hayakawa has said, “Facts should not confuse the Issues. Actually Prof. Hayakawa is not only an ignoramus on Japanese culture, he is an absolute wizard on American culture: I am not fooling. He knows more and has shown more interest in American Studies than the whole gamut of non-students who themselves have never shown any interests in African Studies and are demanding courses in subjects just to put up a show of power. And if we had a real examination for real professors in real African Studies, Prof. Hayakawa might outdistance some of our Black Power friends just as his own friends in his “Zen Buddhism” would be outdistanced by his presumable blood-relatives, anent Asian culture.
None of this shows sense. But if Prof. Hayakawa believes that we should have Englishmen and Germans “teach” Asian culture, he would be eligible under his premises to teach “African Culture” and there’s the rub.
Isn’t this confusion more fun than the TV-dramas? The show must go on.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
|
|
|
San Francisco Chronicle
December 18, 1968
Dear S.A.M.:
I’ve certainly enjoyed your letters on the S.F. State situation and particularly the details regarding Hayakawa’s interest in African Studies.
An Afro-Asian-American!
Love,
Art
|
|
|
San Francisco Chronicle
December 19, 1968
Dear S.A.M.:
What do you mean-apply?! I thought you already were.
Love,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
December 23, 1968
Dear S.A.M.:
Om.
Love,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
January 6, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
It is hard for me to imagine you holding your thumbs.
Love,
Art
AKA Mark Twain
January 7th, 1969
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle.
San Francisco. 94119
Dear Art:
In re: Dr. S. L. Hayakawa
It is very awkward to permit the personality to interfere with any problem demanding logic, foresight, facts and wisdom. But we are also facing a complex in which nearly all the various factional leaders wish to fore logic, foresight, facts and wisdom I am a firm believer in campus revolts, but am even more adamant against campus invasions and regard this San Francisco State College imbroglio as a complex of invasions in which the students are ignored and hardly a newsman, reporter or investigator has gone into a classroom, laboratory, workshop, etc. to find out what is really going on in what I consider a splendid educational system.
It is wrong and even rude to select a single individual but unfortunately everything is now merely a mess of personalities without any regard to any principle whatsoever. And Dr. Hayakawa, in permitting himself to function as the champion of anti-Aristotelianism has actually made himself the champion of anti-logistics or any sort of reasoning on any basis whatsoever. It is a pity, no doubt, to attack a person qua re persona in the midst of a conflict demanding judgment but that is his, Don Hayakawa’s standard and he does not rely on any standard whatsoever excepting to judge on personality and personalism alone, shifting his ground in every situation accordingly and taking refuge in the very word system which he verbally attacks in books and lectures which pay him well.
For the sake of history I am going to limit this to three confrontations. I committed an absolutely unforgivable sin to which I have referred from time to time in letters, of having studied under the friend and teacher of Hayakawa’s teacher, Alfred (Count) Korzybski. I have never been forgiven, and have never been permitted to present any article or give any talk to any group with which he is associated. This despite the very hard fact (which the so-called semanticists deplore), that this man was the late Prof. Cassius Keyser of Columbia University, one of the most beloved of American teachers and also one of the most serious, and a monument of deep thought or “rigorous thinking” as he called it. The door is still open for a paper on this man, whom Korzybski himself idolized but not the “generals” who have taken over semantics.
Being once enrolled at San Francisco State College where Dr. Hayakawa teaches, I approached him on the subject: “The Application of G.S. to Research Laboratory Experiments.” He was very busy and asked me to present it to a class of scientists then enrolled at San Francisco State studying general semantics—the class was limited to scientists and teachers. I presented the paper, was given an ovation and told Don. He asked for it. I sent it. That was the last I ever heard. It was neither published nor returned.
Later I was told be an acquaintance who said he was there when my paper arrived and Dr. Hayakawa crumbled it up and threw it in the waste-basket. There is no reason not to accept this report and there is nothing in the later actions of Dr. Hayakawa which do not support this publicity.
So far many of the papers that were sent to Dr. Hayakawa have been accepted by other universities and some even published. I do not wish to go into that. But when I protested against his publishing articles by Englishmen (who had never been to Japan or studied under Zen Masters) that they did not represent Zen, I was rebuffed. Here is a person of partial Japanese ancestry who has ignored the contribution of his paternal forebears to culture and instead accepted totally subjective articles by personal friends as representing (or misrepresenting) great areas of Oriental culture. For that matter he has absolutely refused to consider the leading non-Aristotelian logical systems of Asia, absolutely and without any demure and so when we reject Aristotle we have no alternatives excepting sophistry and egotism.
Nevertheless I tried to make up with him and when I befriended him in public I was immediately attacked in private and when the majority, being against him, turned against Sam Lewis, his own secretary coming in, seeing the trend also joined the attack without seeking its Nature and finally he and his friends also! And this is what is generally known as “general semantics” and anti-Aristotelians.
It is a pity for I personally am opposed to all campus invasions by outsiders including the hard, hard factual system that newsman and reporters do not go into the class-rooms, Laboratories and work-shops to see what the students are doing. How they think and feel.
Enemies of Hayakawa have met with this person and they would like this information—which settles nothing. To have a man who is actually anti-intellectualism and anti-honesty in charge of a great educational institution can bring no good. But to give in to mobs of outsiders invading educational of public institutions can bring nothing else but evil.
Only today I am becoming more and more of a hero to the young in revolt and shall soon have full opportunity to get my history of rejections in print and cause a lot of red faces to run to cover for they cannot explain. Besides I am not the only one to be so treated. This is a long and complicated history, hardly to be told in the middle of campus disturbances. But as a friend of Hayakawa himself says, “we should not let facts disturb the issue.” The issue is merely which self-centered dictator, person or group, is going to mislead students who want to be educated and take part in society, etc. There is no conclusion. Only a report here….
Faithfully,
San Francisco Chronicle
January 13, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
I so agree with you that hope is youth.
Do you think that there is a tranquilizer big enough that could give the whole world a dose that could last a generation?
Love,
Art
January 14, 1969
Mr. Art Hoppe.
c/o S.F. Chronicle.
San Francisco 19
My dear Art:
I am sorry I have been unable to disturb you this week. You see I am working on the petition to the students at Brandeis that they should march on Howard University and demand a department of Jewish studies. Why not? Anyhow I am sending a copy to your friend, Herb Caen, who may be Interested.
I am also thinking of adding a demand that Howard give Sammy Davis Jr. a Ph. D. Don’t you think this is a good idea? I bet Sammy could beat any Cleaver in an intelligence contact. But why becloud the issues?
Another disturbing thing is that the Hindu students are inviting me to partake in their Intendance Day celebrations. This impertinence to our “only in America” experts on Oriental Philosophy (??) out of Leyden, Oxford, Heidelberg, Upsala and their students in our universities may cause us to question foreign aid. Yes, the Hindu students are taking over their own celebration and the fact that I have some excellent fresh material from Indian-India will be welcomed—by them. Why they even accede that I am a friend of their present President and former President, but don’t let that disturb you. It never disturbs the press, radio and TV anyhow, so don’t let it be you.
Anyhow I am getting ready to lead a delegation of American youth to join the Hindu youth in studying Indian-Indian philosophy and the Americans love curry and the Hindus like American girls. (You don’t hear these discussed in our ??classes?? on Asian psychology, especially at Esalen.)
My classes in Yoga Dancing and Dervish Dancing are prospering fine, but any such silly idea of building up peace and brotherhood through the dance is strictly against prevailing dialectics of the “left” in these dances. We have men and women. Odd, isn’t it?
Why Art, somebody even sent me a small endowment this week, for my bombastic claim to know something about those philosophies which all Asians say I know. Of course those who reject my claims will be glad to share the endowment but this time, no sir, not I, sir.
Faithfully.
cc-Herb Caen
San Francisco Chronicle
February 7, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
Please continue to amaze me.
Gratefully,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
February 12, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
War is a way of “life”?
Love,
Art
Feb. 12. 1969
YES!
Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
Yesterday I met a policeman. He was not in uniform. I made a suggestion. To my amazement and stupefaction he thought it was a good idea. So I pass it on to you:
Why don’t you stop using mace and substitute laughing gas!
Yours to accept, reject, or plagiarize.
Sam
February 14, 1969
Dear Art:
Flayboy it is.
They got some facts correct. See the March issue, they did not put me down as a giant—I mean in physique. They even said what I said, but when it comes to medical and psychiatric diagnosis, Flay boy is flay boy. Evidentially they have to do it. But they did spell penis correctly in referring to my use of it. Le Femme present were all young, some very beautiful. Ergo, she was called an “Acidhead.”
(I have yet to meet an acid lip.)
So I am going to tell my lawyer, I am guilty by association. The association is only geographical which makes it worse. I have also earned additional flaying from these who were not put on the frying pan. Now I am going out to Haight Street and will undoubtedly be a here. My facts being facts, the young like them. I am leaving the opinions to the status symbols.
Valentine’s Day Love,
NO!
Art Hoppe,
c/o S.F. Chronicle,
San Francisco. 94119
Dear Art:
I am preparing to sue Playboy because they have written about me without my consent and made some detrimental (along with some favorable) remarks. But the chief reason I am going to sue is that my good friends are advising me not to. I have had plenty of advice. I have had all kinds of suggestions and once in a while succeed when out of sight of the people with the suggestions and advice.
Now I must explain this title. I am now reading one of my poems to the young. It was turned down ten times by the Christian churches (it is about Christ) and by the poets, including Allen Ginsberg who goes around crying that there are no Blakes and Whitman’s.
This poem was written in 1942 in the midst of darkness and ever single prediction in it came true, several soon after. You can understand—or can you?—why the Aileen Garrets, the Cayce Foundation, the Jean Dixons, etc., etc. will not have any of me. They need the baksheesh for research, especially the baksheesh. The research is not so important. Only now every week more of the young (crazee isn’t it) are in my groups. Yesterday I held them spellbound and now they want to boost my Friday meetings on Haight St. where only the young will show up anyhow. And some fine day the various Avatars and Messiahs—there a lot of them, including my friends Leary and Ginsberg may doff some of their “humility” of which they have no end—and listen, actually listen! But I don’t know whether there will be any room for them.
The same thing is happening with my Dervish dancing and I am planning to besiege the Iranian Consulate not on who should or should not be King Prime Minister, but in praise of Iranian Culture and Persian poetry of which I am not an “expert.” But then “only in America.”
So I’ll go to court because I have a friend who knows about these things. He also committed an irretrievable sin! Born in Asia with an Asian father, he looks European like his mother, and although he had lots of training in the real Asian discipline he hasn’t a chance, but “only in America.” So we may go to court, only this will involve the State Department and the foreign policy for as I have long said: “European are human beings, Asians are thought forms!”
It may take a while and then, maybe, perhaps, question? I can get my paper accepted on “The Religion of the President of India.” “Only in America” we do not permit such things.
Samuel L. Lewis
February 18, 1969
Dear Art:
Today your essay, “War is a Way of life” came and also a letter from the lady who was the secretary of the late Alfred Korzybski. She knows Semantics without any “generals” and could lecture on any portion, any portion of “Science and Sanity.” She does not go around Ph-deing or talking “meta-language” and go thou but don’t do likewise.
She has sent me some clippings, and alas, Art, you have rivals, colleagues or fellow-conspirators, and I can’t tell which.
Now after hearing a lady Professor talk on the real Vietnam and Vietnamese (she has only been dere, Charlie), I got a phone call from the Vietnamese to have me come and talk to them about Zen, without asking “Hiawatha” or his erstwhile British colleagues, who have had the audacity to take psychedelics without his permission.
So I have been coping from real Buddhist scriptures stuff which Dr. Apriori Rejection has, and these are going to be circulated. As there will be a course on “Semantics” (without generals) soon on the campus of the University of California, I am going to see they get this and other material.
I have thanked Playboy because they recognize I am alive, but from the description you would not otherwise recognize me or my audience!
New out to lecture to some real young. I only give one lecture, the rest of the time I commune. And why not?
Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
February 21, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
I am thanking me, for you, because I am aware that you are alive—and have been for a long time.
Love,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
March 3, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
With all you do, you still manage to read “Dear Abby.”
Admiringly,
Art
410 Precita
San Francisco 94110
March 6, 1969
Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
Dear Art:
This is some more not-news which ought to become news. In any event we are sending a copy to Herb Caen, to the associates of the acting President of San Francisco State and to others, and I am not fooling in the least. Yesterday I was in the 21st century, the real one. I was a guest speaker at Sonoma State College. The subject itself is unimportant, excepting that unless there has been a complete change of heart and mind, the acting President of San Francisco State would either have forbidden it or sneered. There has been no turmoil at Sonoma. When the students asked me what I thought, I said I felt like being fragmented into a multitude of pieces, each one incarnated in one of them.
There was a very aged gentleman in the audience, an official of the college. He was very delighted to hear somebody talk on Whitman, Emerson and James, three very American personalities who are either smeared at ignored or absolutely derided by the Generals of Semantics so-called.
Evidentially the talk must have gone over, for not a few of the audience came all the way from Cotati to Corte Medora to hear me at night. My efforts to introduce the Asian philosophies of Asians are slowly penetrating the minds and hearts of the young wherever I meet them. And I am meeting them. And I expect to fellow this up by another visit to the Berkeley campus where they new realize that there may be Asian philosophies which are products of Asians and not of former friends, English and European, who were once very friendly with the acting President of San Francisco State.
While I had intended to write you in this vein, humor reaches an exceedingly high point in Ron Moskowitz’s article on page 14 of today’s paper. Toward the and of the speech, the acting President is quoted as having said, “that happiness is a man who is thoughtful, educated, rational and reflective.” Every time this man has faced me, he has used nothing but derision and personality, nothing but the sneer, the scoff and audience appeal. This is bad enough in private life, but in public, coming from a man who has pretended to present the philosophy that “words are not the things they represent,” it is either ignorance, hypocrisy or risibility at its upmost.
I tell you Art, you would learn much if you mingled with the young students in our campuses today. We are going to have a “thing” at 910 Railroad Avenue, Novato, on Sunday, March 23rd. This will end a several day festival for the joint birthday parties of Gavin Arthur and several of my disciples. Believe me Art, I have the most wonderful disciples, growing all the time in quantity and quality. To be a disciple of Emerson, Whitman and the James family has been out of fashion. I have been fighting for years for a traditional American outlook, based on the personalities and teachings of some Americans whom I admire (the subject of Mark Twain has already been discussed). When “Science and Sanity” of Alfred Korzybski was first published, I saw in it a synthesis of all the finest in American culture, plus much more.
Having been a student of the late Cassius Keyser of Columbia who was the friend and mentor of Korzybski, I called on the acting president of San Francisco State a number of years ego. He was conducting a seminar and was too busy to see me. He asked me to address a group of scientists, because their meeting conflicted with his program. I did and was given an ovation. My report on this was later thrown into the waste basket by the acting President in the presence of a friend who told me so. Certainly the report was never acknowledged, returned or published. This from a man who dares to say in public, “that happiness is a man who is thoughtful, educated, rational and reflective.”
Even at this writing I am still on bad terms with a number of people for my defense of what has been called “General Semantics.” Although I think neither God nor Browning could tell what this phrase means.
Apparently it means whatever the General of Semantics wants it to mean.
I believe a great many problems of the day could be solved by applications of an integrative philosophy, inherent in Korzybski and now openly proclaimed by my friend and colleague, Professor Oliver Reiser of Pittsburgh.
A lot more could be said Art. But I am too busy doing. The Pied Piper campaign is going on apace. More and more young people every week. Playboy may sneer, but at least they recognize one’s existence. To have the champion of sneering as head of a great intellectual institution is damnable and damaging, and don’t you think that a lot of teachers don’t knew this?
However Art, I take final refuge in George G. Nathan, that your meeting my beautiful girl disciples might be more effective than all words, arguments or uneven compliments.
Love and ersatz kisses,
San Francisco Chronicle
March 12, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
I had thought it was a beautiful idea to meet some of your Beautiful Girl Disciples, but my Beautiful Wife didn’t. But I consider myself fortunate enough to read your written word.
Gratefully,
Art
410 Precita Avenue
San Francisco, Cal. 94110
March 12, 1969
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
My Dear Art,
There is a teaching in Indian classics that “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” I have had a very odd career of being the scapegoat for a number of persons and groups that ought to have known better. The case of the acting president of San Francisco State is merely more dramatic than others. In a number of instances the dupes and scapegoats have been too frightened to do anything. In one instance when he tried to become a member of the Marin Rod and Gun Club, offended sons and daughters of prominent families protested, nor did they protest in vain. The facts were never made public.
A few minutes ago I received a telephone call from the office manager of the I.S.G.S. asking me to call off my private witch hunt. He further asked for a manly interview, something I’ve never been able to obtain in this direction over the course of many many years.
On paper we should be friends. On paper our philosophies are very similar if not identical. On paper.
The last two weeks have seen a number of breakthroughs in my private life including those great American virtues, social and financial improvements. More important than this is that all the professors on Asian subjects whom I have met in the last month have accepted without question my personal experiences. It is one thing to have one’s philosophy refuted; it is another thing to be constantly given the lie as to one’s to one’s whereabouts. A whole generation of so-called “experts” has done just that. Practically all of them have passed from the scene. The professors on Asian subjects at the moment on the various campuses are objective, fact-gathering, and open.
Despite the radio, TV and news media I have had a very unclear view of the Third World Movement. Unlike so-called eye-witness news gatherers I have kept away from the melodramatic theatrical amphitheaters and listened to students on other parts of several campuses. Almost unanimously these representatives of the Third World Movement simply want a balance between Asian subjects and European subjects. They want these quantitatively through the additions of more courses on Asiatica; and qualitatively by having the same standards for teachers of Asian subjects as for teachers of European subjects. This would mean the replacement of the so called authorities experts by real Asians or by Americans who have lived and studied in Asia. (The American University in Beirut stands out pre-eminently in this field, and at least one of my present mentors has been connected with this institution.)
I realize, Art, this is a heavy letter. It is a fundamental part of my ceaseless campaign reality not “realism.” At this writing I am very optimistic. Doors are opening and even my financial situation as above is continually improving.
I think one of the most in fortunate elements of the so-called campus crises has been the neglect of the so-called “silent majority.” The majority has not been silent; it has simply been ignored. What is so horrible to me is our pretense to “democracy” and our ignorance of the views of the by-passed so-called silent majority.
I am all for the higher echelons of education in this state of California.
Sincerely,
San Francisco Chronicle
April 2, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
It is a joy to know that laughter is still free.
Gratefully,
Art
910 Railroad Ave.
Novato, Calif. 94947
April 3, 1969
Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
My dear Art:
On the Solution of Problems. We have plenty of problems of course. Apparently the only way our culture is dealing with them at the moment is to find a “right” person or a right formula. If one of these is proposed, there will be the competition from all other “right” persons and “right” formulae. If none of them is proposed, the problem is swept under the rug.
There are 3 problems in my private life or public life: the psychedelic complex; the controversies arising from Silent Spring; and the establishment of the same human and humane bases of cultural and other exchanges with Asians as with Europeans. Years of brush-off have not dampened my spirits. I am now in position to deal with each of these on what might be called either “cosmic humanism” or integrative processes. Both of these have been offered to the world by my friend and colleague Dr. Oliver Reiser of Pittsburgh University and others.
A solution to the psychedelic complex. My proposal Joy Without Drugs offered at the psychedelic conference in 1965 was ignored mostly because the important people ware too busy getting at each other’s throats to have anything like a sane seminar. At that time Leery leaned on Alpert, and both of them on Sidney Cohen, and all of them on Huston Smith of M.I.T. It is notable that none of the first three even answer my letters. In contrast, Huston Smith always does.
My audiences, particularly here in Marin Country, have grown so large we must now seek a public hall. I had 100 people at this place on my first open party this year, and expect more at the next. As I have written you sarcastically, the campaign to become a Pied Piper—only the young show up. Now, not only are my audiences larger, but people in their early 30’s are coming and all of these university graduates and usually professional men and their wives.
A practical solution to the psychedelic or any other problem not coming either a renown or Madison Avenue bloated individual may not easily get public attention. But it works Art; I assure you it works. The successful formulae are simple, found in great literature, and almost as impossible to apply as the Sermon on the Mount. But this America, or rather the establishments, rejecting Pragmatism, stubbornly adhere to one workable formula or to men of the hour whoever they should be. The problems remain. Or do they?
Silent Spring. I was once a professional spray operator. I am one of the few gardener-horticulturalists who have some knowledge of organic chemistry and, of course, of entomology. When there were public discussions on this book, I was either snubbed or publicly insulted in efforts to be heard. These snubs and insults were most notable from what I call the “generals” of semantics. The opposite was true only of entomologists. Yesterday, in talking with nursery man I believe I have enough of practical programs which would end the uncontrolled emotions arising out of problems emanating from Silent Spring. I have met too many entomologists and plant protection people in this world. I had hoped that the semantic movements could be used to propose solutions on integrative bases. Instead, these people are no different from all others in giving the brush-off when some private intellectual privilege is in danger. I think we suffer more from ego-motives them from profit-motives but can’t prove it.
(The above also applies to a number of other problems; e.g. those of food and water etc.) Communication with laboratory scientists is easy; with most other people impossible. It is the same story of “freedom, liberty, democracy and peasants shut up!” About half the speakers at the top conferences of our greatest scientists are simple persons like myself. None of us are ever welcomed at popular gatherings on similar subjects.
Asian Relations. Sunday, some of us are going to the Hindu student’s picnic. So far, I have noticed that not a single popular “expert” has been invited. I am taking with me on that occasion copies of my poem The Rejected Avatar. I haven’t the slightest doubt about its reception. The strong contrast between the local snubs (especially the Generals of Semantics) stands in marked contrast to the grand cooperation between myself and The Temple of Understanding in Washington and also between my colleagues Miss Julie Medlock, working in Auroville, India. I have some letters from Julie now in San Francisco which will be answered next week.
On the spot Americans who have not the “right credentials” have as yet too little a place in our culture. But now I am in with more and more of a new type of professor of Asiatics. The new type if composed simply of Asians and Americans who have lived and studied in Asia and not of “experts.” Communication is simple, direct and beautiful. If I want to get philosophical, this demonstrates the Two Cultures of Lord Snow.
It seems in the end honesty and integrity sometimes pay off. The young want them. The Oracle will be out shortly. We shall see that you get a copy. It does not belong to the pseudo-universe of “realism.” It represents reality in a world sadly needing realities.
Faithfully.
cc Reiser
cc ISGS
April 6, 1969
Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Art:
You are wonderful. I used to know about the Platypus. Which I think was called Ornithorhynchus anatinus or something of the kind. I gave up on the spelling and platypus reminded me too much of my private Greek mistranslations, which is to say, “flat foot.” And “everybody” knows what flat-foot means.
But I am excited. This morning I read about the rites. It was only yesterday instructions were given to the dancing class on “The Sun Dance” (men only), “The Moon Dance” (mostly woman) and “The Wheel-Dance” which began with eight men and eight women. These things really should be called ritual or mystery dances. We are going to present some in May and we have also the audacity to celebrate Lord Buddha’s birthday in May which is very un-Buddhist like because the various temples and sanghas around here will be doing something entirely different.
I guess my trouble is I liked the early Stravinsky. Also studied Anthropology. Also studied about the mysteries with my friend Srs. Becker-Colonna who teaches a lot in this field. I must say here classes have people of all ages.
I am still promising you a picture of the Dance Class which is growing. These young have the audacity to accept the efforts to be a Pied Piper and every week more of them. Last week some people slightly over 30.
Today is Easter and we did our own ritual work for it and maybe more tonight but my talk Friday was this time to celebrate lots more Easter and lots less “Passion” because the world had been fed on sadness and too little Joy. Why some of those young rapscallions actually believe in one’s methods to increase Joy in the world.
Wishing you the same.
Samuel L. Lewis
P.S. Phone call that some mature people want to see and even join in the ritual dances. What am I to do? Are elders going to escape from “realism” into reality?
San Francisco Chronicle
April 14, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
So you’re the one that gets Spring sprung.
Love,
Art
April 16, 1969
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
Dear Art:
This is one of the most encouraging letters there has ever been occasion to write. Saturday was at the University of California, and we conclude our seminar this week. No nonsense about liberty, free speech and peasants shut up. Everyone spoke freely, and however the various persons felt, there was a general agreement that we have to get out of “realism” and into reality. Of course it is annoying when one substantiates statements by naming persons, giving examples and stating facts. I am pleased to say those annoyed are in the minority. And these she seek reality were certainly in the majority in this and all the recent sessions I have attended at the University.
It is noteworthy that the leading spirits in this real move toward real freedom and reports of real facts are headed by professors of San Francisco State University.
In my absence there was a work party at this, my Novato residence; we had a family meeting in which it was clearly laid dawn that no collective establishment could succeed when the members said “no” to each other and “yes” to outsiders. Filled with this collective family spirit, not only were all the items on our agenda accomplished but many more. In addition, the art work and the embellishments were inspiring and astounding.
We are not in the news, because we have had no scandals, no psychedelics, and no animal love. Indeed, we may become an exemplary for others to follow.
We are planning a May celebration in which a May pole may be used for teenagers and adults and not solely for the tiny grand-children of important politicians. We may be reestablishing the maypole as a folk custom, and I certainly have dances and ceremonies ready for the occasion which will probably be the first Sunday in May.
The goal “Joy without Drugs” slowly but steadily advances. We may not be in the news yet, but we are optimistic that The Oracle will ultimately appear on the stands with some reference to our work and accomplishments.
Cordially,
April 20, 1969
Dear Art:
It is with great regrets that one must report a victory in debate. My friend, Paul Reps, once wrote: “God is dead, but Allah is alive.”
Now in all the assemblages at the universities there has been much concern, since God is dead, that California, lacking divine protection, would be destroyed by an earthquake. But I said, au contraire, Allah was alive and that He intended to wash the State into the ocean.
The morning paper shows this has begun. We used to have a lot of lakes in the San Joaquin Valley. Please don’t refer to early Geographical text books because this would be automatically confirmed and thus effect real estate booms. Well they drained the lakes and made a lot of farming land and somebody got prosperous.
As Jonah was busy elsewhere, God dead, Allah or maybe Jupiter Pluvius took over and it has rained and rained (Jupiter) and snowed (Allah). Now the snows are melting and the water (following the Robinson Jeffers script) has nowhere to “go but down.” So it is.
Now the good people of Marin are busy damning the engineers who are trying to dam them but the waters will be catching them if they don’t watch out.
Once I had a friend. He was boss of Kansas City (and maybe of Harry Truman). He built a $50,000 ditch and charged a million. All the republicans of the country were horrified. The next year there was a deluge and flood. Kansas City was saved. Harry was elected President. The United States was saved. Pederast is still a hero.
But nobody is stopping Allah. The waters are coming, and soon the bay will be filled with debris, detritus and a lot of things I can’t spell.
Say, Art, in the last two weeks I have made friends with two professors of philosophy. And they both teach at San Francisco State. What’ll I do now?
April 24, 1969
Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Art:
The other day I was on the Berkeley campus. Not a uniformed man around and all was very peaceful.
The big not-news was the discovery or uncovery of one more professor after another doing big things who are never published. And no doubt my greatest surprise was to find a man who has already catalogued all the achievements I wanted to include in “How California Can help Asia.” It is marvelous and stupendous but don’t let the press and TV, the Hayakawa and Raffertys find out such things!
Along with this is the new age wherein Americans and Asians are now teaching the Asian-Asian philosophies and cultures without benefit of “experts” and PHDs, who don’t know much. The whole trend is toward honesty and objectivity and therefore not news.
My first meeting in the San Francisco Theological Seminary brought twenty strangers, all young, in addition to my “regulars.” And I am getting ready to send emissaries to certain foreign lands who will live with the humanity of these lands. Quite a few. And this will bring understanding if not peace.
I am all ready for combination on May and Wesak festival and expect an even larger attendance at my Novato “home.”
But Gosh, Art, with two news friends in the philosophy department at San Francisco State, where do we go from here? Nothing but good news, like the weather.
Faithfully,
San Francisco Chronicle
April 28, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
Your dedication bears sweet fruit this spring.
Joy,
Art
May 6, 1969
Dear Art:
The Degeneration Gap.
It is said that confession is good for the soul so I confess. I was born in a fairly well to do family here and was #1 at Lowell High School which is not exactly a moron’s paradise. And my parents “discovered” they had not enough money to send me through college.
They needed the money badly to keep my brother from matriculating at S.Q. Varsity and although it cost them a pretty penny (all pennies are pretty) they were successful, he was successful and he is well known about town and I am not.
Then my father confessed on his death bed and I am matriculating in coupon-cutting which pays about twice as such as I could earn honestly and my brother could earn. Period.
Yesterday I gave a party and some 150 showed up and nearly all young. Suffice to say that the way I hugged the young men proves … and the way the young girl kissed me also proves … although these contradict and interdict each other.
We had a Maypole and they did my dances, and we also had a lot of Buddhist-Ceremonies for Wesak Day.
In the meanwhile The Oracle is out, and it is mostly about your humble servant and his colleagues. And another paper and another photographer were at the Maypole party photographing everything—everything including the hugging the young men and having the young girls kiss one.
As her imperious majesty Margaret Meade has concluded—this is Science and therefore incontrovertible that no elder can possibly understand the young—ipse dixit even it or because a female, something has gone wrong, the young have not read the script right and never do.
Thus the de-generation gap.
Worse to follow. I have just seen the head of the Philosophy Department of San Francisco State and was given a welcome. Proxy has wastebasketed everything I have ever sent him including the reports he wanted from me, written at his request. Watch for the future news about Proxy. I have some under cover to tell at the right time but this is enough now.
Cordially,
San Francisco Chronicle
May 14, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
Now what have you really got against smut?
Faithfully,
Art
Garden of Inayat
May 22, 1969
Dear Art:
Back to Religion.
Let Us Spray.
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
June 1, 1969
Art Hoppe,
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
This is one of my moments. I am writing today a number of serious papers: for East Asia to General Lansdale, copy enclosed; for the Near East one on Nabatean Architecture; and for South Asia, one on Pakistani troubles which will be shared with professors at San Francisco State and the University of California—press don’t copy, “solutions” not wanted, only excitement, excitement, excitement all day long and bloodshed. We are looking like the Romans.
Actually the background of this letter is most sad. It is not the only case, nor will it be the only case where the eye-witness accounts of people who have been there are shunned and shunted by the opinions of important people who were not. You can take your choice of who is “important.” If you think the Hawks are bloody, you should meet the Doves who prefer the questionable reports of a single British communist to a multitude of those of Americans who are not so communistic.
I am not going to relate my relations with General Edward Lansdale. He was my war hero, but there are things one does not talk about.
Only now at least one young editor—actually three—are discovering not only my backgrounds but the long history of frustrations and dejections and not only of myself but any and all of us who finds that things are not exactly as in “Counterspy,” “Mission Impossible,” etc., etc., and you may add to the “etceteras.”
As to Pakistan, I wrote incessantly to Dr. Samuel (Don) Hayakawa because there has been a demand for semantic studies there and this very “broad-minded” gentleman ignored these as well as practically all letters over written him. We are going to get Semantics to the Orient and without “Generals,” Wait and see.
Seriously but faithfully,
San Francisco Chronicle
June 6, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
I just love your thought on God having been impeached.
Keep the faith,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
June 13, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
I’m beginning to feel awful that I haven’t had one of your letters published. But I have enough trouble trying to publish my own stuff.
Keep the faith,
Art
910 Railroad Ave.,
Novato, Calif.
June 30, 1969
Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Art:
The Great Rank Robbery
Yesterday was very, very big with lots of not-news. My Pakistani Goddaughter was here for a few hours en route to Los Angeles, but will return later. She is working for a Ph.D. in clothing, fabrics, design, etc. and she put on a costume show in my San Francisco home that was a wow. I thought I had some beautiful young girls in my entourage, but when they were costumed! Their husbands and boyfriends just went ga-ga.
This young woman once on an All-Asian philosophical conference with a paper written by … and so my name has gradually reached the ranks of the Untouchables, that is those Untouchable by the-various “Liberty, Democracy, Humanity and Peasants, Shut up!” Societies.
Indeed in the course of the day I had a confab with an editor who will accept my criticisms of the “Liberty, Democracy, Humanity and Peasants, Shut Up! Society,” although I would rather settle this peaceably. But you know, Art, facts must never be permitted to interfere with issues. Besides, aren’t all problems solved by finding the right man? When you do that you call it “science” although this has nothing to do with what goes on in laboratories.
In addition one received word that my miserable efforts to become a Pied Piper have inoculated a lot more young with promises that the program will go to Europe and Asia. I mean the real European and Asian peoples as distinguished from the thought-patterns used by “science” writers who never work in laboratories.
In the meanwhile I shall write another paper on DDT which will be considered by laboratory-scientists, but not, of course, by “experts” who have never sprayed anything but people’s reputations.
Feeling fine and hope you are the same,
San Francisco Chronicle
July 2, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
I gave up trying to save the world, too. And I shall continue to admire you.
Keep the faith,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
July 10, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
If I wanted to know if Karl Marx ate yogurt, do you know who I would ask?
You.
Best,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
July 16, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
Please continue to do what you do best. Teach love and brotherhood.
Sincerely,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
July 30, 1969
Dear Mr. Lewis:
Thought Mr. Hoppe is away on vacation until the middle of August, I am sure that he would want me to convey his thanks for your letters. I shall keep them for him to read upon his return.
Sincerely,
Patria Scruggs,
Secretary to A.W. Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
September 2, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
I am so very sorry I can’t come to your dinner. It is my daughter’s birthday and we have already made plans to go out of town to honor the event.
But I will be thinking of you, and your joy.
Apologetically,
Art
September 21, 1969
Dear Art:
Well I am back from a vacation during which we visited many of the great forests to the Northwest, also the Columbia River highway and Crater Lake and Tahoe. I only visited one campus which may be visited again, the old game of a priori rejections by self-styled VIPs is sooner or later going to become a public matter and self-heroes are not going to remain self-heroes much longer. No doubt the rise of campus riots will make it unnecessary to jump into the fray but the legends that certain persons are “thinkers” when you cannot point to a single instance of their actually adding anything to thought or accomplishment will not go on much longer. Besides the young are not only seeking, they have repressed faculties which they wish to use and they are going to use.
The present mock-game of “espousing” a “New Left” which has few followers or a “Communist Party” which has less is only helping the “New Age” young. If you want to meet them go to the New Age Health Food store on 9th Avenue in the Sunset, or for that matter to other health food stores.
The a priori rejecters are all part of the parlor science cliques which know almost nothing of laboratory disciplines. My own work and contacts in horticulture and food problems (which the parlor-scientists and Fourth Estate “scientists” have almost unanimously rejected (a priori of course) will become public, and perhaps even soon.
About 200 young people bade adieu. Part of this audience was due to my Pakistani God-daughter putting on a fashion show; part to my own efforts.
Apart from this I am being welcomed more and more by professors of philosophy at the various campuses and am scheduled to attend a world philosophical conference next year at which I am sure I shall be programmed. Although my financial condition is pretty good the aforesaid God-daughter is ready and will help finance this trip if necessary. She won an All-Asian Philosophical content once. The paper was written by U NO HU who has been barred on the one hand by the “only in America” European and English experts on Asia. But she has won friends at each university she has attended and the young are unanimously against the “only in America” experts on Asia (who are non-Asians) and also against all the self-esteemed a priori professors, even those who may be campus presidents!
I have not yet opened my mail. The time is coming when we shall welcome persons on knowledge and character and not on wealth or prestige of self-esteem. You will be informed.
Faithfully,
September 30, 1969
Dear Art:
You have offered me a conundrum.
There have been many conferences on world religions and Asian philosophies, all properly manned by people of proper lineage—i.e. they were over 30. I was always excluded.
But last week there was a seminar started here in San Francisco and the participants were 90% under 30. And I was introduced as the chief “expert” and “adviser.”
Then yesterday I came to a meeting all under 30 and they are planning a convocation on world religions and Asian philosophies as represented locally and they made me chief adviser.
But then I also got a letter from Washington that there is to be a world conference on world religions and Asian philosophies, and they were nearly all over 30, and they have also selected me as one of the top advises.
I don’t know what this means but I may keep you informed. Those darn people under 30! I tried to be their Pied Piper and they have accepted me. This is not in the rules book. What shall I do now?
Inquisitively,
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif
October 6, 1969
Mr. Arthur Hoppe,
c/o S.F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif.
My Dear Art,
In the past two weeks I have received no less than six apologies from VIP organizations, all having in common the general formula: With your money and our brains we can save the world. No doubt this is sarcasm but unless you have money or fame or a solid backing, all the logic and knowledge is of no avail.
It is only that next year I may be one of the chief speakers in an international convocation—we could not possibly permit it here—yet where those have had access to facts will be given some opportunity, along with VIPs and others to express themselves. It will become a matter of history later on that I have been sent on a peace-feeler mission between India and Pakistan, to be berated by the Foreign Office and have the respective countries call in Kosygin. And that my “peace program” accepted by the Arabs, Israelis and especially the UN functionaries who particularly admired it was smothered by our own State Department and the important ?”peace”? organizations.
One of the groups that apologized was the Muslim Studies Association. I called them down on fourteen points and was amazed that not only did they answer but conceded many. This is because they do not follow the current Christian-Jewish ethic. One never gets replies from those who accept the Christian-Jewish ethic. And although I have worked outside of politics, and would be in danger of martyrdom and no nonsense, if I called attention to the hard hard fact before Mrs. Goldie, that representatives of Zionism simply ignored Muslims and Arabs and now she is crying! This is the stuff that always gets away.
And before you get this the subject will be out. There was a meeting of putative Pied Pipers and they all acceded to this person who will formally acknowledge shortly. Young of the world, unite, you have nothing to lose. I may speak on the free travel opportunities—they won t have to go to Vietnam: they can choose between the Near East and the Nigeria-Biafra complex and other places where we sell war weapons and goods to both sides. The Greeks use to do that but they are involved at home.
I remember the last peace organization approached. They had twelve alternative plans for Vietnam: nine from Americans (of course); one from an Englishman (you can t leave them out); one from Hon. U Thant and one from a Vietnamese ! Please send your contribution! (I forgot the address).
The Humanists, who also do not seem to adhere properly to the Christian-Jewish ethic have already sent for me and let me speak on a subject where I had direct experience.
I do not feel proud of this. The dominant hypocrisy; the use of formulae, aphorisms, slogans, etc. is nothing but self-hypnosis. I don’t want the young to fight for me in the Near East or Nigeria, now that we may be withdrawing from Vietnam.
I am not particularly thrilled with retractions. We still do not permit lectures on the dominant religion of Vietnam—this being part of the current Judeo-Christian ethic.
I have seen very few Americans of African ancestry attending classes on the marvelous Archeology and Anthropology of that continent until very recently. Good Muslims are not enrolled in the courses on Islamic and Arabic culture. And we still have English and Europeans (not Arabs) as instructors in this field. This is also apparently part of the ethic.
But it is not only the young who are calling for a Pied Piper. Many more senior people are with me—or I with them—in calling for the American-American philosophies of James, Dewyr, Peirce, Thoreau, Emerson, etc. We do not need any Existentialism or Dialectics and these, to me, are false gods. But false or not, more and more adults are interested in the revival of American-American culture.
Pioneers ! O Pioneers!
Faithfully,
October 1969
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
Dear Art:
Peace it is wonderful.
Last night I told the poetry class at the University of California that my paper on Vietnamese Buddhism being rejected 33 times, I gave up not because of these rejections, but because a Vietnamese friend of my wrote a splendid paper on this subject. I let him take over these rejections.
Tomorrow, after I read about the peace demonstrations, I shall take a positive stand on this subject. But last night I was asked at the poetry class of the University of California to speak on “Contributions of the Vietnamese people to general civilization.” I must say that this subject has been as anathema to the “peace organizations” as to those purporting working in the field of American-Asian cultures with the fortunate exception of Asia Foundation and The American Society of Asian Arts. These people actually recognize the prowess of non-Aryans! Your delightful editorials are fortunately un-intelligible to those not trained in the super-wisdom of Lewis Carroll. (I have a cat who has inherited the Cheshire cat’s grins, and this is also both helpful and beneficial.
Unlike the great Socrates, I was not called upon to drink hemlock and now am leading many of the youths of the region astray. Or as I said recently, “Youth of the world unite.” (Of course, I am as much a youth as Karl Marx was a proletariat.)
I shall write you further after my 2 day birthday celebrations, demonstrating the folly of my efforts, to become a Pied Piper—only the young show up, and how!
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
910 Railroad Ave
Novato, Calif. 94947
October 9, 1969
Mr. Arthur Hoppe:
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
The danger in lowering the voting age can be seen at once from the event at The Family Dog at the beach. Some 1500 young people welcomed this person, his disciples, his dances and their chants before this audience. Many joined in the chants, and so far as available in the dances also.
This is a far cry from the yesterday when Asian Studies, so-called, were in the hands of respectable gentleman, educated for the most past in Great Britain or Europe. Some of these gentlemen are still in high places, mis-informing our young who are trained for the Peace Corps and producing an endless array of untoward incidents, seldom exposed. While this is going on an every-increasing number of young people, Americans and non-Americans, are going to the real Asia and especially the real India and learning what the aforesaid respectables taught just ain’t so.
Locally the respectables are divided into camps, all pretending to teach deep Asian wisdom and few if any of them capable of facing much loss passing an elementary examination in the subjects of which they are reputed teachers. At the worst, both use a text on the spiritual practices of India, written by every respectable European-educated gentleman, and I doubt if you can find any of these practices among the actual Hindus. That is of no avail; an expert is an expert period (.). At the worst the teachers of one of these redoubtable gentleman treated me as an equal; his pupils as an inferior. But now our own universities are training our young in the real cultures of the real countries of the real world. Today I am welcomed by members of the oriental departments of our universities and colleges as I have been in Asian Asia.
Last night, the actual cultures of actual Asia were represented by their own devotees. And along with them Americans who believe they have spiritual and world missions. Whether they have or not is beside the points. They were all permitted to speak and mostly well-received. None was introduced by an emotional chairman with any florid speech. All were on their own.
This came shortly after my first epic poem on an Indian theme was accepted by a representative of the University of California. Such material has been summarily rejected in the past, both by the gentleman holding classes in “Oriental philosophy” and by the leaders in this region. I think that day is over! And tomorrow I shall be permitted to appear as an authority on certain aspects of Buddhism in which I believe I am well-grounded, and which has been generally accepted in Asia and now by the American professors of Asian cultures in much of this land.
I have long harped on the total neglect to such American achievements as the completion of the Mangalore dam in Pakistan by a local corporation. Such wonders are never news. And I continue to harp on a non-achievement boasted and bolstered by American editors concerning the Aswan Dam. It is remarkable that the communist press, the Birch press, the syndicates have all editorialized this remarkable non-achievement, while by-passing actualities. There were born in this region also—in Berkeley to be exact—2 Americans who have also played leading roles in trying to establish objective Asian America cultural relations. I don’t think we hear of Nealer Cram Cook any more, born in Berkeley, she spent her last days in India highly honored. But you would never hear her name by any ersatz professor. Harold Lambe was more fortunate. He died recognized in the eastern part of this country, especially by the American friends of the Middle-East. I intend to memorialize both of those people when I appear at the next Parliament of Religions which will be held, we hope, in Istanbul next spring. There will be no ersatz experts, nor pompous chairmen standing in the way.
The danger is not that one has been by-passed or rejected … that day is over—the danger is that the young people now acclaim one as much from his previous rejection as from his actual accomplishments. I suppose this has to be. It is certain when I tell the young who and what has rejected what I have already presented them I am met with cheers and applause. They think it is part of the game.
I said last night, “Youth of the world unite, you have nothing to lose.” “We must dance together instead of march together.” Etc.
I did say I expected them to do their stuff next Wednesday, when there will no doubt be a national, and perhaps more than a national, protest against war, not just against wars, but against war. Of course, that is their thing.
Now the young want me. They accept this one as Pied Piper and I will have to prove my merits out in the open, not behind closed doors; not contrary to the emotional autocracy of some pompous chairman. And I must likewise become calm and considerate. I think this will be done; I am ready to do this in the case of one Englishman regarded as the top expert on Oriental culture, but “only in America.’
Well Art, I have gotten Jew and Christian, Muslim and Hindu to dance together and to chant together, and I shall continue just that. And I foresee when both our professors and students will demand the same objectivity in the non-sciences as in the sciences.
This is enough belly-aching for one day.
Cordially,
October 19, 1969
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
How Do They Control Pests in Russia.
Don’t get any wrong ideas assuming that there are ideas which are not “wrong ideas.” Jedgar had a marvelous anti-crime crusade by which he got rid of communists. Then he tried another to get rid of Hippies. But communists are manufactured by dialectics which is rather ersatz and Hippies by biology which is more complex.
The commies tried the same thing: How to get rid of Trotskyites and other poets. They got rid of the Trotskyites which are ersatz by dialectics. How about other pests?
Now I once went to school and learned all about “integration” by studying Mathematics and all about “ecology” which came by studying Biology. That is all changed. We now have “Sociology” that marvelous “science” which manufactures, sells and solves “problems”! All the “pro science” people study Sociology.
Now they are taking over “ecology” as they took over “integration.” They are taking over “ecology.” These grandsons of Hitler have found the “Jews” only the “Jews” are not called D.D.T. (both D’s here mean “devil” and have no relation to chemical compounds). Once the sociologists get hold of something you don’t need any chemistry any more.
So they are out to protest the use of chemicals (about which they haven’t the slightest knowledge. Vide: the French revolution—that got rid of Lavoisier—“the Revolution has no need of scientists.” It is the same now. We don’t go after Hitler’s “Jews” we have something “better.” At the moment it is DDT but DDT has never been accused of causing Cancer. There is another “Jew” for that.
It would be very interesting if these sociological-ecologists had the program which Russia uses to control its pests. I am sure they have. But will the sociological-ecologists protest that! Wait and see!
Copies to certain chemical companies. They just might get some ideas for real sound propaganda based on facts. As for the Entomologists. Those “misled” people accept all my reports. They are also off limits as I am with the sociological-ecologists.
I am having too much success to be involved with with-hunting by anti Jedgarites.
Cordially,
Oct. 20, 1969
Dear Art,
As you can ascertain from correspondence herewith both to you and Congressman Burton, I had a big birthday celebration yesterday.
Among my presents was a picture from which I saved the wrapping:
San Francisco Museum of Art
I think that is wonderful: San Francisco Museum of ART.
Why not?
Cordially,
San Francisco Chronicle
October 27, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
You are truly an exceptional person. You do so much good, for so many people. I hope you had a wonderful birthday.
Love,
Art
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
October 27, 1969
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
To start Monday morning, write! This will not disturb your vacation, but next year I shall probably make every effort to get my autobiography accepted. It can be done in such a way as to make Jean Jaure’s J’Accuse look like kindergarten stuff. There are two interpretations or rather translations of sacred text: “Peace, good-will toward men” and “Peace toward men of good will.” Establishments accept the second, each choosing those of “good-will,” meaning ego-agreement.
It looks now as if I shall be going on a world-mission. I did not want to do this but the overwhelming majority of “peace” societies call for “liberty, democracy, humanity and peasants, shut up! “ Today the Rabbis are protesting against Vietnam. I am going to have a Vietnam day here as soon as it can be arranged. I don’t know whether we shall protest against the Near East conflicts, but if Rabbis can protest anent Vietnam I do not see why Cambodians and Laotians and Vietnamese should not be permitted to protest on the Near East conflicts.
The only trouble is that my Vietnam day will be in the hands of my Vietnamese friends, otherwise no go.
One reason for writing is that there is a new organization coming here calling for “One World.” That is its cognomen. They left out a phrase, “under our leadership.” The boss-man was a disciple or pupil of Dr. Radhakrishnan, philosopher and quondam President of India. When he was President of India, I phoned and came in and saw him, just like that! This is absolutely verboten. (Incidentally Dr. Radhakrishnan is also a very good friend of Her Serene Highness, Princess Poon Diskul.) But with such friends I have no more place in World Union than in any of the multifarious “peace” groups and “world” groups whomsoever.
In the classes at San Francisco State and University of California there are now open discussions on the new religions and cults and also on traditional groups shut out by our “liberty, humanity, democracy and peasants, shut up” organizations. Everything is absolutely above board. You won’t read about that in the press, but it is. And so after long, long years I see my “Reality versus ‘realism’” coning to a successful conclusion. It has to.
The miserably ending of my efforts to become a Pied Piper was that about a hundred young people gave me a birthday party. Imagine that! And this apart from what is going on at “The Family Dog,” and other places. My classes are slowly increasing in number and also in attendance at each session. The young seem to have come to quite different conclusions from their elders. There is no question where they stand on “Reality versus ‘realism.’”
My mission will be related to and may even affect the conflicts in Vietnam, South Asia and the Near East. The first thing I do is to garner facts and then more facts and more facts. This may be “scientific” but it has little place in “society” and in facing “social”-problems!
We have two methods of “solving” problems:
a. Emotions b. Selecting to the right leaders
For this there are only two credentials, money and public support. And it is not amusing to find that group after group which has refused to give me an interview, much less talk, are still seeking financial and popular support. And I am unable to deliver it because I am definitely less equal.
I wish to be less equal. My rallying cry: “Youth of the world, unite, you have nothing to lose” is going ahead. It is not in my hands. I have not asked for “leadership” but the youth are finding out that all statements from this person are supported by objective facts (not emotions or opinions) and have at least historical validity to being with.
The plan for “Dances of Universal Peace” is going ahead more rapidly than can be handled. It requires understanding and knowledge, not rhetoric and/or emotion. It is remarkable how these are shut out by the various “peace” and “universal” and “integration” groups—incidentally we have racially very good integration.
Yes, I am for world union and for brotherhood and for understanding but not necessarily under my “leadership.” Let him who would be greatest among you be the servant of the rest.
After I leave this region again and as given the opportunity to address the “proper” persons, I do not think that the “liberty, democracy, humanity and peasants, shut up groups” will be no positive in their stands. It is certain that the poetry and musical groups are open. There is hope that others may follow. No bad news and plenty of high hopes.
Faithfully,
San Francisco Chronicle
October 30, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
I’m so glad you had such a wonderful birthday party, and that all is going so well for you. With your hectic schedule, I am constantly amazed at how you manage to find time to keep me so well informed about your activities. But then, you’re an amazing person.
Keep the faith,
Art
October 31, 1969
Dear Art:
Bravo, and bravo encore. Since the capitalists have taken away the celebration of the birth of Christ and turned it over to Santa Claus, why shouldn’t Fidel and company expose this capitalistic plot and restore Jesus Christ and get rid of Santa Claus?
I am in a fine mood this morning. Inasmuch as the Board of Rabbis has voted to stop us from meddling in Vietnam I think I shall write the World Buddhist Federation asking them to protest against the fighting in Palestine. You know, Art, everybody has a better peace plan for everybody else.
Besides this I am thinking of turning my home into an Inn. The Pied Piper fiasco has resulted in troupes of young persons coming here and also to my Novato residence. They are also coming in greater numbers to my meetings. And if the legislature should lower the voting age to 16, boy, I shall (alas) become a Fuehrer, automatically.
After all the Bible does say that “a little child shall lead them” and that scoundrel, Fidello, might do just that! Gosh, what would happen if a government took the Bible seriously? The only ones who do that are the young poets and the young poets have honored me by unanimously deciding I was the maddest of all of them.
Anyhow I expect to start reading poetry, my own and the poetry of Asian-Asians, right in Haight Ashbury! I don’t know which will cause the most confusion. Both events, the reading on Haight St. and at the University of California will take place Tuesday next and I know no “experts” will be around. They are too busy writing editorials such as “Vas is Laos!”
The remarkable thing about “experts” is that in these days of vision, television and supervision (especially the latter) they don’t have to come within 10,000 miles of the people they are writing about, or advising. What would happen if I asked a Kashmiri or Bhutanese how to vote this coming election? Sorry, all our stress are one-way streets now so this is not done.
Now I have to go to Hayakawa State College as an “expert” (you see how low our educations system has fallen). I shall carry with me latest copies of The Oracle that underground paper which tells only about “heaven” or how to bring about a heaven-on-earth, or something. After all a young person of 18 today knows more than a 50 year old did in his time, or any time.
Let’s hear more about the great Christmas conspiracy.
Love,
November 3. 1969
Dear Art:
Congratulations! (I don’t know for whom.)
Well, President Nixon was joined Stalin, Hitler and the Mafia in coming out for “Peace With Justice!”
Swonderful, n’est-ce pas?
Samuel L. Lewis
Copy of letter to Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
November 5, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
I had forgotten to ask Fidel about Christmas trees. But I will the next time I see him.
Keep the faith,
Art
November 9, 1969
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicles,
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
Jesus Christ Versus Santa Claus
You might know I was up to something. We aren’t going to spend any money on Christmas trees here. Oh, we are going to spend money. I have the girls enthusiastic about making a colored cross with suitable decorations and my fellow-tenant has had some background in stage lighting. What! A Cross for Christmas?
The trouble is the backlash from efforts to be a Pied Piper. I had to divide my dancing class and the Saturday night attendance was overwhelming with a lot of absentees who are coming here. The “Dances of Universal Peace” are being accepted by everybody but the advocates of “Universal Religion”—me leader.
I remember years ago challenging a Baha’i. I asked him what was the differences between the world being divided into 700 particular sects and 700 universal sects. We did not have 700 universal sects but we are rapidly approaching them. At the universities (and colleges) where the young people really believe in free speech and the right of all to be heard, we can see how many new movements are coming forth, usually quite mutually exclusive. They are not exclusive in claiming to be universal—that is a “must” today. But they all have different leadership.
I wrote a letter to Ceylon where somebody had declared he had found a universal religion and instead of getting an ego-claim he sent me literature of three different groups all claiming world leadership (and modesty and humility). We have some here—you can chose your own “world” group, and pays as you enter. They all agree on the “pays” part, and there the unity stops.
In the meanwhile, darn it, my editor says he wants the article on “Jesus Christ Versus Santa Claus” pronto. And it will be interesting to see how the multi-various “universal” groups around here will react! Of course Vietnam will keep on going (like “Old Man River’) and the Messiahs, Sadgurus, Avatars and World Leaders will be polishing up the handles on their own front doors and ignoring each other.
I can’t join that World Union which has come out irretrievably for Santa Claus. I remember once Mary Pickford wrote a book, Why not try God. I said, “Why doesn’t she, poor lady.” I was living in Hollywood than. I got kicked out of “society.”
Now with all the misled young coming to me I don’t care whether we lower the voting age or not. I haven’t even properly organized but I can’t join the “World Universal Union” and the “Universal Religion” and the “Universal Universal”—they will accept my money but never my prowess. Besides I don’t see Negroes and Orientals rushing to them. This new age “exclusively integrating universal” is something. But I gotta get back to the article on Santa Claus.
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
November 14, 1969
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
San Francisco, Chronicle,
San Francisco, 94119
Dear Art:
While the peace protesters are planning their marches, I am doing the “impossible.” Rather mockingly I have written that with the Reformed Synagogue Rabbis protesting against the war in Vietnam, I might be planning to get the World Buddhist Federation to protest against the battling in the Near East. This is not a gesture; it is a protest against the unfortunate blind hypocrisy which dominates our culture. And Hawk and Dove would probably combine against Arnold Toynbee for daring to interfere with “us” while we are interfering with exotic peoples. We will do anything, anything at all but sit and listen to the Vietnamese and other real Buddhists.
The story of what I learned firsthand from one side from Vietnam and what Admiral Evenson learned from another side in Washington agree in all details. They are not part of our history, and certainly have no place in the editorials of commentators who are experts in everything.
My “impossible” meeting with Rabbi Schlomo from Jerusalem will be followed no doubt by a joint meeting of Jewish and Islamic mystics, in love and joy which seems to be what all the various protagonists do not want and will gladly crush. But it is going to get out sooner or later, for to my surprise my editor friend was there and already has interviewed the Rabbi. I tell you Art, when man bites dog is it not news and not only is not news, it must not be news. And any real efforts to bring peace through love and humanity is verboten, not only by the Vice-President but by all sociologists and dialecticians of any and all camps. Even the most “peace-loving” people prefer war than to any activity which interferes with their private subjective predilections.
But Art, I am not talking nonsense. We are doing. We are going to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and no Santa Claus. A real demonstration of “Christ-love, not war” is more awkward to establishments than “Freudian-love, not war.” We mean something quite different than the Freudians who become harmless and perhaps will illustrate, “I came not to bring Peace, but a sword.” Only now, thank God, all doors are not being shut in our face and my “Reality not realism” is gaining and gaining and gaining as it must in the end.
Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
November 17, 1969
Dear Sam,
I wasn’t able to manage the “Jesus Christ vs. Santa Claus”—somehow it came out “Mediocre man vs. Santa Claus.”
Hope that’s okay.
Keep the faith,
Art
November 18, 1969
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Art:
Sam Lewis Ki Jai! What have I done? Saved the Nation? Faced the Nation? Won a Nobel or an Ignoble prize? Nothing like that. Just turn to page 7 of this morning’s Chronicle and read the editorial on beards. I walk in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln and Santa Claus although I am not sure of the historicity of the latter.
Besides, those misled young who are coming to this Pied Piper in greater numbers every week agree that we won’t need Santa Claus. This is something. While the Vicissimo is saying we don’t need commentators and the commentators who are a modest one dimension above the Encyclopedia Britannica adamantly refuse to accept suggestions of information from anybody else (this is a “gentleman’s” game), the young, satisfied with the moratorium, are looking for more crusades.
Well the World Union of Pondicherry, veddy modest, has come out for Santa Claus, and of course, for your money and support. Santa Claus may or may not support them. I have seen all sorts of World Unions and don’t know what happened to their treasuries. The next, of course, is to have at least one on Alcatraz.
Well those d… Asian Asians! First a Jewish Chassid from Jerusalem, then a Vietnamese Buddhist and next a beautiful Hindu dancer came, and being all and alike excluded from all the World This and World That groups, have accepted my dances. I think Ruth St. Denis is smiling from her various pictures. My audiences are increasing and I have been offered two halls for free, and may have to accept them. For there is now no room for them at this Inn.
What we excluded persons have agreed on is to re-arouse interest in Fatehpur Sikri in India. There was once an Emperor about whom you will learn nothing at the US-School of Asian Studies or the Them-There School of Asian Studies or the Exiled Europeans School of Asian Studies. Akbar brought all the religions and all the cultures to his capital and tried to make India into a One World which displeased all the proper orthodox of whomsoever who wish to control collections and fight each other.
He also revived all the arts and culture of India, but being the “wrong” man until recently you could never mention his name in this land, controlled by “experts” on Asian studies. But now it is different. And I think the way is clear, that we can get out of “realism” and into reality and accept; occasionally hard facts.
But don’t be misled, Art, it is not knowledge or wisdom or facts that are important—they just love my beard!
Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
November 20, 1969
I think maybe I should grow a beard.
Love,
Art
November 22, 1969
Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
Dear Art:
I have sent you a copy of a letter to Congressman Phil. Burton and now I am sending him a copy of this. I am sorry, because of events I am unable at the moment to give any more data about our intervention in Alcatraz to protest the natives from invaders, for I am now being deluged.
It seems that some people who call themselves Vietnamese are appealing to me for help. I have been arguing that there are such people and somebody finding this out is quite willing to share my assets but I am softy enough to indicate will do. So sometime in January we shall have a Vietnamese Aid Day, for the Vietnamese.
It is quite evident that they are not satisfied with the conduct of the war. They are not satisfied with our conduct, they are not with the war and they do have a Vice President resembling our own: freedom and free speech for conformists! But they are not conformists.
I may circulate the “Liberty, Democracy, Humanity and Peasants Shut Up” crowd to see if they will admit there are Vietnamese and these people have some ideas of their own.
As I have been listening to Tibetans, Laotians, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Thais, and of course Indians of all suasions, I have at least a growing member of young who want to meet the realities from whom the Vice-President and the commentators alike draw their mutually inimically conclusions, without ever having met the parties of the first part.
The Vietnamese want peace and we won’t let then have it. The only answer: more moratoriums.
Sam
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
December 1, 1969
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Art: Pinkville, “Liberty,” “Democracy” and “Free Speech.”
I do not know how many years, or aeons it has been when I started to send you my two “master-pieces” on Vietnam:
We must under no circumstances change the script: “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court.”
“Kill them all, the Lord will know his own.”
There may be more of this stuff. I have been meeting and hearing more “Ugly Americans.” They haven’t a chance: It is either the Vice-President of the Expert-Commentator. Period.
I had planned to put on a Vietnam night here in January. One or more of my real Vietnamese friends may be here before then. But now I am getting more and more material from Vietnam written and published by Vietnamese, and will follow through.
Have written on TV station and am sending copy of this to another. This is largely to prove that eye-witnesses do not count unless they are prejudiced to support the policy of the radio-TV station.
It is going to take a lot of Pinkvilles, no doubt, but the young accept facts and eye-witnesses, believe me. I don’t want the Americans to kill Vietnamese peasants; I don’t want communists to kill Vietnamese peasants. I don’t want to see killing. I lost “face” here when I won an international contest on Mahatma Gandhi. But next year I come out of hiding.
There are more and more convocations broad, of course, were I shall be heard, and now some even in New England.
Tonight we are hosting Turks in this house.
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
cc- KPFA
Dec. 21, 1969
Art. Hoppe
S.F. Chronicle
Dear Art:
At last the truth is out. The headlines today are “Read this and Cry, ‘There is no more clean air in the United States….’” Well Art, I have been crying for a long time: to watch the American government trying to impose its form of dirty air on poor Vietnamese Buddhist peasants while the Communists are also trying to impose their own form of dirty air on the poor Vietnamese Buddhist peasants. Each has its own form of dirty air, and each is quite willing to slaughter the poor Vietnamese peasants to save them from the impure air being imposed by the opposite camp. But as the Americans and the Communists alike want the impure air, and want to get rid of the superstitions of the poor Vietnamese Buddhist peasants who do not believe in impure air at all, we are stuck.
We are stuck because when a small group of native Americans stood out for pure air and began to practice The House That Roared right here in San Francisco Bay instead of Manhattan as the script calls for, we got stuck, because the script is the script is the script, as I have been saying for years.
Now let us go on to better or worse.
Crime. Since Crime is caused by Drugs, why don t we abolish the Drug Stores? Why hasn’t anybody thought of this before? (Of course it just might be that I have a vested interest in herb shops.) Besides, the word apothecary is too hard to spell and pronounce.
My latest audacity, or is it atrocity. Having been embraced, which was impossible, in turn by a Vietnamese Buddhist and an Israeli Chassid, I understand an Israeli Arab is coming here to meet me. It seems that all kinds of weird people come to meet me and nobody else. As this is impossible it is never news. But when this Arab comes here I am just likely to make rounds of all the so-called peace organizations and groups interested in world affairs, and get thrown out again as I have always been before. But this time it will be fun!
You see my closest friend, who has been an adventurer in some 63 countries, has written a book, and has had the audacity and effrontery to compare me with Dag Hammarskjöld. It seems that Dag and this unknown have been his closest friends. Only Playboy has even accepted my existence. But while the self-praising Rabbis and Imams refuse to meet each other, and both alike snub the suggestions of His Holiness Pope Paul, we are just devils enough to try and do something about it. Not editorials; not Reston editorials; not Agnew s anti-editorial, but actions. And me thinks some of our young people might just want to meet an Arab citizen of Israel. It just might lead to some action for peace. It just might lead toward peace, good-will toward man just a tiny winy bit, even if it comes from one silenced majority whose name is,
Samuel L. Lewis
cc Phil Burton
December 28, 1969
Dear S.A.M.:
You’re my Santa all year round. I can’t thank you enough for the meaningful and delightful correspondence we have had.
May you have the merriest of Christmases and happiest of New Years.
Art
Dec. 28, 1969
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Art:
I was amazed and delighted with your article in today’s paper. It came at a time when—being the incarnation not of God (the world is full of “Avatars”)—but of Emerson’s mousetrap inventor, and the world is beating a footpath to these doors. Very improper no doubt for a number of the silenced majority, but very true. Christmas cards have been received from Vietnamese, Koreans, Indians, Ceylonese, etc., etc., etc. With regard to Ceylon, correspondence will be based on the new epic poem on which I am engaged with a theme somewhat similar to that of your article.
In the meanwhile I am preparing for a number of impossible events. Thus having recently hosted a Jewish mystic from Palestine, I am expecting an Arab mystic. As these people can’t be they are never in the news. Whoever heard of man biting dog being news? But I intend, unless there is an abrupt change in programming, to take this Arab around to the press, to the so- called “peace” organizations, and keep and exact record of rejections, which will certainly become in time a mark of the subjectivities of the passing age, making peace and understanding unattainable. (I am not going here into my past, and it is being written up, as I think I told you, by one of my very best friends.)
A number of years ago, in collaboration with the late Luther Whiteman, a book called Glory Roads was written on the reform movements of the State of California. It was not a bestseller. It was not even a good seller. But it was honest, objective, and factual. And, as your friend Herb Caen says the best graffito is the one that “pragmatism doesn’t work.” To many honest objectivity is the worst kind of demon, or rather to the non-scientific cultures.
A peace plan, written in 1928, was declared at that time to be one of the best ever seen. It was not then reported, but I expect to present it myself in a varied form, next year, at a conference held outside the domains of the United States, where the “silenced majority” is not so silenced. In the meanwhile….
A group meta-hippies found this place. While writing the epic poem alluded to, these words popped in:
The sons of God go forth to war
The heathen Buddhists bring up peace,
Old arguments are well done for,
The meta-hippies will increase.
I never dreamed that the meta-hippies would be arriving the someday. They are not in the least like the editorial nonsense appearing in another section of today’s paper. But it is not necessary, nor functional for some commentators to be objectively honest it all. They don’t have to be. Our present culture has tried to abolish both Oswald Spengler, which is understandable, and H.G. Wells, which to me is not. Their predictions are coming true, although you will not read about them.
Likewise, while working with Mr. Whiteman, one predicted anent the Kellogg-Briand Pact—”Now the word ‘war’ has been abolished; the earth will soon be bathed in blood.”
A variant of that occurred sometime later here in San Francisco at the last meeting of the U.N. here. Honorable U Thant said, “What the world needs is a moral and spiritual revolution.” Most everybody applauded and loudly. The cardinals, the metropolitans, the chief Rabbis, the top representatives of all the worlds’ faiths and unfaiths shook their heads in approval. I was horrified, and still am. I told my companion of the evening, we are going to see now so many bloodbaths that it will be impossible to take account of them. That ended my friendship with my companion of the evening—brother can you spare a dime for Biafra, or is it for the orphans of Vietnam, or is it for the Palestinian refugees, or is it?
I think you can understand that there is rising a new type of man, right out of H.G. Wells and Sri Aurobindo (although the Aurobindo people will not recognize Wells) and he is here and now.
This is an awful verbose commentary on your today’s splendid remarks. But as a representative of the silenced majority, and with growing good will outside the ranks of the press, radio, TV, and all camps of sociologists, I cannot keep quiet*.
With all love and best wishes,
*This of course is not true. I understand from a colleague, that my “Dances of Universal Peace,” the inheritance from Ruth St.-Denis, are now being considered by one of the big broadcasting companies, etc., etc.
January 1, 1970
Dear Art:
At the cost of being accused of something or other, I am starting the New Year by wishing you all that is wonderful.
But you have put me in a quandary, coming out for lowering the voting age. What is going to happen to this self-declared Pied Piper? My house was invaded by 80 young people on Christmas Eve. It shouldn’t, oughtn’t to have happened, but it did. Last night it was better or worse depending almost entirely on your age. About 100, and only 2 around 40. Are you prepared to take the risk when the voting age is lowered and the young occasionally show preference for the little man that was there, rather than to follow the opinions of the big man who was not? Anyhow, I had a really wonderful time, and it begins to look as if the New Year will bring in just some elements of the New Age.
I shall have to work on several efforts to end hostilities in the world—not “peace-programs.” A “peace-program” depends entirely on one factor: who wrote it. The items don’t matter. We have been overwhelmed with peace-programs. I wouldn’t say they don’t work; they do work—in reverse.
We made Israel; We made Biafra; We this and We that. I think I have told you I learned “The Human Worth of Rigorous Thinking” from one Professor Cassius Keyser of Columbia. This has been forbidden, verboten, banned, shunned, and shunted, but like a Galileo one can “It still moves.” It is remarkable how the so-called devotees of Galileo, who do not read him of course, are the most adamant champions of refusals to listen (of course the scientists who have read Galileo are very different).
I think I have told you of my intention in case a certain Palestinian reaches San Francisco of taking him around to all the newspapers radio stations, “peace” organizations, etc., and making copious notes of their refusals of interviews. It is going to be a jim-dandy.
I have just received another letter—I get them all the time—from one of the many organizations collecting money to bring peace in the Near East. They frankly told me they haven’t a program. I say they have—collecting the money.
Now let’s turn to worse things—the pollution problem for example. Are you trying to solve it by action? by editorials? or just collecting the money? If so, be sure you have a tax-exempt organization.
Love and Blessings,
San Francisco Chronicle
January 12, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
It seems as thought you had a wonderful time over the holidays. And I’m glad—I can’t think of anyone more prepared to meet the 70’s with love and good will.
Love,
Art
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco, Calif.
January 12, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe,
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, 94119
Weep for the Biafrans!
Dear Art:
This will be a somewhat formal letter and copies of it are going both to my own Congressman (Mr. Burton) and to Representative McCloskey whose views and mannerisms I so much admire. There is no exact immediate reason for writing but last week on the same day I received letters from the two ugliest of my Ugly American friends, people who had the effrontery to be eye-witnesses to world events and this is just one degree beyond being an arch-criminal and I am not fooling!
Miss Julie Medlock, widow of a Hearst editor was sent out by the press and what she saw was so shocking to our majority and minority views—both of which are based on anything you can do we can do better that she was either forced or volunteered to live in Asian countries where at least they do not throw the book at you for being an eye-witness. (As I have told you I lived in Los Angeles under the Shaw regime where witnesses were killed too often and this lead to the Mayor’s recall.)
The other from my friend and associate, Mr. Bryn (Shamcher Beorse) who is having a book published in which not only is there an essay on this Ugly American but I dare not name the persons to whom he has compared (or contrasted) me. But now in this New Age I am faced by the hard fact that a number of professors of Asian and other studies are welcoming me and even urging me to come out. For years I have said that the real world war would be between the professor and the commentator and have not changed my views much. Mr. Agnew has been no more successful than Mr. Nixon, or Mr. Humphrey or Mr. Johnson in getting in where I had the audacity both to be invited and get in, and it would appear now that an American who can break all the diplomatic super rules and succeed is now not only being called upon to express his views and experiences but actually invited! What will happen, Art, when diplomacy, like jurisprudence, admits the validity of eye-witness!
But while the professors are inviting me and the commentators and experts shunning, the very slow but even more steady increase of my audience goes on and no ivory-towered super-expert can overlook the fact that my work as a chela of the late Ruth St. Denis is succeeding and the program of Dances of Universal Peace is progressing. Indeed one reason for writing—one simply could not warn of Biafra or Cairo or anything or any place—is that one of the big broadcasting companies is actually considering investigation these dances! And if this does happen, you are so informed ahead of time. But Thank God this is no negative warning about any Biafra which would be shunned, but something positive.
One of my colleagues, suddenly appearing here said, “You have not only started the year right, you have started the decade right.”
The work on the dance is a sub-theme of Peace through the Arts. I was connected with the last Roerich Museum which tried that, and named all the “generals” etc. and fiasco’d. In 1956 I had Secretary Dulles’ blessing (You!) in a plan to bring world peace through horticultural exchange. Oh, I succeeded all right everywhere—also. But ran into Lord Snow’s The Two Cultures and with 100% of the horticulturists and scientists for this work, I had 100% of the editors, commentators and sociologists against it—not a single break in either rank!
Only when I reached Karachi (Weep for the Biafrans!) I saw six hundred thousand (600,000) homeless in one place! I nearly went mad and called on a VIP and said, “What can we do to put these homeless people on this empty land?” Of course being one of the silenced majority I got nowhere when I returned here as above. But I collected data and keep on trying and finally last week I read that the FAO said the world s food supply is increasing.
Only my data came from visiting farms and hamlets and agricultural experimental stations and some universities and was not spent rechecking statisticians figures; also doctors of various kinds, etc., etc. But if the older people do not want any in situ reports, the young love them and so one became a hero, deserved or not, when one reports his own actual experiences in foreign lands and then tells who turned down the reports!
So, I am preparing to attend a world conference—held outside the United States—where my closest colleagues have acceded to my attending and also to my programs based on the actual studies of the actual religions and actual histories of the actual peoples of this world, whether this world be actual or the best of all possible worlds or maya!
Of course the young are in hysterics. I say “Why fight?” We and the other side are 100% for pollution, Levi’s, the wholesale slaughter of Buddhists infants and the displacement of national culture. Or maybe each side thinks it has a better form of pollution or genocide. Anyhow the real professors of the real colleges and universities are now inviting me and there is mutual cooperation on my grand theme: Reality vs. realism. So I write with hope. And even if I do not see any congressmen until I get to Washington (years ago I knew practically the entire delegation when the number was small), I think a trip abroad and some recognition from them may even make it possible for some editor or commentator or diplomat to look at the real world of humanity.
Love and blessings,
PS I am still awaiting the Palestinian Arab; will keep you informed.
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco, Ca. 94110
January 18, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art: Weep for the Biafrans (continued and to be continued)
This day I start the experiment of my life. Only this time before I am refused interviews, etc. I shall have a secretary taking notes. My old prediction that the real world war was between the professor and the commentator is coming true and you can believe me, Art, that the young are always 100% for the professor and against commentators and fly-by-night (literally) Vice-Presidents. Yet it has been these people we listen to and have our Biafras and other episodes of genocide, with or without publicity.
This morning I meet with an Arab who is a citizen of Israel. There are such people, Art, just as there are Vietnamese (I mean honest to God, actually). He has some plans for peace in the Near East. Of course he and his friends have no votes and prestige, and a little genocide now and then does keep them quiet. Only by know I know enough people in the world of reality who may join together against the “realists” and accomplish something.
One of my poems reads: “Every ten years a noble peace prize, every five years another war” and then the “humble” recipients of “peace awards” run into hiding. You never hear of them anymore but another crop will show up.
There are several groups working for understanding in the Near East. That means they appeal for funds. They may have ideas but these ideas have not brought the Arabs and Israelis closer together. I myself worked out some rather comprehensive programs which the important people snubbed, they always do. In fact there is such a gap between the “humble” and those that listen it is impossible to fathom.
In 1928, in this city of San Francisco, I met the late Dr. Henry Atkinson, most of his life secretary of the World Church Peace Union. He looked over my plan for Palestine and said:
“Mr. Lewis, I have been around the world three times. I have met every king and prime minister on earth and you are the first man to have brought me what I want.” Well he commissioned me and I fulfilled the commission and excepting for the man who is now minister at the chief Unitarian-Universalist Church in New York and a few Quakers, the “Christian-Jewish” ethic has resulted in utter rejection, mostly a priori rejection—that is the ethic. And you can understand how it has been so difficult emotionally to face the first words of Handel’s “Messiah.” Valleys are not exalted, hills are not laid low, and the crooked places are not made straight.
This week I shall probably be present at the India Independence Day anniversary. Every time Indians have it I am welcome and every time “experts” control it I am either patronizingly tolerated or excluded. Part of the “Judeo-Christian Ethic.”
Only there are now same changes, Art. My friend Bryn Beorse is publishing a book in which he gives a good section of a whole chapter to this person and the world is going to be annoyed in taking a mere nobody and comparing him to the greatest figures of the day. But at least I can protest I am and not a figure of the imagination. I certainly know the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions and the history of practically every country in Asia, to say the least.
Yesterday I sat before a professor, the one who accepted my paper on “Vietnamese Buddhism” (absolutely excluded by the Judeo-Christian ethic). He is no expert. He has lived in Asia with Asians, or as I call him, one of my fellow “Ugly Americans.” Mere attrition leads to our being accepted, “not a cough in a carload.” Scientists always agree on facts and there is no reason why “social scientists” cannot do otherwise but don’t expect “experts,” clergymen, and dialecticians of any and all camps, to agree. They have too many explanations to be concerned with mere facts—or the existence of annoying human beings.
Well we are going around to the press, the radio-TV, the “peace groups” and keep records of our interviews. I alone have piles of data of all kinds here and enough contacts to be able to growl at least. But perhaps because the trend of youth is growing somebody may get enough curiosity to permit “unthinkable” points of view. When that is done, we shall be on the way to lasting peace.
My last meeting was overwhelming, the youth crowding the meeting and accepting versions of “Dances of Universal Peace” to date. I have to close my classes—too many now. I must train them and send them abroad. The work and life of Ruth St. Denis shall not have been in vain.
Maybe, just maybe, there are enough curious people in the world to interview an Arab from Israel. I am not worried about the press, the commentators, the “experts,” the “peace” organizations—you see there are halls of ivy and they permit even the least of the least to speak.
Too much drama in my life to look for excitement. This is just one phase of it.
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
cc Herb Caen
cc Dr. Luckmann
cc Bryn Beorse
Jan. 20, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
Dear Art:
The events of the day may be not-news, but I doubt whether this sort of thing will continue much longer.
The meeting with the Arab from Israel was entirely successful and cordial in every aspect. There was more than complete understanding. There was complete agreement on plans of action, etc.
My friend will complete his semester at a Texas University and then settle in San Francisco. It is time something more is done for real peace among real people than listening to harangues of important persons who are not directly concerned, but who are often eulogized for literary efforts, which have nothing to do with events or the lives of humanity.
I have already made valuable contacts. It is even possible that the many churches and “peace” organizations which have refused peremptorily interviews will now open their doors. I am now preparing to attend an international convocation, where my programs will be presented. In the end it will be found that many human beings want to associate with each other on peaceful terms regardless of the emotions of the various “masterminds” of the various dialectical schools, from extreme to extreme. I think we can and shall do some real things to bring about real peace between the real persons of the real world.
Cordially,
San Francisco Chronicle
January 22, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
Antarctica? I’d completely forgotten about the place.
Your “Weep For The Biafrans” pieces have been excellent.
Love,
Jan. 27, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
S.F. Chronicle
Dear Art:
I am somewhat concerned with the difficulties the Protestant Episcopalian Church has had in raising money for their Cathedral. I do not know if it is possible for a power structure to accept suggestions, but I am concerned from at least three standpoints:
a. San Franciscans
b. aesthetic architecture;
c. religion.
Lacking that well known virtue humility I worked as a flunky for 11 years at the Buddha Universal Church on Washington Street. I was a nobody, but I wanted to learn about Chinese psychology. Someone had said, “If you want to learn Confucianism, live with the Chinese.” At that time you could receive grades and credentials in Chinese philosophy by studying under various Germans whose merit was they had been kicked out by Hitler, that was sufficient. I dissented, and got the boot. I don t know if I learned any Chinese philosophy from the Chinese; I certainly did not learn anything that any German has ever preached, but when Princess Poon Diskul visited the city all the high and mighty had to gawk—I wrote you the details.
Now there are certain phrases in the Bible, in which I believe. Some concern Bethlehem-Ephrata. Others, like the opening passages of Handel’s “Messiah”: “Every valley should be exalted….” “A little child shall lead them….” There is no use harping on these phrases, or their rejections almost universally. I am still placing my bets on them.
I am still placing my bets on them. A few years ago I met a down and out cleric. He wanted to start a church for the hippies, or more especially for those who thought that psychedelics, homophilia, and waywardness were the ways of life. He had two things, internal faith and social enemies. I said, “here is where you will begin. The Bible starts In the beginning God; it does not start ‘In the beginning me.’” (In fact you won t find the first personal pronoun in the Hebraic Bible except as referring to God Himself.) So he started a church “In the beginning God.” You should see it now. Young men and women, in ever-increasing numbers, in ever-increasing vitality, in ever-increasing everything (even in ever-increasing money and property!).
I may not know what this means, but I have been giving Biblical lessons there, using the unknown Kabbalistic method of interpretation, which is to say: literal, parallel, symbolic, and actual (that is to say, you have the experience). This art is the Hebrew Kabbalah, not a lot of clap-trap and mystery-mongering which attracts old ladies. We find ever-increasing wisdom and values in the old scripture, and the numbers of young people increase who claim to have direct experiences of Christ and Light, and you can see it in their faces and in their morals and in everything about them.
I brought my own kids to these kids for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. My family has more or less universal outlook, and this family has more or less Christian outlook, but we love each other. These young people love each other. Their faces are full of light, their countenances beam, and magazines like Time and Life and Look have ignored us all right.
I have written you on plans to have first a small gathering when my Arab friend from Israel returns. With God’s help, we are going to have peace in Palestine. The great powers have stopped wars when they found it convenient, but the powers that now are take no suggestions from any Bethlehem-Ephratan. And yesterday, when I was giving a lesson from the Epistle of James, I was so moved that I am having the chapter copied and also sent to the Cathedral, in the hopes that they might just take one step out of realism into Reality. The scripture may teach, that is the scripture, “The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” The Hell it is. But some of us have enough faith in God, I mean the living God, that we believe we can have real peace on the real earth.
We also believe that if any church of any faith would present the teachings of the founder of that faith, it would draw crowds of young people, and even replenish its coffers.
I am still waiting for word from The Temple of Understanding. When they meet I shall be allowed, I believe, to play my cards. For over 40 years I have been concerned, among other things, with peace through religion, not peace through some power structure religious or anti-religious, social or anti-social, revolutionary or conservative. It may be a sad or a happy day should certain dramatic events occur and I find myself a comparatively wealthy man. Then I would no longer care about interviews, and the almost absolute rejection on the part of all clerics for my years of research for The World Church Peace Union.
I have had to close some of my classes, because they are filled to capacity. Youth is hungry, youth yearns, but youth is no longer satisfied with slogans, shibboleths, empty phrases, and emotionalisms. I have never lost faith. There is a sentence in the Bible, “The stone which is rejected is become the cornerstone.” As I wrote before, the efforts to be a Pied Piper have failed miserably, only the young show up, but by God and before God they are showing up. And they are sending for me, elsewhere of course.
Tonight I am going to hear former Professor Richard Alpert, now campaigning as Baba Ram Dass. I don’t know what it means. The church where he is speaking has refused everything I ever proposed to them. I may know the Drs. Radhakrishnan, the Princesses Poon Diskul, the Rabbis Schlomo, the top Franciscan fathers, and hidden and known Saints of all faiths. Already one friend of mine has written me up as I have told you; soon my own life may be sent for publication, either as The stone which is rejected, or I more than accuse.
To be continued….
Love,
910 Railroad Ave.
Novato, Calif. 94947
February 4, 1970
Dear Art:
I hope you will agree we need more scientific research toward the solution of problems.
It can be very easily authenticated and backed by statics properly gathered that many men and some women after being addicted to marijuana for 30 or more years suffer from falling hair, arthritis and headaches, not always cured by excedrine, and inability to run 100 yard dash in 11 seconds.
Not knowing whether you are a metapsychiatrist or not I am not asking for advice. In fact if you gave it, it might be illegal.
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
Feb. 5, 1970
Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
Dear Art:
Reality vs. “Realism”; The Generation Gawk (con’t.)
I think everything I write here has happened. It is not-news. The first psychedelic conference ended in a meeting when Allen Ginsberg addressed five hundred people nearly all young. When Hallinan and Hallinan and Hallinan tried to take over the meeting, six or seven applauded. When Allen led Indian mantrams, Hari Krishna and others, hundreds joined in. This was the beginning. It is a kind of real spiritual, real revolution, which the patricians of left center right, Hegel Marx Birch, and all who are trying to limit mentation to a flat surface cannot fathom.
Richard Alpert, who has been a colleague of Allen Ginsberg, is here. He is a typical “middle-class” personality, but he belongs to the “middle-class” who are hardly middle and very much class. He comes from a wealthy family as so many of the “middle-class” displaced persons do. He has been a professor at Harvard University, a highly regarded intellectual whom the paranoiac believers in a 2-dimentional world can hardly comprehend. Therefore, what he does isn’t news at all.
He spoke to thousands of young people, young people with potential votes but with actual actual actual money greenbacks, dollars! Well, so many tear jerking appeals are being made to collect money for the starving Biafrans (but not for starving Californians) and to complete this project and that, thousands of dollars are being offered him by the young, offered to a man who could obtain them easily “Papa please.” But not belonging to the various Hegelian-Marxian-left-center-right and “realistic” groups, and under the influence of the not yet so dead American Emerson, his self-reliance is demonstrating itself. That is my first report.
The second has to do with the use he will make of his money. At the present time we are over-rating the Biafrans whom we do not know and insulting the Yorubas and other Nigerians whom we have in our midst and who produce such excellent music. This my friend is good institutional practice. It helps us. It helps us get kicked out of Malawi and other lands whose people are tired of being treated as second rate guinea pigs especially by the press.
Richard Alpert or Baba Ram Dass as he is now called is in one sense a veritable Pied Piper. We seem to be in total harmony, and in fact, I benefit personally and impersonally by his lectures, campaign fund raising etc. Now what is he doing to do with the money?
He is directing one of the two national efforts (and they are in harmony with each other) to publish books taking into consideration the real religions and the real esoteric practices of the real people of real Asia. Horrors! You can go into a library or even into certain classrooms and find the students pouring over a book on, I think it is called, Spiritual Practices of India. The author is a German born man of very high repute. I never found any of these spiritual practices in Rand McNally’s India, and I never met any Indian who ever did then or anything of the kind. But remember Art, “an expert is an expert?” and any paysant protesting has to be disciplined.
Or, you can find Dictionary of Zen Terms. It was written by an Englishman (of course) who lived sometime in India and who was a PhD. I don’t know of what, but a PhD is privileged to attack the caste system and generally does. You must not interrupt him. He is also a staunch defendant of “democracy” and, therefore, you ought to listen to him. This book was written by this Englishman when he was director of “The American Academy of Asian Studies.” Since his departure this institution has been split, some of its privileged PhD’s forming a rival California Academy of Asian Studies, but still using the source materials on India and Zen.
I could go on. This is a very serious situation, and we are paying millions of dollars uselessly to misinform young crusaders called the Peace Corps who go out badly trained and excellently brain-washed to Mawlawi, Burma, Indonesia etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. Now the young people are raising their own funds via Richard Alpert-Baba Ram Dass to have published actual works on the actual spiritual practices done by actual men in this actual world.
I don’t know which is most amazing—the success of Richard Alpert Ram Dass in raising money or in leading the young in singing mantrams. Thousands showed up at the Unitarian Church Tuesday night and, of course, this meant more thousands of dollars. Anything so revolutionary as this cawn’t be news. I could go on like this.
But one of the outcomes is a concerted effort now to get some of these things nationally televised. The greatest step toward peace will come I believe when human beings are permitted to mingle with other human beings without a number of older “generals” miscontroling and misdirecting than how to believe. I believe human beings are naturally friendly and gregarious and do not want to fight and hate.
It would seem now that one of the dreams of my life is coming true: real cultural exchange between America and the real peoples of real Asia.
Love,
Feb. 8, 1970
Dear Art,
Unreluctant as I am to expose faults and shortcomings, I therefore must call your attention to a misprint in today’s Chronicle where it is said, “Fore! The Veep Is Golfing.” The pronunciation is pretty close, but where did they get the letter L in there? But I do not dissent. This is just exactly what vice-presidents are for.
I see that a VIP is going down to Morocco and Africa, where he will discover that the nationals do not love us for spending millions of dollars to support the state of Israel on one hand and the Christian missionaries in Biafra on the other. No necessary objection on my parts but I am not an African.
Art, I don’t want to put you on the spot, but suppose an American black panther who is two-legged met an African black panther two-legged or four-legged. I don’t think they would approve of our VIPs. I do know that the American delegation will carry a big supply of rosewater and why not.
I am now getting ready to go to an international conference in Geneva where I shall again be meeting my friend Princess Poon Diskul Pismai. This time there maybe cameras and reporters.
In the meanwhile we are planning a big Spring festival for my friend Gavin Arthur (it also being his birthday). We are planning to have cameras and sound equipment.
The trouble with my life at the present moment Art, is that everything is coming out most satisfactory.
Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
February 9, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
I’m so happy to hear that everything is going so well for you. Your conference in Geneva sounds exciting. As does everything else that you do.
Love,
Art
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
February 15, 1970
Art Hoppe,
c/o S.F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, 94119
Dear Art:
I have never considered it my mission to rise and defend the great corporations. Neither to accuse them, I am not a “sociologist.” But for the second time in my life circumstances are different and again I am faced with the hard fact, “The fact I save may be my one.”
The first occasion was when I went to India. Before me we sent three newspaper “experts.” The communist hecklers stopped them. They wrote books which sold. They also got mobbed. I haven’t written any books that have sold, so far lots of rejections which do not bother me at all. But there I was on the platform, defending Carnegie and Rockefeller and the Duponts especially. And when I was through, the audience sent out to mob the communist hecklers. It was all against the rules. I had to save their lives. I did not gain anything by it. And, of course this was not mentioned. Wrong man. The wrong man can never solve anything, it ain’t in the books. So we keep problems.
When I returned to Asia I had both the communists (who have memories) and the US foreign office (“the Bourbons learn nothing, forget nothing”) against me. But I had the nationals with me.
Now we are trying to have another “Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court” war in the Near East. Grant is out and Mark Twain is in. I did a lot of research and have piles of stuff in this house on desert reclamation and the proper development of water recourses; of salinity and aridity and crops and all the things which I have always thought would benefit mankind—even the politicians. I live on in hopes. Winning debates does not good if you are the “Wrong person.” But I am gaining friends in “reality vs. ‘realism’”.
Us Ugly Americans have our own class on Southeast Asia. Students and teachers have all lived there, not in the same countries but among the between us we cover all the land inferred by SEATO and also Malaya, Cambodia, etc., etc. So far it has not been of any use. We “Free Speech” Americans let a British communist speak, but never, so far, any “Ugly American.” I hope to have at least one Vietnamese speaker in this house next week. It is a try-out.
Then I must prepare to go to Geneva to an international conference where I am going to be permitted to say what in “free speech” American has been barred. As a friend says, never let facts disturb the issues.” Sociologists and dialecticians went to get at each other’s throats.
I am all for oil and water development in the Near East. Even more for desert reclamation. Being the “Wrong person” I have been either rejected or ejected but keep on. The young keep on coming every week more and more and this year I have been offered a summer school by the young, God bless them.
After my return from Geneva and Washington and sundries, we are going to have a meeting where some of the “silenced majority” may speak: Arabs who are citizens of Israel, Arabs who are not anti-Israel; Jewish people who have been to Israel and left but do not like pogroms; Muslims who love Mohammed but not the Mosques. Of course the rabbis and imams will shun such a meeting.
The day of pretense, Art, is going to be over. The young want facts and they want to end wars, and their elders have bones to pick.
We can have peace, Art, by encouraging the young to mingle. We can have desert reclamation and the developments of natural resources. Now the sociologists and dialecticians have taken ever the words, the words, the words, pollutions, ecology, etc.
I haven’t always been wrong. It has been found that Russian DDT also kills. It is a remarkable (?) discovery. But I don’t accept all the nonsense about DDT. I am still against the mosquitoes and tropical fevers, etc. I believe they can be abated but not by emotions.
There is nothing in our constitution or that of the UN which says that Russians must not visit other lands. I don’t care; what I want is to promote American interests. We have better telephones, we have better air travel, we have on the whole better education. But we still have not empathy and human consideration. And empathy and human consideration are what the communists have not. Neither have they progressed in the peaceful sciences. This is our opportunity and sooner or later I think we can make the most of it.
Cordially,
Samuel L. Lewis.
Feb. 16, 1970
Dear Art:
Emotions cure all problems. In fact this is so self-evident, I am not even going to say much further.
Chaos. Are you interested in my new organization? That is to say The Council Harassing All Old Standards. Don’t you think this is a splendid idea? The only other splendid idea I know is that Pat Paulsen is putting Smothers brothers back on the air.
I have received a very favorable answer from Senator John Sherman Cooper who can never become an “expert” by our standards: he only lived in Asia with the Asians, and knows quite a few of them.
Phil Burton also approves of what I am doing. With such emotional support, what shall I do next? I am getting nervous.
Love,
910 Railroad Ave.
Novato, Calif. 94947
February 19, 1970
Dear Art:
The first money was deposited yesterday for tickets to go to Geneva where I shall be permitted to attend and even say something about Peace. I notice in the paper today the anti-war people want equal time at some conference. These are very interesting people. Of course if a “peasant” asks for time, this angers them. You see, Art, I am not only against war, I am against hatred, and although I am against Karl Marx on many things, I agree with him that if a revolution were to be started he should not be the first man to be liquidated.
I even agree with Mohammed: don’t kill your fallen enemies, tax them. Of course everybody who never studied about Mohammed said he offered people the choice of the Qur’an and the sword. It is a terrible thing and one is in severe trouble for it when he tells that there were no Qur’ans in Mohammed’s time. There weren’t, but this doesn’t matter.
Hegel says that the one thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history. As the world is largely divided into two camps, the pro-Marxist Hegelians and the anti-Marxist Hegelians, anyone who does not accept dialectics has no place at a peace conference. Maybe.
In the meanwhile the Pied Piper thing is spreading all over. I have been offered a summer school: teaching, directing, leading etc., etc.; an ersatz student body and unconditional surrender from those who have been hippies, some of whom are past 30. It is easy to become a hero. Just tell the young you had an idea, and all the free speech, democracy, humanity, and Peasants Shut Up groups turned you down. You are automatically a hero.
This Sunday or more likely the following Sunday I am expecting at least one Vietnamese to speak about the culture of his country. We do that in school where all us “ugly Americans” are having a wonderful time studying the Southeast Asia of Rand-McNally.
And of course I am spilling over into the idea of having Arab and Israeli peasants meet each other without anybody from the State Department, New York Times, expert Rabbi or Imam present. Just us chickens. Just us peasants. Just us Pied Pipers and their every-growing, misled following of young people. Don’t let facts disturb the issues.
Feb. 22, 1970
Dear Art,
I have an absolute, positive cure for all problems, and only wonder why neither of us thought of it very simple, Just Pass a Resolution. This solves everything I can assure you.
The only trouble is, after going home and peacefully sleeping because of our prowess, we are liable to wake up in the morning with a new resolution which nobody had thought of on the day before. I could long since have been a very famous man only I have a nasty habit of voting no on resolutions. I vote no; I get kicked out showing the spirit of democracy and humanity. Soon the organization founders, the problems remain, there is a new organization. New orators, new resolutions. New soporifics, and on and on and on.
Gee Art, this is wonderful. I know a lot of problems that have disappeared: generally by resolutions; the rest of the time by definition so the problem disappears.
I am getting ready to go to another peace conference. The only thing on my program at the moment is a resolution against resolutions. I am expecting resolutions and orations—from the high and mighty of course—but this time I am going to be nasty. It is not only the Plain of Jars that jars. We have Biafra; we have Palestine; and we have the script of A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court, which is of course our protocol. One can’t get along without protocol, so we don’t. Now I have a few other things to do. I hope you don’t ask me to stop resoluting; it would not only put you out of business, it might even put me out of business.
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
San Francisco Chronicle
February 24, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
I was delighted to come across your remark about not letting the facts disturb the issues. I’ve been saying for years that facts ruin a good story and it’s good to know that you’re not in favor of facts, either.
Love,
Art
March 1, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, 94119
Dear Art:
Preface to the prelude to the introduction of the prolegomena on “Explanations of Explanations of Explanations.”
This is a very simple subject. You can find the cause for anything and everything:
environment
middle class
drugs
ecology
sex
In fact it is so simple that Papa and Mama are never called to account.
One thing you mustn’t do under any circumstances is to consult the youth involved. Although they don’t speak usually Swahili or Eskimo they must be treated that way, and punished or rewarded, but never never questioned.
Sometimes I think there is a new religion: “There is no God but Marijuana.” This is a stimulant; a laxative; a pacifier; a narcotic; an aphrodisiac; a soporific; an agitative; a mental awaker; all in one for every and all members of the middle class. Although I am very positive in this conclusion, I am not yet aware whether this middle class extends to apes and simians. You see I am out of touch with the sociologists who know everything better. Excepting the top TV commentators who know even better.
You see Art, one of the main troubles in the world is that laboratory technicians have taken over control of science. This has to be corrected.
But this means I also have to be corrected.
Love,
PS; Having accidentally happened upon Colata just after the trouble there, I asked lots of questions of lots of students. Shall I confess to the police or the FBI? I am now too busy asking other questions of young people everywhere. Sometimes they actually give answers to questions. But beware: Proxy Nixy is giving them the vote, watch out.
910 Railroad Ave.
Novato, Calif. 94947
March 3, 1970
Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
Dear Art:
Yesterday I received a most cordial letter confirming booking for my secretary Mr. Mansur Otis Johnson and myself for rooms in Geneva, Switzerland, where we shall not only be attending a peace conference, but even be permitted to participate. We are hoping that this conference will accomplish something. The Semanticists have acclaimed Stuart Chase’s “The Tyranny of Words” but it may be said with equal affirmation that there is a “tyranny of names”—if you are not important, you aren’t. And this strange dichotomy between verbal-democracy and prestige-democracy, if such a thing is possible, is by far the greatest obstacle before us. In other words, we are not going to battle against war, we are going to battle against pseudo-peace, verbalisms.
We are not expecting perfection from anybody, but we are not going to keep quiet if the same errors persist over and over and over. Big names. Big names, that’s the thing: Kellogg-Briand Pacts. Kellogg-Briand Pacts accompanied by mass-bacteria and holocausts, we have had them right here in San Francisco: super-generalissimo U Thant calling for a moral and spiritual revolution. Super-applause led by the highest ecclesiasts, the highest diplomats, the highest of highest. And then more complications in Vietnam and the Holy Land and Biafra and the Indian-Pakistan border and Chad and Central America and and and and.
But now there is a real, a very real moral and spiritual revolution going on. It is misnamed (or it may be properly named): “the generation gap.” Imagine Art, a peace conference wherein Every valley shall be exalted and every hill laid low and crooked places straightened and the lambs and the lions alike (or doves and hawks) permitting youth to say something, really participate.
I do not know what part we shall be playing. The tyranny of words proclaims knowledge is power. Au contraire, knowledge is chiefly a nuisance. When the insignificant have facts, the tyranny of names have not, the nuisance has been rejected, the conference ends in tumultuous applause, and that is the end of the matter. But this time, Art, this time….
You know Art, the great nuisance to the young people is that they really want to accept Jesus Christ’s “Love ye one another,” or the Biblical “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” No, I don’t expect to end border disputes. The tyranny of names will not permit that, but the young are going to intermingle with the other young, and this nuisance person may have something to do with it.
As I have told you, we are planning a spring festival in honor of the equinox and Sir Gavin Arthur, the astrologer. The program will be based on the preliminary public exhibition of “Dances of Universal Peace.” These have only begun. These have only begun, but there are strong rumors that they will be filmed. This is the second step in my own outcry: Dance Together Instead of March Together.
To me the great enemy of peace is excitement. Everybody wants excitement, that is, until it happens. People very close to me influenced by the universal call for excitement were the principal in the pie throwing episode on Nob Hill sometime back. But this has not abated the universal call for excitement. Now excitement has invaded a multitude of university campuses. While the establishment has accepted a number of Marxist and dialectical terms and uses them, the communists on their part have also accepted from the establishment the word excitement. Why not? The establishment solves? all problems by misappropriating Marxist terminology, and the revolutionaries express their gratitude by fulfilling the call for excitement. So we have Gandhi-ism coupled with destructive demonstrations.
It is fortunate that we do not belong to any elite of any camp. The response is not to the phrase “Love ye one another;” —the response is to the demonstrations, the manifestations of love and joy and peace. Youth wants these and youth accepts them when they are demonstrable. So even I am more “excited” by invitations received from the youth in rather distant places to further the campaign for the manifestation, for the exhibition, for the pragmatic exemplification of love and joy and peace. These, without the tyranny of words, without the tyranny of names.
So we are going forth with a certain degree of hope. Perhaps enough young people will accept love and joy and peace, not as symbols, not as pseudo-semantic noises, but as realities. You may hear more from me before departure. You should certainly here more from Mr. Johnson and/or myself from Geneva and elsewhere. I have lived through plenty of “excitement.” In the universities my direct eye-witness reports are accepted. I sit among a multitude of ugly Americans who have been there, and whose direct in situ reports are being evaluated by those who are writing real history. The future can do without the tyranny of words, without the tyranny of names, but it cannot do without the acceptance of the actual facts of existence.
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
March 4, 1970
Dear Art:
I wrote a letter to Jeremy Ets Hokem copy enclosed before reading your editorial for the day. If I now succeed in convincing you of anything it will be awkward for both of us. Besides it would take away our fun.
Do you know anything about the Subud Movement? Do you know anything about the Meher Baba Movement? Do you know anything about the Gurdjieff Movement? Do you know how the Vedanta Movement started in this country? Do you know the name of the greatest Zen Buddhist in this country? Do you know the nationality God assumed when he came to the world as a man?
Jews Jews all Jews.
I don’t know if this has anything to do with the state of Israel. It did have something to do with Nazism. But beware or rejoice, if you got a convention of all the leaders of the real or putative spiritual movements of the world, the scions of the synagogue would outnumber all the rest of the others put together. How come?
Isn’t this ducky? C’est marveilleux, or something.
Love,
March 5, 1970
Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
Dear Art:
I guess this morning I have what might have been called “humility” in an earlier age when words had some significance. Last night one of the legal TV stations took at least pilot films of my present endeavors. Perhaps it comes at a very good time, too.
I understand some such program is being established and may be continued to show what might be done to bring the youth of the region together, and perhaps more than the youth of this region, but the youths of many regions and even of all regions, together. I do not mean some bombastic organization of their elders to corral youth, but the actual efforts of the youths and maidens themselves to express what is deepest in their psyches, and thus bring to manifestation so much latent in the minds and hearts of what I call the silenced majority.
This comes at the time when we are preparing to go to a peace conference at Geneva. I have already my resolution against resolutions. If it hadn’t been for that, I should have been famous or infamous long age. I have lost out with many great and important, so-called, persons, because I refused to go along with unimplemented resolutions. Why we have in San Francisco alone a number of renowned persons who have received “peace awards” from well-known groups. And not a single one of them has uttered a word about Vietnam, or Palestine or Biafra.
Fortunately, my colleagues are neither dialecticians nor existentialists. Like myself they are Americans who have been influenced by the Transcendentalist and pragmatic philosophies that arose out of our own midst and are not importees from Europe or anywhere. If we can have a peace convention without resolutions, with social intermingling, and real intellectual exchange without the pompous silencing of the unknown, I think something will be gained by that policy alone.
I understand that youth will actually be given full sway and certainly I shall encourage my young secretary to speak, to speak as he has already thought out so well in his literary efforts. After all, Wm. Pitt the younger was one of the greatest prime ministers who ever lived, but the Wellingtons and others have sees to it that it did not happen again—praise youth yes; but give them the reins! Well, I was one of the greatest devotees of Wm. the 2nd and believe it can happen again, especially in these times when so many brilliant young people wish to speak and act constructively.
Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
March 6, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
Thanks so much for the interesting bit of information on Jews. And everything else, too. And I was not aware of any of the movements that you mentioned.
And I couldn’t agree with you more about convincing me of anything. It would take away the fun.
Love,
Art
March 8, 1970
Dear Art:
Benign Yes! Neglect, Jamais!
I dislike to differ from you. I can benign you any time, but neglect! Look at Chad! It has a vote in the UN. It has a legal parliament elected. The white Northern Muslims have 99 votes; the black Southerners, heathens, and Christians, have 99 votes. The French have 2 votes. As go the French, so goes the nation. It is all democracy you know. Only the blacks outvote the whites, but being actual or potential Christians, that is different. So we have Biafra, Nigeria, in reverse.
Then there is Bhutan. It is not in the UN. But it is in Rand and McNally. The natives are Buddhists. They have a heathen religion and superstitions. They have no pollution, they have no smog, they don’t even have newspapers; what are we to do?
Well Art, I have to benignly neglect the Bhutanese and the Chadians for I just received a letter from India explaining the rise of the Communists and also of Hitlerian Fascists. The Communists are 100 percent for dividing land until they get into office; they then find all the land belongs to their fathers or grand-uncles. Can they dis-inherit themselves? Besides most communists are Brahmins to boot, and they are all ready to boot another faction of communists, also Brahmins of course. So they benignly neglect their problems, and why not?
I am nor benignly neglecting my own. I have a final coming up next week so stop at this point wishing you love.
Sam
P.S. I may benignly neglect you, I may or may not benignly neglect me, but what do you think? An educational television station is now benigning me and is not neglecting me. I was mugged Wednesday night. I was pilotly, not politely, but pilotly recorded Wednesday, surrounded of course by oodles of young people. The station has decided to invade my home this week. There is nothing more than confusing than simple facts, and actual human beings to confuse issues. We are all benigning each other and we are not neglecting each other. Indeed we are planning dinners for the television invaders.
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
March 9, 1970
Art Hoppe,
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
Once upon a time there was a monarch in the ancient Southeast Asia of Rand-McNally. He was a very lonely man. Everything he said or did was accepted, no questions. He was an absolute monarch and tired of it. He had had millions of faithful subjects, a few extra wives and a court of professional Brahmans, astrologers, augurs, soothsayers and numerologists. Also it is aid, some wizards, seers and interpreters of sand-paintings.
His name was No-road-om and he championed the right to have a country without any roads. He used to consult his court just as the Bible says and in order to obviate monotony and ennui and boredom, he followed the seasons: one season he was Crown Prince and another Prime Minister and another King and another Dictator. He dared not change; yet he was an absolute Monarch but he accepted the Dharma which we do not teach about here and sometimes the Dharma (or Dhamma) is more suspect than Marxism or dialectics or Mao Tse Tung.
Now progressive America has an institution to abolish boredom. It is called Aid (or foreign aid). They learned about this monarch and decided to defend him from Marx and boredom. So we send in a huge aeroplane, with gifts, of course. They had learned from the rather forgotten Townsend Harris how to genuflect without kowtowing (sign of Chinese influence). So they genuflected quite correctly according to the book. They wanted to save the ruler but they did not know he was a profound Buddhist-Buddhist and that he had his own ways, including benignity—i.e. being benign.
So he overlooked the shortcomings of the visitors and took them around to Buddhist’s temples which were his pride, but it bored them to death. They were looking for communist spies and all they saw was temples. When they were through, the king, tired of his own absolutism asked them why they had come. “To pay you tribute, of course.” No-road-on was tired of tribute but then noblesse oblige benignity.
And what have you brought? They smiled and out came a van of eight Cadillacs. “What are these?” “Those are for you so we can bring in more Aid to take your country out of barbarism.” “What for?” “Don’t you want them?” “Where are the roads? I am not called No-road-om for nothing. Can’t you bring me a minicrat?” “What for?” “To take me from one Buddhist temple to another.”
This was horrible. The diplomats and their newspaper attendants from New York never heard of such a thing. They were summarily invited out.
Meanwhile rumors of the Aid (Add increased dollars) visit to No-road-om had reached three impoverished princes to the North. “Why can’t we get dollars; we would like them.” “We have to have a country.” “But we have gotten along for centuries without any country, without any government.” “Yes, and without any dollars. We need those dollars.” “Well, then let’s form a government. Rand-McNally has us as a country, and the unlamented Japanese said we are a country, so let’s become a country and share those dollars.”
Now these were very poor princess. They could not afford Brahmans and soothsayers and wizards and seers and numerologists and astrologers. So they planned a “do-it-yourself” scheme. They had a family meeting. “Prince Hex, aren’t you left-handed?” “Of course.” “Prince Sex, aren’t you right-handed?” “You know that.” “Well, I Prince Vex am ambidextrous. Why not share?”
“Sex, you will lead the right-wing and Hex you will lead the leftwing and I’ll stand in the middle. Sex, you will be pro-the West; Hex, you will be pro-communist and I’ll be a neutralist.” “What does that mean, being a neutralist?” “It means America will give me more money.”
“But I should think,” said Sex, “the Americans will give me the most and none to Hex.” “You don’t know the Americans very well. They will give some to Hex, they may give even more to Hex than to me. It won’t hurt.”
Well, they plotted and planned and brought in Aid and soon Hex was rolling in luxury and Vex the ambidextrine had plenty. It was only poor Sex who had invited the Americans who remained in poverty. Only it seems that his brothers were Buddhists. They believed in benign non-neglect.
The above, of course, is true and I can name the sources, the informants, but as they were not connected with CIA or the New York Times or Herald Tribune it will take some generations to ferret this out.
Any AID person found guilty of being smirred with communist is reprimanded, then promoted. Any AID person found tarnished with Asian Buddhism—he is ousted and outed. This is the way to “win” the hearts of??????
Mehta,
March 11, 1970
Dear Art:
If I were a heckler, I should demand: “Is neglect benign?” Unfortunately, this hits back at me, for it is quite evident that you have neglected your domicile and are wandering elsewhere. So you have caught me even before first hand. God Bless you.
I have become the most un-neglected hermit you have ever heard of: cameras, sound equipment, interviews, gumshoeing, and the only way to fulfill these obligations is to increase my bussing program. I do not know how efficient I am here, but I certainly enjoy being caught.
On March the 21st I shall be emceeing a spring festival for Gavin Arthur and others. On March 26th I shall be giving a benefit farewell party but the benefits are for the Rudolph Shaffer School of Design. On Saturday March 28th I shall be giving my last dancing class for my own benefit and immediately take off for Geneva.
No doubt I shall be meeting many important people. It is quite a different thing to attend a presumable peace conference than to send in scare headlines from parts unknown. I have to protest against the cruelty of our hospital in Laos for its failure to look after the wounded in the fighting that is going on. It is quite evident that this is a beautiful cinema war (“O what a beautiful war”); or it may well be that just as the culverts, bridges and highways in North Vietnam resuscitate immediately after their destruction, so the same occurs to the battle seared in Laos.
In view of the foregoing I am unable to decide whether I shall be giving you benign neglect, un-benign neglect or benign un-neglect. Please don’t answer.
Love,
March 15, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, 94119
Dear Art:
I did something which used to be absolutely unforgivable. I studied mathematical philosophy when I was a young man. Then I did something almost equally unforgivable: I read H.G. Wells instead of editorializing on him; this keeps me in the peasant class, unfit to get into gentleman’s arguments, for which I thank God. As the first stage to understanding H.G. Wells—understand, not editorialize—you have to know about flatland. In flatland, everything has two sides, just two sides, no more than two sides, and anything else is inconceivable.
Despite certain rumors about our superintendent of public instruction, there seems to be some evidence in favor of Darwin and evolution. Anyhow some items in the universe are subject to change. For instance, yesterday we completed the course on Southeast Asia. Nearly everybody in the class had lived in Southeast Asia. Nobody in the class has ever said or done anything, or experienced anything which could affect the psyches of the respectable, either those close to the White House or in any way connected with the press. Certain things Art, just ain’t done. I remember one time I was enrolled at what was called the American Academy of Asian Studies. There were two factions: one which believed English educated people knew most about Asia, the other that German people knew most about Asia. The gooks of course weren’t consulted; they still are not. In the class just closed, everybody had met gooks and therefore were ugly Americans, and therefore were not fit to get into any discussions of gentlemen. Well I went to real Asia and almost got thrown out.
The Asians didn’t like it that I had studied under Englishmen and Germans. I never found out whether they despised the Englishmen and Germans or merely wanted their jobs and salaries. Anyhow, when they found out that the Englishmen and Germans had no respect for me, I was welcomed all over the continent, everywhere.
Now we have evolved to the stage where Americans who studied under Asians have those jobs which used to be monopolized by Englishmen and Germans, and also a few Asians are in. We have moved ahead into H.G. Well’s three dimensional world. The trouble with us three-dimensional people is that we are sometimes intolerant about two-dimensional people, whether they are editors, commentators, or vice-presidents. Besides, I have personally been the guest of imperial families, holy places, and universities which do not invite American vice-presidents or European professors of Asian Studies. I have also found that several other Americans have been to such places, where they cannot tolerate editors, commentators, and vice-presidents. No doubt this shows the intolerance of “democracy.” A real democracy might tolerate editors, and commentators, and vice-presidents.
But some students have suggested we might go further. We might go into Well’s fourth dimension. This would mean that we would not only open the doors to those whom we do not tolerate, and who do not tolerate us, we might open the doors to everybody.
Anyhow I got balled out. The man I am representing at the forthcoming peace conference is not the vice president of India, he is the president of India. The manuscript said vice-president, but now he is president. Some of my best friends have been presidents of India, and some presidents of India have been my best friends. I realize that editors, commentators, vice-presidents, experts, etc., etc., could never stand for this. The young people are quite willing to accept that their elders have b.o. They are even willing to permit them to come to conferences where they might learn something from somebody, but this looks too much like a miracle. One thing that the two-dimensional people, like the vice-president and the commentators and the editors and the experts don’t seem to understand is not only that there may be a Wellsian three-dimensional or even a fourth-dimensional, but that youth matures, if it has not already matured, and that even the queen of hearts cannot prevent younger people from growing and beyond growth attain power, wisdom, and authority. I realize that this is written under stress, with a dying brother, and every facet of my life under klieg lights. Some darn fools are convinced that the little people who have been there should be permitted to express themselves despite all vice-presidents, despite all commentators, and despite despite.
It’s a brave new world, Art, and I am sure you appreciate that.
We are now all ready for the Spring Festival in which Gavin Arthur will be honored. We are all ready for a lot of things, and remember Art, though gooks may not be our equals, there may be a lot of hidden gourmets among them, and we can’t overlook that.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
San Francisco Chronicle
March 23, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
Thanks so much for your latest delightful and thoughtful letters.
I’m so pleased that all seems to be going so well for you. Happy Spring, and Happy Spring Festival.
Love,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
March 25, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
You’ve made an excellent choice. You couldn’t be leaving the problems of California with a better person. I’ll be sure and save every last one of them for you until your return.
Love,
Art
Intercontinental Hotel Room 405
Geneva, Switzerland
March 31, 1970
Dear Art:
I meet another Sam. He comes from Lebanon. I was going to write you all about it.
Here we are in Geneva. My secretary Otis Johnson, known as Mansur, trying to put in operation another one of Mark Twain’s books “Innocents Abroad” and shelving “A Connecticut Yankee.” Besides, my father came from Boston, not from Connecticut. Anyhow we are meeting some of the great and near great, including of course, Her very Serene Highness, Princess Poon, and her travelling assistant Aiem Sangavasi. In the meanwhile the top ananas hailed little me as a Walt Whitman. They say I look and act like him, so I have to share Mark Twain with Walt Whitman which makes me so American that no establishment people would even recognize me, Being neither enemy nor friend.
But innocence is over. As we sat down in the lobby a very distinguished gentleman strided over, introduced himself and began an interview. Horrors! He is not an American of course. He is not event European; he is an Arab!!!!! At least if he were a communist the newspapers would favor me with an excoriating editorial, but an Arab. And only last night I was accosted by the Rabbi from Jerusalem. What am I to do now?
This is the conference of The Temple of Understanding. We are supposed to be working for understanding and peace. Confounded it, there is not a single English or German “expert” on Asian or Arabic culture to stop me. They stayed home to get syndicated contracts for mullah and bread to support their families and of course “everybody” will read them. But I like to mingle with “exotics.” God and Allah and Brahm created a lot of “exotics,” and I am sure all God’s chillins got stomachs as well as wings.
Anyhow the heat is on. I am to be interviewed tomorrow morning which is much worse than going to Cuba or Hanoi. In the meanwhile a lot is going to happen even pretty soon this morning, so I shall leave the letter open at this point and secret some more dynamite nicely wrapped in Swiss chocolate. To be continued.
Afternoon. I don’t know what your idea of a conference is where all the delegates are introduced to each other as essentially equal; where we can sit down and talk to each other, where we can commune and communicate. Of course the Arabs would be happy if the Israelis would make some concessions. Of course the Israelis would be happy if the Arabs would make some concessions. Indeed, everybody seems to be united for some concessions—from others. Being small and insignificant looking and far away from home, and looking and behaving as little like a diplomat as one can imagine, this is considered as a virtue here and so far no one has told anybody else to shut up and sit down. I think this is a wonderful step forward in itself.
Now while I am seeking others out, others are seeking me out. This wouldn’t have happened in San Francisco. It wouldn’t even happen in Washington. It is happening here grace a dieu and alhamdu lillah.
Also love from
Sam
Boston,
April 19, 1970
Dear Art,
As attention is given to our homeward trip one is reminded more and more of the last part of the life of Samuel Morse. He struggled and struggled with everybody against him with the most awkward excuses. When he got on top he brought suits and wore every one of them. Well I have no intention to bring suits for something else is happening. But I shall certainly see my lawyer on private matters before I go ahead, and the increase in income will bring more respectability than all the knowledge, wisdom, and virtue one can accumulate.
Our last exploit in London was a “trial-balloon” Pied Piper effort with such total success we plan to visit that land again. The generation gap is to begin with one of the pet phrases of Lord Snow’s non-scientific culture. Non-scientists do not like his division between scientists and literati. In one sense it is nothing but the extension of the Greek division between knower and believers. The “Judeo-Christian” ethic (whatever that means) is a natural part of “believe and ye shall be saved.” Emerson warned against the thinker and in most circles there is a strong undercurrent against the scientific method or anything objective and impersonal. The result is that war is a way of life. It has been the way of what are called “the establishment.” It is also a way of life by disgruntled frustrated people with no philosophies at all. But they know how to get the headlines and that is important.
Last night here also was “trial balloon” totally successful. There may have been some people over 30 in age but none over 35, and the girls were all in their twenties. Since we have discovered or uncovered the science of communication nobody knows how to mingle with strangers. Not being an adept in the science of communication I have had no trouble with the scientists, the young, or the top literati of many lands whose cultures we simply have refused to examine. Whatever they believe is “superstition” and what we believe is “science” and that is the end of it.
What I have been fearing is happening. The young accept whatever I present because their elders wisely have refused to let me speak; over and over this had happened. But now being with a group that wishes understanding at all costs, it is different. We will sooner or later have to face understanding or destruction and even the most adamant of the “liberty, democracy, humanity, and peasants, shut up” may give way.
But personally I am most confident that sooner or later we may be dancing together instead of marching apart. You cannot convince older people and you do not have to convince the young. And if I have not been an eye-witness, I was one day late for [?] Square just as I was one day late for Santa Barbara, and have no intention of trying to reach the mature and respectable people who are filled with opinions, philosophies and mutual antipathies.
Without efforts I have been invited to Harvard and Brandeis, but I am leaving off until our chief friend returns. With the whole of our culture, both establishment people and oppositions uniting in their zeal for “excitement” we may expect it. I was one of the few opposed to the Kellogg-Brand pact, claiming that the very words had suggestions for war. Anybody not a semanticist might understand that. Modern semantics has immersed us in masses of personalities and even more verbalisms so contrary to the ideas and principles of the people who have used the terms “semantics” and “general semantics.”
Peace by penetration, infiltration and mutual intercourse is not necessarily revolutionary. But the words used sooner or later will fall into the hands of propagandists and then the usual will follow — emotionalisms and verbalisms and nothing accomplished. But no longer. We have youth and understanding and ability. Our education and culture or maybe simple biological evolution has brought this about.
Educated people here cannot understand our Governor, Senior Senator and Superintendent of public instruction. Education is the thriving business here and those enterprises based on artificial “normalcy” are learning—the hard way.
The new businesses are thriving. The small stores, owned and operated by the young are overcrowded, over prosperous, and gradually displacing the “respectables.”
I hope to have a May Day gathering. It may be small or otherwise but sooner or later the Dances of Universal Peace will take on. The press, the religions of the past, the humanists and the “peace” societies will hold off as long as they can until one of them will join to use my work as props against the others and the first that does this will be most welcome.
I am always reminded of the efforts of the late Robert Clifton who, then living in Viet Nam, was trying to prevent a conflagration. Not only did he fail entirely but I was with him during refusals. Only now there is a new type of university professor, men keen on facts, and there is the hope.
Of course I do not know what kind of mail will be waiting for me when “we sneak’ home. But it is beginning to look more and more that I will become “Pied Piper” on a large scale and you happen to be my ‘witness.”
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
San Francisco Chronicle
April 27, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
Thank you so very much for your beautiful letters from abroad. I’m delighted that the tour was such a success and that you are now returning to San Francisco. Welcome home.
Love,
Art
April 27, 1970
Dear Art,
Ghettodammerung.
This word is so good, I wanted to give you the copyright on it. It is probably mediocre. To begin with the two have in common their difficulty in being spelled and the still greater difficultly of determining their meaning. I think this is enough to recommend it. In the words of the playwright, “you ask for anything more?”
I have been living in Boston, the home of my paternal ancestors. We lived in a tremendous structure which probably would have been called a mansion in the days when there were no sociologists. Or maybe the world is becoming mediocre in the sense that nobody knows what anybody else is talking about. This has become especially true since the science and art of communication came into being. Or, to repeat Lewis Carroll, “a word means just what I mean it to mean, just that and nothing else.”
Undoubtedly the New Left will take umbrage because I intend to celebrate May Day as when I was a child among the birds and the bees and the flowers. As I mean by this the birds and the bees and the flowers, I must be establishment, but being mediocre I do not know what establishment means. What I do know unfortunately is that I am too busy to watch the new and rapidly becoming famous TV star named Art Hoppe.
Love,
April 30, 1970
Dear Art:
For a more picaresque speech.
Pollutician. I am requesting you to do research on this word; to appropriate it, to mis-appropriate it, to plagiarize it, to annex it, to adopt it, to explain it, as the late Gurdjieff Said: All and Everything.
Borotory. Whenever one has nothing to say and wishes to take a long time to say it. Generally, one talks about “love and compassion” or prates, or swallows a tape recorder and lets it go at that.
This is really spring now, and it has gone to my head, my heart and my feet. We are putting on a May Festival on the 7th, because some people actually work on Friday.
Years ago it was the custom to invite high school students to various college campuses and explain everything. Now the high school kids are dispensing with invitations and applying their own version of rocks and rolls. I do not see this on the agenda, but what is an agenda?
I have had such wonderful greetings since I returned, when my schedule now is concerned with the invitation to conduct a summer school in New Mexico, far far away from all maddening throngs. We do not even have a telephone or television, but are in a position to supply caves for any would-be occupant.
It is too lovely to write more. The sunshine is calling.
Faithfully,
San Francisco Chronicle
May 6, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
It is good to have you back in San Francisco.
Your letters are always so cheerful and stimulating.
The very best,
Art
May 7, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle
San Francisco, Calf.
Dear Art: Smoke Kents
It is too bad that the time has not come yet to enforce against cigarette advertising. And it is said that smoke means “fire” with which the Highway Patrol and National Guard seem to agree.
It was on Monday I took the next phase of “Mission Impossible.” I have a plan for the Near East. I think I can convince anybody not connected with foreign policy of its value. On this Friday evening I shall give a talk in public of what took place at Geneva when the real leaders of be real religions of the real world met. And I went around calling myself “Nathan the Wise” which is very unfair to all those with “peace plans” and honorariums.
Since then the efforts of one Lebanese to invite a communist to the next gathering are gaining momentum. Without a communist no devotee of the great god UP-AP will be there. But if we get a communist and pop him all the representatives of the UP-APians will be there even down to the Toonerville Times. But then the UP-APians are off on a tour of Cambodia and soon we may destroy Angkor Wat before the commies do.
My “Mission Impossible” became nearly impossible. Almost everybody was concerned now for the Cambodians—whomsoever they are. I have been going around for years asking the “peace” groups and those who proclaim human brotherhood to invite a Cambodian some time. Lots of thanks and consideration but no Cambodian.
Then I took a copy of the Daily Cal. What has happened! They are so far to the left of the left and yet they are only in the middle of the muddle. It seems that “Target You” has become a reality, and the earlier proponents of “ballots, not bullets” justify their use of gases (but not my laughing gas, which I still propose.)
Well the young all over want this person and after making the first gestures to get Arab Israelis and Palestinians and a few Jews plus some Christians together will be off and try later. Unfortunately the Cambodians haven’t votes. Maybe there is some point of view other than that of Vice-Presidents and New York Times supersupermen.
Love,
May 14, 1970
Arthur Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
Dear Art:
This letter is written in triumphal sadness. Many of the tragedies of the fact that neither the press nor the State Department interview private citizens, and they have made a humbug and hypocrisy of the statement of the late President Kennedy: “It is not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” Not even four letter words are adequate here. A mixture of humbug, hypocrisy and tragedy.
Compelled to act and act quickly to throw my eggs into a single basket for the cause of peace—which has no resemblance to the current use of this word non whatever—I had chosen to work for peace in Palestine rather than in the section of Southeast Asia.
Do not mistake me here. The Professors in the Southeast Asian study courses in the University of California at Berkeley and some other campuses are very good friends of mine. The actual histories written by these men; the actual researches are as much ignored by our State Department, press, and TV stations as they are in communist lands. We prefer to be embroiled in subjects and problems about which we know nothing or next to nothing.
The recent real summit conferences of the real representatives of the real religions of the world, held in Geneva, has been as much ignored by the press as a large number of very successful engineering projects by Americans—both individuals and corporations. If the Russians even take a slight step in any of these directions it is news; it is history, but it is news.
It was shameful but necessary to receive the most profound apologies from some of the leading clergymen of the whole world, in particular Protestants and Jews. Without offending anybody I have been successful in gaining the good will of both prominent personalities and organizations elsewhere of course.
I have made a last effort to see if it were possible to get any rabbi even to grant an interview—never mind acquiescing in my plans. I have no right to impose my plans on anybody. But I am reserving the privilege once and for all to validate or expose the so-called Judeo-Christian ethic— whatever that means. But before we atomic bomb this out of sight, let me tell you that the individual behavior of Buddhists, the individual behavior, has been supremely superb to me as an individual and to audiences in general. They showed open heart compassion and consideration but they absolutely refused to recognize each other and cut each other dead; both in the classrooms here and at the very top levels abroad.
The worst part of the present situation is that the mass of young people would accept even outrageous lies concerning the moral behavior or misbehavior of clerics and others. There is a counter reaction going on to the obtuse use of words in our literary culture as Lord Snow has pointed out.
The one exception I see here—and to me it is a most important exception—comes in the articles written by Asian students for The Asian Student, published by Asian Foundation. But in general the State Department and all the channels of communication ignore these fine young people almost as much as they ignore the students trapped in the current melodramas on the university campuses.
I must agree with the effort to eliminate the comic melodramatic tragedies going on on the campuses. They are often like a theatrical production where attention is paid to the audience and not to the actors or producers. And it is almost impossible for the representatives of the fourth estate to refrain from asides and comments. I am not challenging their right, only as I constantly tell audiences, “When man bites dog it is not only not news but under no circumstances is it permitted to be news.”
There are only a few more days left before my next set of operations as a superannuated Pied Piper will be in operation. I am trying to use these few days either to semanticize or squelch the pious claims of Israelis and Arabs, even of rabbis and imams, about their willingness to sit down at a table if … which in the end becomes 99 and 44/100% if and not even “Paris peace talks tables.”
In addition to growing recognition in far off places, there seems to be every sign of increased income to me personally and during this same period, very large increases in increments of my associates and followers during a time we are supposed to be facing and maybe we are facing recession and retrogression. Being neither sociologists nor an expert I have no intention any longer of trying to inform those who should be open. I am devoting myself almost entirely to efforts and accomplishments. It is an easy matter to get some Israelis and some Palestinians and some Arabs who are citizens of Israel together, but Art “When man bites dog, it is still not news.”
I said before this is written in triumphal sadness.
Love,
May 19
Dear Art: Peace by Oratory
Man bites dog. Had a meeting with a Rabbi yesterday. I gave him a lot of not-news information, very solid, hard facts, which mustn’t. He squirmed and I stopped even that. He actually listened. Then he smiled. Then he really became interested. He wants to learn more of what is going on in the world among the real human beings. Smustn’t, but did and do.
Fortunately before I could see him some more man bites dog, not-news. The Arab citizen of Israel whom I had been depending on is coming here next week. There will be a green light to getting people down to a table, nothing more at first. No news men, of course. They could not understand it even if it were plain English. They ought to be compelled to read the last interviews my beautiful American, Mark Twain gave them. It is not different.
Rabbis who have won peace awards, of course, could not be reached. They sit at home—with their peace awards.
I did not tell the Rabbi another man bites dog not-news. I was invited by a Muslim divine. (Islam has no clergy so they have a lot of divines.) I insulted him in his home and ordered him to have me kicked out or arrested. In the end he profoundly, almost abjectly apologized. Of course this did no good. I had been on a peace-feeler mission from Pakistan to India. Our foreign office turned me down—which is dog bites man stuff, always. They called in Kosygin.
Now the young don’t listen to my plans. They just wait until I tell them who turned them down and then they give me ovations. This is both most unfortunately true and most dangerous. But it is part of our “peace by oratory” started with the Kellogg-Briand Pact which abolished “wars” and substituted what we have now. Hitler in Norway and U.S. in Cambodia, almost exactly the same.
I am getting more and more mail from distant places and more and more consideration—elsewhere. From the “silenced majority,” of course.
Poems to Ferlinghetti: (not yet sent)
When Rastus comes marching home again, hurrah, hurrah!
We’ll give him a proper welcome then, hurrah, hurrah!
The boys will jeer and the men will hoot,
The police will have nothing to do but shoot,
And we’ll all feel safe
When Rastus comes marching home.
Well my damned nuisance efforts to masquerade as a Pied Piper are getting terrible. Why we had a young man from Nigeria here last night, not-news, of course. He was a Yoruba. I have met Yorubas before. I found them extremely beautiful intelligent, this one also. The anthropologists may agree but the “experts,” commentators, sociologists and writers all differ, saying that the Ibos, with whom they have not lived (why spoil the show) are the superior people of that part of Africa. I hope to meet the Yoruban again.
I have to leave off all the other not-news items of yesterday to answer mail and to prepare for another visit to Washington some time. After all no newsmen and no foreign office personnel ever interviewed my friend, Robert Clifton and we had Vietnam and then Laos and Cambodia and it may be, even as I advised, Bhutan, but you say Nepal. Maybe “You are right and I am right and everything is quite correct,” most unfortunately.
Love,
cc Herb Caen
cc Merle Zellerbach
May 22, 1970
Dear Art:
“L’Etat, c’est moi,” said Roi Soleil Louis XIV.
“The State College, it is obvious” says Dr. Donantics.
“I am a great proponent of democracy. Whenever I am not permitted to have the floor I immediately champion democracy and humanity and do not stop until I am permitted to speak” (Dr. Donantics).
Well the profs. beguiled by words, petitioned and the Doctor said: “How can I grant what you want? You have asked me about the operation of democracy in Alberta? Where is Alberta and who cares? And what has this to do with my regimen.
“Why last year when I spoke on the art of Tanzania hardly a one of you ever heard of Tanzania. What kind of campus is this? That is why I am so needed here. And this gives me the right to direct the Africa studies. I was there once.
“Now you are asking to participate in study programs. How can we do this end have education? We need education not programs. I’ll answer any intelligent question but not these, dribble, dribble, drough and druff. Something sensible, anything sensible.”
Well, Art, have you ever had a confrontation? There is nothing like a good confrontation—whatever that is.
Sunday my farewell party again although I shall not be leaving immediately. The stupid (see Lucy in “Peanuts” for definition) young people want me for Pied Piper even if I have to use a bass recorder. I understand there will be another Holy Men’s jamboree in my absence. If 10,000 show up it won’t be news, of course, unless there is violence, then there will be news all over.
Now that I have a Rabbi who will sit down at table to meet Arabs and have some Arabs who will sit down at table to meet Rabbis or Zionists—then Herb Caen tells about a Kosher Restaurant in Berkeley run by an Iranian. What a place for a confrontation.
Blessed are the peacemakers, no doubt, but they never get in the news yet. L’état, c’est pas moi.
Samuel L. Lewis
To a teacher it’s a school; to a carpenter, a tool;
To Hayakawa, establishment; to a General , it’s a Kent; Bang! Bang!
May 24, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, Ca.
Dear Art,
I send you enclosures both serious and not-so-serious perhaps, but I cannot help writing a type of warning.
There is a vast difference between self-pity and a priori rejections by persons in power or authority. I am not going into that here, but there is a rising danger that the young, seeking for a casus belli will seize every opportunity from my own past to use them as excuses for forms of activity that should not be readily condoned. Unfortunately, we have a pseudo-culture which permits only persons of importance to have any say toward the solution of problems, and this very state of affairs is producing so many contradictions that nothing constructive may arise. As I have advised before, I am about to go to the state of New Mexico where there are movements and outlooks not always in accord with our traditions. I have been there before, and among those who have sat at my feet have been not a few professors and ex-professors of Harvard University, which is not altogether an elementary school. Since that time also I have visited the Harvard. Campus—the quad—and the welcome has been entirely different from one received in previous years.
I do not know if it is possible to look dispassionately at current issues and prominent personalities. But once the principle is introduced that some people are so much more equal than others, and only they are to be heeded, then there is the counter-offering that these people are the very ones not to be heeded. There are names in public limelight, often appearing there, prominent personalities who themselves are more adept in discussing the weaknesses of others than of promoting constructive measures from any standpoint. They are not concerned with measures; they are concerned with their own ego, or the weaknesses of others. Now there is a great reaction against this. Whether there should be is not the point. The fact is, there is. And it is very difficult to present to newsmakers and policy-determiners that we are moving into a New Age which may be taking the word democracy seriously, and not confine it to open doors for the elite only. I have to be very careful now lest I become a rabble-rouser in opposition to many leaders or mis-leaders of the day, who are themselves often rabble-rousers. They cannot have it both ways, and they want it both ways. I am not naming any personality here, but it is easy to supply the names, and you may be knowing them.
Once we get away from objectivity and facts, once we substitute a verbal, subjective “realism” for reality, once we go on a horrible path of name calling as a substitute for thinking, there may be no exact stopping point, and, of course, warnings are useless. People involved simply will not accept warnings, and they do not stand them when they come.
As I am leaving there will be a very big farewell party for me today, and I expect an even greater one when I return. I am not asking that these things be accepted as newsworthy, but I have had two communiqués in the last few days indicating that one of the large broadcasting companies is now interested in what I am doing. Sooner or later this will upset those persons and groups who have given me their a priori rejections. I am not concerned with that. I am concerned that the New Age people resent a priori rejections and are going to express their resentment vocally. So I am making a last effort, a real and serious one, to reach those personalities and organizations now known as “the establishment,” not for personal justice, but with some warning advice that even in our culture dishonesty will not forever pay off. The young simply won’t have it. And expressing my appreciation here, and with best wishes for your continued efforts to promote some understanding in the world not too concerned with understanding, I remain seriously and faithfully,
Lama Foundation,
Box 444, San Cristobal,
New Mexico, 87564
June 5, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle
Dear Art:
Years ago a man who was both a friend and a teacher, one Paul Brunton, went into the Himalayas and wrote his reflections. Now Allah made the Heavens and the earth, but a certain class of “experts” has so sanctified the Himalayas (in parts of which I have lived) that anything coming from there was super-super until the Chinese army blasted some obtuse legends.
Mohammed said that the Light of Allah was neither of the East nor the West, and someday I hope to convince some “champion of integration” that all the mountains were divinely made. In fact I have the audacity to believe that great souls have manifested in this part of the world in ancient times and there may even be some now although with the wrong pedigrees. It seems that to become “God’s elect” you have to have a pedigree.
Now the young people of the region have the audacity to agree with St. Paul (but not with Billy Grama) that love casts out a multitude of sins. Good establishment people will accept Mary Pickford’s “Why not try God?” but when you ask, “Why not try love?” they think of Freud and not Jesus Christ. Anyhow the young people of the area here have no racial or religious prejudices whatsoever and they are successfully establishing that horrible institution, the commune, but with spiritual underpinning, by which I do not mean having some “expert” as gauleiter.
The “experts” went around collecting funds—from others—to build private Shangri-Las which were to be universal within very narrow limits. And not one of them gave any thought to the Amerindians. We like to weep over their discomforts but to learn from them? impossible (French pronunciation) especially if your are “humble” or “modern” (meaning frozen ears).
Well my legend is out in this part of the world. I am getting it from two sides: love, and dance of universal peace. That last which of course the “good” and “humble” people would not even examine has caught on. I saw a photo last night from a part of the country I have never visited with 200 young people in one of my dance theme. And already schemes are on foot from other parts of this State both to visit here and have me come to them. Love is wonderful—as a theme!
I have never wished to work alone. But organization after organization—the “Liberty, Democracy, Humanity and peasants shut up” people have so almost unanimous refused even interviews, and now the young some, and the work of myself and colleagues is spreading and spreading and spreading.
In the meanwhile I understand there will be another Holy Men’s jamboree in the Bay Area. A lot of real or fanciful holy men will address the, young. The self-styled gurus—who certainly do not love one another, for the most part will not be there. But others will, and they don’t care whether they have platforms or not. They each think they have messages for the young. And what the “humble” people can’t learn is that children grow up, it is that simple.
I am finding youth responds to love and consideration. And Christianity is far superior to Hinduism on this point—love and consideration. These are not among the leading morals of India, although the very top real Swamis practice them.
In the meanwhile I have been notified of my new monthly allotment and have the odd problem of what to do with it. All my near kin are well cared for. So I hope to establish a Peace Scholarship at Berkeley, beginning with the Palestinian complex. I know what to do. I have piles of data (not wanted of course, but I have it) and hope to begin with the University of California, and shall start in upon my return or sooner.
You name the peace organization I shall point out a group that has either refused an interview or turned me down cold! Selah! But we hope to do, when I return, Art, to do. No more hokum orations and empty speeches and emotionalisms. Hon. U Thant said (and defamed all nobility): “What we need is a moral and spiritual revolution.” Why doesn’t he lead it? Who is better placed? No, he loves the acclaim and applause.
Now the President joins Billy Graham: “We need a spiritual revolution.” What a Friend we have in the White House! No real Christ (Love ye one another) and no Fox, but perhaps a fox.
We are introducing here an abode for Peace and the proper spiritual practices—which you don’t get from the “experts.” Their day is done. The young want love and brotherhood and in the end these will win.
The same to you,
June 8, 1970
My dear Art:
Well yesterday was a day in which “history was made.” I understand there was a holy man’s jamboree in San Francisco but here I had it all to myself. This awful mess of trying to be a Pied Piper and having a gang come all the way from Santa Fe and reports that another gang is waiting for me in Albuquerque shows one thing, only the young show up excepting that there was one mama with them. All day long the young were coming to meet the Pied Piper and I understand bigger and better crowds are on their way.
Why one young person had the temerity to propose that instead of marching to Washington for or against some institution we march to Washington for God-and-Peace. It almost sounds like Gandhi with his ahimsa (which “everybody” favors) and satyagraha (which nobody in American seems to have given any thought to).
My sermon was simple. I am like everybody else excepting while everybody else has a “hot line” to God, I have one from God. And more and more young people are actually believing it.
Someday I am going to resurrect, if I can find it, my picture on the top of the Holy Mountain of Japan. No other American had been there and I have never heard of anyone going there since. We all have our nice Madison-Avenue holy mountains, neatly advertised and pilgrimaged with the proper inns at so much per. Why hardly any people know of Mount Konocti in Lake County which is a holy mountain of the Pomos and neighbors but “we” know better.
I am restoring this as a holy mountain. Just as nobody comes to the Pied Piper but the young so until recently nobody came to this holy mountain but the Amerindians of Taos and vicinity.
What is marvelous is not only the love and brotherhood of these young but their inspirations! Some of these will no doubt become public at the next sit-in and sing-in Canada.
I don’t know what I shall do when returning for the “secret” is out—more and more older people (at the top) are accepting my efforts. And I understand there will be at least one jamboree for this person before returning.
Love
P.S. Can’t possibly keep up with everybody. Beautiful letter from The Temple of Understanding and beautiful response here. They want me more but until some sign is given, May should be spent as much as possible at Novato, subject to the private careers of Moineddin, Hassan and Michael, also perhaps Drew.
San Francisco Chronicle
June 16, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
I can think of no one more deserving of a celebration in their honor than you. And I can’t tell you how happy and pleased I am that everything is going so well for you.
Peace and love,
Art
Box 444,
San Cristobal
New Mexico, 87564
June 17, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle
Dear Art: Introducing: Timon of San Francisco.
For years I have been going around as “Puddinghead Puck,” a character derived jointly from William Shakespeare and Mark Twain. Very gradually the “Puddinghead” career is drawing to a successful close. A typical example was the seminar on Silent Spring. The panel consisted of Rich man, poor man, beggerman, thief, Doctor, lawyer, and of course, Police Chief.
They were very serious. Very indeed. The world was caput. Finis. It is not the left-wingers (whatever that means) that say the world is caput, it is always establishment people.
This person arose: “As a retired sprayer operator I would like to ask….” All the panel excepting one immediately turned their back, demonstrating “democracy.” One man did not, one long man. He was an entomologist. We became friends. I always gain friend from laboratory-scientists but have no chance with parlor-scientists and newspaper scientists. These superior people do not need laboratory disciplines. They now have some other predictions that the world is caput. That is in. My dirty secretary had the audacity to buy another book of Lord Snow on “The Two Cultures” but that can’t be because it can’t be because … this is logic.
Well now I am known from the Colorado border down to and including Albuquerque. The folly of trying to be a Pied Piper is evident: more and more and more audiences—all young people. One colleague said I should give up others and concentrate on university campuses. My mere presence—what’s the use.
Timon of Athens started out as a rich man and everybody accepted. Then he lost his fortune or pretended and found the truth. Now I was kept in poverty and calumny and more and every time I leave S.F. more contacts—all over the earth of Rand-McNally and “God, but hardly the earth of “realists” and existentionalists and dialecticians. My “world” consists of human beings not of subjective “thoughts.” In fact there will be a big farewell party for me in Albuquerque toward the end of the month and the Santa Fe paper has given me a grand notice. And ye income grows, which is a mighty virtue. What to do with it?
Well you name it and I have been rebuffed. If it is the “society for friendship with the Bhutanese” and I offer to give them a contribution because I have lived in Bhutan, you can guess what will happen. It always does. Call it “World Union,” “World Federation,” “Federated Worlds,” “Cosmic Brotherhood,” what not they cannot afford to accept any idea or article, just money, and membership but especially money.
Now when I go to a campus (and generally am more than welcome) or a group of young people and they ask for my opinion on a moot question I give them an answer and my opinion and a lot of facts drawn from the objective world of reality (not “realism’) and then tell them the organizations that have refused to let me speak or accept a paper, or even have the floor. Do they eat it up! That is what they want, not only knowledge but evidence that older people are not interested in objective truth.
So I tell them that “problems” are those things which can be “solved” only by property people, or by plebiscites or by chairmen who in the name of democracy (always) call the speaker an infallible superman and the audience sorry ignorant people who have the opportunity to learn.
But although the list of persons and organization of “importance” is great, with more and more problems I am given the opportunity to present information and something more than information. And it is beginning to look now that some things of mine will be published and that there is no need to try to reach any San Francisco groups, because they want answers from heroes, people of distant parts, or “experts.”
More and more serious meetings, also with more mature people here. I shall return and work on two themes. I do not believe I have “answers” because I do not believe “answers” belong to any more person necessarily but I am now reveling in the a priori rejections and insults from so many “respectables” and the same problems persisting and more and more.
So I turn to Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Ruddigore” in which one of the characters says she has answers to many problems but
‘I’ll keep them to myself
For my opinion does not matter.”
The last night I came out—won the argument easily—I lost the good-will of the chair and the whole organization because this was contrary to…. The fact that history both earlier and more recent has borne me out makes it worse.
Timon of San Francisco will simply gibe and mock and let the warning mongers—atomic fall out, pollution, pests and bugs, starvation, etc. keep on and will live in the world of facts. From facts you can have optimism. But as I have said, Art, American DDT is poison, Russian DDT is all right—the germs and worms can read the labels.
Love,
P.S. Of course the above does not go on the college campuses. They actually welcome facts which can be substantiated.
Lama, New Mexico
June 24, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, 94119
Dear Art:
You must remember I am Timon in reverse. Nobody would ever let me talk, or if so, pay no attention. Tra-la-la. If problems can’t be solved by the “right persons” then they should not be solved at all. They must be beyond (?) men’s ability. I remember once when I went to an AAAS conference (American Society for the Advancement of Science). I kept my mouth shut and the scientists went at each other. When it was all over I talked to the chairman and he stood aghast. “Why you have the solution! You have the solution, why didn’t you speak?” This could only happen among lab-scientists, who haven’t the decor of the parlor-scientists who are respectable.
I have been reading Mark Twain and it is simply remarkable. The more I read the greater he stands out and you can understand why I took the nickname of “Puddinhead” from “Puddinhead Wilson.” And everything is coming as in the script exactly as it is coming in the script of his “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court” for Southeast Asia. The script can never be wrong.
Well Timon of San Francisco has returned from going over a big stretch of New Mexico and meeting a lot of young people and listening to them. This is the “worst” way to find out what is going on in the minds of college students but the simple and horrible fact is that one has been welcomed everywhere and more and more and more. And next week the finale and then home. And when I talk of Asia and things Asian the numbskulls all believe me. This could not happen in “Asia” (of the respectables) but it did happen all over the Asia of God (whom many do not believe in) and Rand—McNally whom they ought to.
A very Important was here, one of that ever growing tribe of “world saviors” and he went to S.F. where he probably got a big reception, but not by and from the young. He is so great he does not have to visit a place to be an “expert” on it. At that time there was another “Holy Man’s Jamboree” going on, well Madison Avenues, and the huge crowd diminished from 10,000 (in the press) to 300 stomachs, and most of them were not attracted at all. But after all an “expert” is an “expert.” Only now I have an alliance with the University of California to work on a real peace problem of real human beings and have the best of cooperation—which can’t reach the press. But every now and then some respectable rabbi or minister apologizes.
I just have returned from another of those horrible adventures with a successful commune. We discussed soil, water and reclamation problems. I remember once trying to get into a summit soil conference in another part of the world. When I finally reach the sanctum, I was greeted, “Where have you been? We have been waiting for you.” This shows the difference between the lab-scientists who research and the “parlor-scientists” who don’t have to and listen to the TV commentators who have replaced God.
I am waiting to be televised myself. But it is not only locally in New Mexico and by the young; the mail gets thicker and more favorable. The coffers are doing nicely, and we are going to have a big picnic in Precita Park on July 5th. It probably isn’t worth coming to, Just Pied Piper and he young. But the young grow and grow and grow in numbers.
Now I have just read: 10 top leaders discuss: “how can we avoid another Vietnam.” Well I once went to a very respectable meeting in S.F. The state department official spoke half an hour, the chairman spoke another half hour, introducing the translator who had just 5 minutes. Then it broke up and I talked to the Vietnamese. I was never invited to that group (very respectable top hat, again.)
Any American who is steeped in Jefferson, Emerson and Mark Twin can’t ace the dialecticians (of all caps) and existentialists and commentators who control our culture. I have eaten, danced and prayed with all peoples. I do so here—in fact just did at the commune visited, only we didn’t pray. I am sending a copy of this to Congressman Phil Burton.
Anyhow I discovered a great dramatic company in the State (they have their own commune), and they told me their plans. If they are given any cognizance we shall win the hearts of hundreds of millions of Asians. Our USIS is great for Tenseness Williams, that is it. That is “American” culture. They may want Jefferson, Emerson and Mark Twin but “we” know better, etc. We give them Tennessee Williams! Fortunately I have enough entries on the campus at Berkeley and this will be followed by Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and then others. My world war has always been between “the professor and the commentator. After oodles of years I have seen no reason to change. Maybe same day S.F., will at least listen to their Timon in reverse. I got top apologies (meaning Nob Hill) recently.
Love
Samuel L. Lewis
San Cristobal,
New Mexico, 87564
June 29, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
California, here we come. Tomorrow. Yesterday was a Ralph Waldo Emerson day. Living in the midst of the woods, crowds of young people came to hear me and participate in dance and song. We shall have a reception at Santa Fe and a big farewell in Albuquerque and the invitations for next year already fill up my program. Everything is exactly as in the script, everywhere. Emerson for the woods, Mark Twain for Vietnam, etc.
I am sending a copy of this to Congressman McClosky. One magazine has articles in it from some fair-minded congressmen on how to prevent a Vietnam. This is a tragedy. Everybody is consulted but us “Ugly Americans.” I keep harping on Robert Clifton who lived so long in Vietnam. And this country and culture accepted Lowell Thomas and not Nicol Smith, although N.S. was author of Burma Road. And we are going to continue to accept our Lowells Thomas and reject our Nicols Smith until we get out of “realism” and into “reality.”
Only now the cards are being reshuffled. Timon of San Francisco (in reverse) is now occasionally being invited to meet the supporters of the “Judeo-Christian ethic (whatever that is). But it looks as if one will reach high places in Washington. The mail could not be better. I was almost the only one to make a mark at the summit peace conference in Genera. (Not in the American press, of course, no communists there. Next time we invite the communists and the American press will come.)
The only other unknown disproved my theory that we Americans would permit the lion and lamb to lie down together, but never, never let a “little child” lead them. On this the New Left and the Birch barkers and the “silent majority” are agreed. But not the “silenced majority.” So a young girl is going around the world and I believe she will be more successful than all our newsmen and diplomats combined (who are the only ones we permit to speak anyhow).
So many ask for something new and then forbid it. But we still have to face Clemenceau’s “War and peace are two things too serious to entrust to diplomats and generals.” USA dissents and so we have “The Connecticut Yankee’s” war but now the young are listening. With one important exception I shall make no effort to see the press, the writer and advocates of the “Judeo-Christian”-ethic. The Pied Piper marches on and hundreds follow him everywhere. “The Truth shall make you free.”
Love,
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
July 4, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art: The Return of Timon of San Francisco.
Like most things it is entirely as in the script, only in reverse. Just as Vietnam is “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court” (and other examples could be cited) so the life is exactly as in William Shakespeare and apparently it is not to be changed. True this writing is about dawn and I just came in last night but it seems that everywhere else in the world “Timon” is accepted and even honored, but in his home town it has been most difficult to find hungry groups who would accept one’s prowess at the price of receiving emoluments. Oh, one’s money is welcome, no doubt, that is so, but not it the price of recognizing any accomplishments of the donee.
I am particularly concerned with so-called “Asian Cultures.” I am the first man in the world, I believe, who has passed the test to be a valid Zen Buddhist teacher and also Islamic Sufi teacher. It certainly came out when cards played at Geneva, and certainly the Royal Asiatic Society and World Congress of Faiths have totally different attitudes from the various groups begging funds to bring Oriental and Occidental cultures together. I did meet one of these “world saviors” in the Rockies, a very nice man with as much backgrounds as a Lancelot has spine but one must not contradict Madison Ave, even if “God” has a million allies, which he has. And so I must by-pass the various “East-West” centers which are good at soliciting funds and sometimes at collecting them. I went all through that with the Roerich Museum years ago but we do have some very honest East-West group in San Francisco like the society for Asian Arts and they are willing to accept one’s prowess. It is ridiculous, it is weird, it is farce-comedy.
My last days in New Mexico were also strictly according to script again, this time Pied Piper. A large crowd in Albuquerque and my “Dances of Universal Peace” are being received by the young, and how! Fortunately I have a very good disciple there, and I have not even started with the University. They are “queer”; they prefer tan American who has studied Oriental Philosophies with Asians to grand Ph. Ds. who have not!
You should see my mail! And I guess it means traipsing off to Washington again but this time the proper invitation. You can understand my high regard for Senator Cooper, the one man in the Upper House who has lived in Asia with Asians (and therefore is 40 grades below any TV expert or ivory towered commentator).
The next step is toward real cultural exchanges and real peace efforts with real human beings. The fact that “Timon” has contracted them does not mean they never lived. Why I even have to tackle New York Times—historians today don’t have to know history, just how to comment on it!
I began my open meetings in Albuquerque with a prayer:
“Our Father Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
As it is in heaven,
Excepting in Vietnam and the Near East. Amen!”
That did it. As I am one of those silly assess who asks university students what they believe and want my answers at the moment are not very acceptable. They come out of the horse’s mouth, not out of some ersatz “Microscophone.” But they are going to back me on real peace programs for real people in the real world. I understand my main contract for peace in the Near East is now in San Francisco. The very idea of having Israelis and Muslims and Palestinians sitting down together is so “preposterous” I wonder if any of your colleagues can understand it.
Fortunately I am able to allot $100 a month just for that and maybe more the way things are moving. Hungry pretas cannot accept that even for….
But it is not only that plans for real rapprochements among and between real human beings is going ahead, there are even programs for real cultural exchanges with and from real Asians. We already have a technical team ready to bring back musics and ceremonies not yet recorded and these are going to upset a whole lot of East-West (?) organizations who could well be on the band-wagon but never at the cost of recognizing other’s prowess.
Fortunately, too, we have the valid universities on our side and they are going to benefit.
But it is not only the “East-West” groups that have be “self-honor” of never accepting other’s money if they have to admit their prowess, it is the “peace award” recipients even more. Grand clamor when the awards are given and much “humility” in accepting them. But never a word on Vietnam or the Near East—now from them. They sit at home with their trophies! And the young are finding this out.
Well, Art, there is enough chattering. I was glad to get home and read your column and “Peanuts.” Anyhow inasmuch as we must have “script” I can refer to the last line of “The Idylls of the King” and there is no reason not to accept Tennyson along with Shakespeare and Mark Twain (and Emerson and Jefferson). So I, too; am bound by script.
Love
P.S. July 5 we expect a grand dance party on the lawn in front of my house, and I have a new type of ceremonial dance following Ruth St. Denis and the Dervishes.
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
July 6, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
Hare Krishna! The substitution of tequila for vodka may or may not be beneficial to the human psyche. Anything emotional and dramatic is news but sound, solid achievements belong to history.
I have been studying Oriental wisdom (of Asians, not of “experts”) for many, many years and this was accepted when I was at Geneva by the real leaders of the real humanity—press not there. Whenever I put on my own Krishna dances those Bhaktivedantins disappear. But to me the private “God” of one group is no better than the private “God” of anybody else and one set of emotions is not more freeing than another. Besides all the religions of the day assure that if you are of their ilk you are automatically superior morally, spiritually and in every other way, something not found in any scripture whatsoever. Even to be a devotee self-absolves you from even have to study your own sacred books.
Whenever I put on Krishna Dances in New Mexico these Bhaktivedantins disappeared, but the young otherwise clustered.
There is an ancient saying, “When the gods arrive, the half-gods go.” There have been all kinds of movements and personalities appearing claiming to be the private, monopolistic “Suez Canal” between East and West. But now there are home cultural efforts (like A.S.E. in San Francisco). From them we can learn the deeper values of the non-communist cultures of Asia. (Officially we recognize only the Russian and Israeli cultures which are in a certain sense, “communistic.”)
My own dances are being filmed and televised and what started out as “Dances of Universal Peace” are expanding. Colleagues are planning to go to Ajmir in India, to record the Sufi ceremonies and chants. Although there are far more members of Sufi Orders than all other “mystical” groups combined this country is in utter ignorance of them and the former types of “experts”—some still in high positions—are seeing to that!
Then I happened into a dramatic group in New Mexico which is planning to put on “passion plays” derived from the Indian “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata” and they will send a representative or team to San Francisco next Spring. It will be an easy matter to get them in close touch with the real cultural peoples, with or without fanfare.
Art, we are going to have honest, objective East-West cultural and other exchanges, and this City which has been in many respects a gateway to the Orient will also become a gateway for the Orient.
I have to prepare for many things now at many levels, preparatory to going East, I hope, in the Fall. The efforts to become a Pied Piper have been ridiculously successful and many who previously deride are now best friends and colleagues.
Love,
cc Indian Students
cc Dept of South Asia Studies U.C.
cc Indian Consulate
San Francisco Chronicle
July 10, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
So very much seems to be happening to you, or you’re making things happen. And all of it is good. I couldn’t be happier for you.
Love,
Art
July 13, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
I assure you that yesterday I made history. History in the life of “Mr. Timon of San Francisco.” And the time is coming when the simple citizen who has access to facts will be listened to, whether it is by some sub-agent of the foreign office, or some newspaper, or some ombudsman. I am all the more “excited” because my quondam friend Chet Huntley is retiring, and when he gets off his lofty perch and quits the “untouchables” for the human race, I think I shall be able to reach him.
On the surface the evening was given over to Korean Buddhism. Hester Seo Kyung-Bo, a real Master of the real Far East, addressed us. The difference between Korean Buddhism and Vietnamese Buddhism is this: we listen to the Koreans and we tell the Vietnamese.
Master Seo and I sat in the two chairs occupied years ago by the late Robert Clifton and myself. At that time he poured out his final words to me having been shunned by the press and foreign office alike. So we are spending billions of dollars, to which I see now Viscount Montgomery objects, but we must fulfill the final chapters of Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
Ten Congressmen may write for Coronet on how to prevent another Vietnam, whatever that means. But 10 simple Americans will have access to actual events and continue to be snubbed, until we quit this damn nonsense about “democracy” and listen to human beings, just for an occasion.
My small basement room was packed. I do not advertise anymore. Slowly but surely the young people are finding me out, and now in several parts of the United States, and a little bit abroad. In the audience was Bob Kaufman. He represented the male portion of American youth at the conference of the world’s religions, the real religions of the real world in Geneva, which was not news—no communists there, so it wasn’t news. But while this was going on believe me, Art, this person is getting better and better letters from the real VIP’s in the real religions of the real world, working for something which resembles peace, whatever that means, before the days of semantics, whatever that means.
The audience of young people learned something about facets of Buddhism unheard of by those nice people who look to Alan Watts, etc, for their information about what is known as “Buddhism” but not in Asia, Art, not in Asia.
Actually, the meeting was also a scheme to get some of us together who are thoroughly opposed to genocide, whether it is by the Jews or on the Jews; whether it is by the non-Jews or on the non-Jews, e.g. in Vietnam.
Today we are taking the first steps toward ending the horrors in the Near East. I have worked in this field for years and years. I have the backgrounds, the history, the facts, but come from the wrong side of the street. Fortunately, as one does meet humanity, one sometimes has some success in getting human beings to come together, and the chances are we may succeed in this. Although the majority of clergy of all faiths are “too humble” to have anything to do with this kind of undertaking, I do have the ears of one local VIP clergyman, and we hope to start there.
However.
My financial affairs are in very much better condition today, and the chances are very great that all the lying peace-mongers will ignore me; the University of California will not.
But.
But.
There was a wealthy publisher in the audience, and he is going to take all my substantial facts and the substantial facts of others. It is easy enough today to write even a book which would make Zola’s J‘Accuse look like small potatoes. But that would be of no benefit to humanity. I am working for peace, not fame—or infamy. Or to put it in other terms, Timon of San Francisco (in reverse) has returned. It no longer makes any difference whether he is snubbed by the “Good” people or not. We are fighting useless, interminable wars, with honorable citizens receiving peace awards and then disappearing. How long this will continue I don’t know and don’t care. But we are facing this danger—that youth, hearing I am turned down and turned away, is making a hero of me, and that is not the way. We are going to have peace when little people are permitted to mingle with little people, and when big people (who are no bigger before God) listen occasionally to the little people.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
July 15, 1970.
Arthur Hoppe,
c/o S. F. Chronicle
Dear Art:
Just a little not-news.
The meetings of the House of Love and Prayer on Arguello have been most wonderful and stimulating. The very idea that unknown people who are Arabs or Jews or even both meeting together without a lot of professors of “communication” and diplomats, etc. introducing them to each other is too bizarre(?) even for a democracy. But it is being done, Art, it is being done.
And “Timon of San Francisco” will soon have his typewriters and secretaries communicating to people who are very important (even in democracies) to see if we can’t do what is incomprehensible and “unthinkable” to editors, commentators and diplomats will be done.
A lot of as yet unregistered ordinary people have agreed that they neither want to hate nor fight, and that they will prayer together and eat together and have mutual respect, by which they man mutual respect, is on the way.
I am so tired, but not a dull moment. Newsmen, presidents and diplomats cannot comprehend that it may be true that “God is Love.”
Love,
July 18, 1970
Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
While a well known publication may print: “Ten Ways to Stop Another Vietnam” by some very well-meaning congressmen and senators who no more know how to communicate with Asian and African peasants then I know their language, there is a vast sort of “underground” going on. It is not so much an “underground” excepting that the foreign office and the press simply will not accept anything from the hoi polloi.
While I am saving this for my own “J’accuse,” more and more people are finding out this mouse-trap inventor. Yes, I was living in the midst of the woods in New Mexico and hundreds of flesh-and-blood young people came there, but now that I have returned, there is hardly a moment.
The silliest tripe ever pushed on the American public ways, “It is not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” There are only two results: being ignored, or even being hounded.
Now I am not being hounded, but getting long distance calls from New York, Boulder and Taos all on the same subject did not surprised me. The young of this country have something very real—I mean the young and not the fictions of writers about the young. So long as this as restricted to the “heathen” Chinese Buddhists and to Hindus of various persuasions and to many various of real young America who object to Billy Graham it was comprehensible.
But last night I went to a Sabbath meeting, called by a pious Rabbi. Every bit of floor space taken up and I can tell you a large sector of the crowd were not Jewish. But to my amazement they put the same things to me as have the Chinese Buddhists and the Hindus and the Hari-Krishna Americans, and also a man describing himself as an “underground” editor rather mysteriously approached me. This at a time when I have taken the first (horrible, of course) steps to get Arabs and Palestinians and Israelis to sit down together with no good grace of the Mosques, Synagogues, press or foreign office. But I am convinced something is going to be done.
And “tiger cages” are not restricted.
Well my classes grow and the audiences and contacts grown and I am awaiting the return of my new publisher. And maybe we can get out of “realism” into reality. The young, you can be assured, want Peace and no more Kellogg-Briand crap or asinine laws against “genocide” very carefully restricted. As I have said: Youth of the world unite, you have nothing to lose. I think God and Allah and Brahm favor this too, even if Billy the Un-kid does not.
Love,
July 19, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
Episodes in the life of Timon of San Francisco (in reverse).
I am not the original Timon of San Francisco. His name was Hugo Selig, and we were close friends until his death a few years ago. After having been a successful piano salesman, he left this region and became famous in various parts of the central and southern coast counties, and even in Las Vegas.
His closest friend was the late Luther Whiteman who was my senior partner for years. Together we wrote a book called Glory Roads on politics in California. It was a very bad sales effort, but 90% of our predictions came true, perhaps all of them. In certain halls of ivy I have gained a reputation, a reputation for honesty and objectivity. But I am no Jean Dixon, and honest objective methods are still shunned if they do not come from the “right parties.”
But I am not necessarily a pessimist. The other night I went to the Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park and we saw a picture “The death of Lake Erie.” The conclusion of most of us was that we are going to lose Lake Erie and Lake Cayuga and San Francisco Bay so long as the literati, the editors, the supreme generalissimos of the commentators, and essayists in general keep on bombarding the public on every subject. Their general theme is that “Everybody is to blame” whereas it was quite evident to us laboratory scientists that factory gases, sewage, and factory discharges are the culprits, and the culprits want it to be spread abroad that “everybody is to blame.” That is their oyster and we shall probably lose San Francisco Bay, until and unless the scientists are permitted to speak on subjects on which they have been serious scholars.
(I know enough to keep quiet. I have lived in London and Pittsburgh which have cleaned up marvelously. I have even lived in Cleveland at sundry times, and so had rather firsthand knowledge. But after “Silent Spring” a poor dumb professional spray operator and organic gardener like myself has enough sense to keep his mouth shut among the elites.)
For many years I called myself Puddinhead Puck, being a blend of heroes from Shakespeare and Mark Twain, but now!
Within a space of four days I received five different communications from sundry parts of the United States urging me to go to Boulder, Colorado. I tell you, Art, something is doing, amid and from the young. But I cannot spread myself any more.
Perhaps the only person on earth who is recognized by Asian-Asians as a scholar in their various philosophies (some of the top people in the Royal Asiatic Society accept this, and a few others; it doesn’t matter), I found myself within a few hours at over-crowded meetings first of young people under Jewish auspices and young people under Christian auspices. I tell you, Art, the young want objectivity and truth, and no more of this crap nonsense such as appears in an article on India in today’s paper. They want it and they are going to win it by attrition.
The young are going to win, not because they are right, but because they are going to live. They don’t want war. More and more of them firmly believe in objective honesty.
They are very dangerous; far more dangerous than a “New Left.” The so-called New Left has a simple solution: kill all the villains who are often their blood relatives. The New Age people want objectivity and honesty. I am very optimistic because I believe the young will live longer than the old. That is all. The young have an ability to think through the problems of pollution, soil preservation and reclamation, and even slum clearance, because they have simple capacities, totally outside the “realisms” current in America and the Communist countries.
The main thing the youth are going to insist on is the ending of horrible wars. I would rather let them speak. I become popular simply by an ability to listen to them. Nothing more and nothing magical.
But a surprise air mail letter from the wealthy publisher who says he will print everything I give him makes me feel the time is coming when all I have to do is print copies of letters to the famous people who make all the noises and do nothing more. It is easy to write editorials condemning millions of people such as the Hindus in today’s press or the Arabs, or the Cambodians, or the Hausas. None of these operations set forth efforts at peace and good will.
I tell you, Art, my message “Youth of the world unite, you have nothing to lose” is coming into being. The generation gap is simple: the young have open ears, the aged have not. That is all.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco, Calif.
July 21, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe,
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
Dear Art:
I had better give you some not-news. A number of years ago I appeared in Washington with a plan for Palestine saying that I had hope the Israelis and Arabs could get together so as to prevent the communists from getting a foot-hold. Every person I met accepted it. The plan was entrusted to a “good friend.” Then I did something to antagonize this “good friend” who had all the contacts and made it her business to see that everything I did was stymied. She was successful in every direction.
Years later I went to the near East and got a plan accepted by the U.N. (especially), and the Israelis and Egyptians and the Saudi Arabians and not by the “good,” “peaceful” Americans. You name them and that is the group that turned the plan down. Only the Friends of all religious groups accepted it. (Of course now I am getting apologies) but the only people who can propose are newspaper men and those connected with Foreign Service. Period!
Then I worked out afresh and was just getting the University of California and some people (of import) connected with the Temple of Understanding of Washington interested, when I received tow surprise letters from friends of the late Thomas Merton, wondering what I was doing about the Near East.
Well I am doing and no longer care if all the press and State Department turn me down. They did this of my friend, the late Robert Clifton, in the case of Vietnam and we are paying the price. But now I am using some “ins.” Besides, at the moment the communists are the only ones trying to bring Arabs and Israelis together. We will have none of it; we will have none of anything but war a la “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court.”
But I also received an airmail letter from the publisher who wants my stuff. I hope it will not be a “J’Accuse.” Why do older people insist that young people must murder each other? Kellogg-Briand Pac, and anti-genocide and murder, without any declarations of war! And don’t think I am not getting responses today. I am, and from all quarters excepting of course the press, the State Department and some clerics. Even the most hard-boiled business men realize that if we don’t establish peace, the communists will. I have already told about my pre-Tashkent experiences. Or, as Dr Malalasekera said, “How can you trust a government which will not trust its own people.” This is true. But the young are finding this out. It is called a “generation gap.” Nonsense. The young simply do not wish to murder or to be murdered.
… to be continued.
Love,
July 23, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
After I had the impertinence to write to Rabbi Spicehandler of Jerusalem things really did begin to happen. Some of my confounded followers are making arrangements to take pictures first of a beautiful Israeli, girl and a beautiful Arab girl together but they have planned a whole series of these “impossibilities.” That is just one item.
Then we got a private film from Boston. Years ago I wrote some poems, “The Black Christ.” Of course they were rejected. Everything “Timon of San Francisco” tried was rejected; it became a habit. Well I met just a man, a Negro in Cambridge and does he fill the bill! But now things are humming.
The pictures which began with my dance efforts have over-whelmed. We get long distance calls—and the $v$i$r$t$u$e$s$ are accumulating. Some people have the audacity to believe that on rare occasions it just might be possible for an eye-witness to know more than the great god UP-AP whom all dialectician of all camps worship, even though they are divided and hate each other. But in the service and worship of the great god they are united.
Than the young. Those blasted nincompoops actually endorse my stupid efforts to be a Pied Piper. All the meetings I have attended, or conducted, are over-run. There is a private meeting today to arrange my finances and try to get help, so I can have paid secretaries and a travel fund. I am already booked for Washington, Boston and Tucson, and maybe Portland, Oregon—just refused Denver and Boulder but have deputes. My god-daughter’s husband has just left.
The young of this country—and of the world, are sick of these interminable wars and hatred. There is no law on our books barring Russia from sending arms, or medicines to Libya. But that is supposed to start a changing of hatreds.
Then look at that great Hitlerian “Jew” DDT which has to be blamed for everything. All evil is either Mao or DDT. Period. And that sort of thing is going to destroy San Francisco Bay because scientists are called “inventors of the atomic bomb” and therefore incapable of speaking on other subjects. This is Logic.
The only group in San Francisco that ever really let me speak was a certain section of the Commonwealth Club. There I met a man who was always talking on water problems and pollution. He was regarded as a harmless old fool fanatic. I felt he was 100% right. But this only made it worse for him. We prefer destruction than medicine from the “wrong” people.
No doubt if I advertised the press just might let me have some attention. But I am afraid. The audiences are too large now for communications. But with the probability of all my things being published and a determination to work for what used to be called “peace,” it may be necessary to speak or write harshly. The number of rejections in San Francisco has been overwhelming and then suddenly, without notice, I get articles or even headlines in Boston or Santa Fe.
When I speak to the young of a real peace crusade, by which I mean “peace” and not the slaughter of the guilty (or innocent) by noisy emotionalists with “wings.”
I notice in the paper Herb Caen’s remarks about Dr. Hayakawa. This man is the semanticist. Period. And I have now to spend some money retracing the rise of this movement. As I have told you I committed, among others, the unpardonable sin of having studied under Korzybski’s friend and mentor, Dr. Cassius Keyser of Columbia. I have never been forgiven. I did give my library to San Francisco State but once he got it the General never forgave me for that either. We have no logics today, just conflicting sophistries but fortunately one does meet real thinkers, and doers, on college campuses. It takes two years for a small report from them to be accepted and two minutes for a dramatic outbreak to be accepted. This is our culture.
So I am turning to the young but now they are turning to me. And although I am no longer in the midst of the words, the whole time is taken up. This is a diary report. I only hope I can get enough done before going to Washington. Not-news, of course, not newsily “exciting” but wait and see, Art. Man bites dog is still not and must be news????
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
cc Herb Caen
cc Lloyd Morain
July 24, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, Ca. 94119
Dear Art:
This is a page from the diary of “Timon of San Francisco” (in reverse of course).
My name is mentioned in today’s paper in connection with one Shiranjiva of Calcutta. He is an “expert”; I am not. Until recently, as a whole, this nation has not been interested in what foreigners believe, especially gooks and coolies. As Timon in reverse, I have no intention of trying to reach any respectable people, although there is very little difference between the respectable and the dis-respectable. Both have hard ears, and both mealy-mouth liberty, democracy, and humanity, etc.
There is a headline about Nasser. We have cultural exchange with the Russians but not with the Arabs. This is one example of our “liberty, democracy and humanity.” I am one of the worst qualified on this subject, having lived among both Jews and Arabs. And I have the shocking audacity to be cooperating in a series of plans to have Arabs girls and Israeli girls photographed together.
Another subject on which I have the audacity to have an opinion is regarding protein formation in grains. I have discussed this with those nincompoops, the laboratory scientists, and the Lama Foundation where I have been has also been interested in applying the law of the maximization of proteins in grains. I can discuss this at the University of California in Riverside or Davis, but elsewhere?
Nevertheless I have been quite successful in my initial efforts to establish organic gardens, and the latest is that a wealthy backer wishes me to extend this program. But it is most difficult to get solid real news anywhere excepting in the actual scientific press, and I have long given this up as futile. News is that which is exciting, not that which is true.
My efforts to become a Pied Piper for the young have reached a tremendous stage—elsewhere. The good liberty, democracy, humanity peoples locally…. But I do not care anymore. It is easier to get the young to laugh, than to get their elders to acknowledge anything at all.
In regard to Shiranjiva, the world is now so filled of saviours, very restricted in their backgrounds, but none of them able to do anything about Vietnam or Palestine. As soon as my present complexes are cleared (and I can get into other ones) I expect to have my memoirs etc., published. There are fortunately enough people in the world who are more interested in facts than in opinions, and this year I have been meeting people literally by the hundreds if not by the thousands. Not a newspaper in California has given me any courtesies and I am tired of being turned away. But, as you know, Mark Twain is one of my saints, and this includes today even his methods in newspaper interviews. All you need is a proper press agent, or an emotional chairman, and you are in, and now I am in with the young because I am lambasting and will continue to lambast this totally uncalled for methodology in the discussions of private or public questions and problems.
Despite the tenor of this letter, I have not forgotten “If you can’t lick em, laugh at em,” or “If you can’t lick em laugh at yourself.” This is happening and very seriously happening today.
Thank you for your interest and your willingness to learn from not-news, from Timon of San Francisco (in reverse), known as
Samuel L. Lewis
July 24, 1970
San Francisco Chronicle
Dear S.A.M.:
You continue to amaze and astonish me. When I think of how difficult it is for me to write 600 words a day and then see how much work you do, I am even more amazed and astonished.
Admiringly,
Art
July 28, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, Ca. 94119
My dear Art:
Thank you for your letter of July 24th. I have to repeat here what I may have told you before. Every day I sit in a chair once occupied by my late friend Robert Clifton, also known as Phra Sumangalo. I said to him, “Grand Phra, you and I are more nobodies; our total audiences here do not include 30 individuals. But I don’t think there is a King or Prime Minister or Holy Man, or Professor, or a Peasant, from one and of Asia to another whom you or I could not mettt if we have not met them already.” He answered, “How true Samuel, how true.”
The thirty-three rejections of my paper on Vietnamese Buddhism followed. The State Department, the press, and the giant channels of communication (so-called) are so imbued with “realism” there is no room for reality. I am not challenging them or anybody any more; I am doing. Nor am I disturbed by the fact that important persons and institutions do not answer my letters and do not give me interviews. The doors are now open for me to have everything published soon.
Anybody can write on foreign affairs excepting American citizens who have lived a long time in a particular nation. We have learned nothing from “The Ugly American.” Indeed we are challenging it. There is a bundle of lies in today’s paper in an article written by a man called an expert, concerning Nasser.
Last night I went to a concert exhibiting a part of Arabic culture. It was given under the auspices of the American Society for Eastern Arts. I sat next to a man who was half-Jew, half-Arab. I could talk and he could talk. This is something not permitted, and I mean not permitted by any of the important organizations excepting the Universities. But not only could we talk, we are planning to do and I mean to do, and no nonsense. The young of the world are going to learn that we can have peace an earth if they meet each other without any advice from experts and commentators. So a good deal of my time is used in planning actions, and I believe in the end that not all the devils in authority in Russia, the United States, Israel, and the Arab lands can stop this.
I am interested in Los Siete Trial. Eye-witnesses are wanted, and eyewitnesses are respected. In foreign affairs—not a chance.
As I have had to either eye-witness or ear-witness all the genocidal activities promoted by this country, even sleep and pleasure play minor roles.
Saturday I am giving an important talk on the psychic body which is mentioned in the second chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians. It is mistranslated “natural body.” The result is that Christians are unaware of the teachings of Christ and Paul, and a growing multitude of our people become excited when they see the same teachings offered by Hindus. And they are right. I am going to show that the same basic teachings are found in the Bible, but it is a matter of total indifference whether we follow Hinduism, Christianity, another religion, or no religion at all.
Jesus said, “Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.” That is my motto 100%. Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
July 28, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
The only bad thing about going on vacation will be missing your marvelous letters. But I’ll be looking forward to some sort of resumé of your activities upon my return the first of September. I hope all goes well with you while I’m away.
Love,
Art
August 20, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe,
c/o S. F. Chronicle
San Francisco, 94119
Dear Art:
This is to welcome your home from your vacation and to inform you of my not-news which just the same may make history. So we have taken it up with certain departments of the University of California at Berkeley which believe, despite pressures from all sides, in reality as above “realism.” I can assure you on this point the Regents, the “new left” and the press are united. They all believe in “realism”—to each its own.
First we have had the audacity end effrontery to arrange a Jewish dinner for Muslim and Christians. This mustn’t cawn’t be but the cooks are busy. Then there is scheduled an Arab dinner for Palestinians of all kinds, Israelis, and synagogue Jews and Christians. Those bastard, desert peoples are doing everything contrary to the “book” and are enjoying it. After that we hope, just hope that some members of the Fourth Estate will get just a little curious. It is, of course, positively against all ivory-tourism.
While this is going on some of my friends are going to Asian-Asia. We have cultural exchange with Russia, notch, and then spend billions of dollars to keep the Russians from offering their culture to others. We are wondering, if we establish cultural exchange with the Iranians or Hindus or other Asians whether we shall then not spend billions of dollars to prevent them from spreading their cultures which are much older than the Russians.
If this succeeds we shall try the Arabs. This, of course, smust’nut be. We do not even have an Arabian restaurant though we do have some groceries and delicatessens. But you know, Art, there is a limit to “tolerance.” I don’t know of a single institution that has a good Arab presenting Arabian culture. This is kind of awkward to me because I have dared a follow Richard, I mean Sir Richard Burton, into lands where one mustn’t go.
My “Dances of Universal Peace” are drawing more and more—young people. No pornography, no acid, no marijuana, no violence, so not-news! But soon we are going to be in prints elsewhere. We are even going to send copies of these letters one by one to various radio-TV stations. It is possible that by 1975 someone will get to us. So I’ll cheat. I am telling you I am offering a thousand dollars to the University of California for a Peace Scholarship. As we don’t know and don’t care what the professors are doing, have done, there is little I can say.
After all, do not we all know about Assouan, built by Russians and nothing about Mangla Dam built by a local corporation! This is protocol. What Americans do abroad! Never, never, never in what all Nagore (or Bombay or Phnom Pen or Djakarta or Medina) is talking about. “They” never discuss American accomplishments. Clearly not-news. But it is going to be news, and before long we are going to have articles on what Californian alumni are accomplishing, have accomplished “far out.” Wait and see.
This is enough to disturb you on your return.
Love and blessings,
Several ccs.
Sept. 1, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
I have still no takers on my offer to pay anyone who could tell me the difference between “peace with justice” and “peace with genocide.” I have been helped no end by the long article in yesterday’s Chronicle about Lindbergh. The line between “peace with justice” and “peace with genocide” seems to have worn very thin indeed.
Now I have received a letter from a second Rabbi in Jerusalem favoring our efforts. Of course the local clergy, under the “Judeo-Christian ethic”….
Well after having been closeted with Gunnar Jarring and gotten a peace plan which the Israelis, the Egyptians, and the Saudians approved….
At Geneva it was wonderful. When the “very great” Sir Zafrullah Khan was asked what he had to offer besides oratory and emotion, he sat down. But that is what the older people like. I think we are in a new world. Our program to being Arabs and Jews, Israelis and Christians, and Palestinians together is making great headway—elsewhere.
But Art, it can happen here, and is, praise to God-Allah-Brahm and Hare Krishna.
Faithfully,
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
September 6, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
I am on the verge. It seems that some “not-news” may become news. It is history all right. I cannot fill or fulfill the requests from university professors. And our achievements, not efforts, but achievements fulfill what the “great” like to say and think they are solving problems by saying.
The aftermath of the conference at Geneva where I was permitted to speak—did not have to say much among the really great men and women of the world, has been marvelous. Yes, I am Timon-in reverse-of San Francisco.
About three weeks to prepare to go east. My religious lectures nearly at an end may be given at a cathedral in Washington. Here I hope to get a few clerics to rise about the accepted “Judeo-Christian” ethic to follow, if only rarely, a few biblical teachings.
In the meanwhile all the Avatars, Sadgurus, Maharshis from India, at war with each other (of course) are seeking alliances with this person. It was so easy to have conversations and meditations and agreements with Dr. Radhakrishnan. It was impossible with local “experts” on Asia until recently. Now both the holy men and university professors are against the “experts” and for facts and history and this is a welcome change.
Busy every moment. Even my Vine and Fig-tree are so overloaded that we have been amazed with the crops, ten times greater than last year!
I have a hunch, after another visit to the East Coast, some “good” people will at least grant interview before throwing me out as an imposter. But my editor returns this week and much may depend upon what he wants and what we must do.
I’ll let you know what the Indian Masters accomplish but they may give me publicity beforehand. Oh, I have lived in India and remember a meeting of a World Affairs Council. “I suppose the next speaker will say he has lived in India.” Yes, I have lived in India.” “Next you will be claiming to know President Radhakrishnan.” “I thought so.” Then the great man sat down. He is always on the pay-rolls. Nobody knows what this meant but I think that day is coming to an end.
Love and blessings,
September 7, 1970
Dear Art:
I don’t ask your forgiveness but today I am mixing some potential news with the “not-news.” And it is a little surprising when everything is favorable elsewhere that San Francisco has not entirely accepted, “stop the world, I’m jumping off.”
I think I sent you copy of letter to the grouper which is associated with the United Nations. This is the first time here excepting the University of San Francisco which once let me speak on water problems of the Near East. No “experts” and sociologists present and entire agreement from engineers. Indeed I named several engineers from this region who have accomplished wonders, strictly not-news. Only efforts of communists are “news.” Achievements by Americans?!!!
Well we looked for Arab restaurants and found there is one near West Portal which we have not visited. But we did go to Marrakech. It is slightly high for hoi polloi—nine dollars, but far, far beyond anything Trader Vic can offer—at least on my mind and my stomach, And the owners fell in with the idea of Jews and Muslims joining at the table. And I had at long last the dream of my life kouskous—I only had it once before, but this kous-kous (or couse-cous!)—it is far out because it actually comes from a far away land.
(With all respects to you I like “Sam’s” at Tiburon, both on account of the name and location.)
Now we are getting ready to go east and I may even try to contact Gunnar Jarring again so I’ll write Phil Ubronn. Copy of this to Herb Caen.
Love,
410 Precita Ave.
Novato, Calif. 94947
September 9, 1970
Arthur Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
I have come to the point where “not news” is boiling over and many copies of this letter will be sent out, possibly in protest, and, also to my presumable publisher. We are living in a world of utter fantasy and all the repetitions of the word “realism” only make it worse. I am sending copy of this to a Marin paper but with no hope that any attention will be paid.
My colleagues in San Francisco have successfully put on joint Jewish-Arab-Christian dinners and dancing with prayer. My close friends from this county, all travelling abroad report “impossibilities” which simply cawn’t be so they ain’t. And as one friend said: “Never let facts disturb the issues.” They don’t.
As I told you before I think I was the only outsider at the Papa Tara Singh-Nehru reconciliation in India. No American publication accepted my on-the-spot report. It could not be news. I saw Muslims and Sikhs and Hindus embracing. When they fight that is the headline; when they embrace….
Now my friends are gradually getting some of the radio stations and minor groups to accept some solid sound facts. Any effort toward real peace unless it comes from some “prominent” citizen or “important” organization is smothered. That is “realism.”
The “important” magazines say all kinds of things coming from the Palestine commandos. There is no proof one way or the other that they represent any large segment of people. But like the “New Left” they are news. Buslines is always news, bussing never! Never! And I think we shall have enough documentary material plus films to show to the contrary, and I think there are enough people, the “silenced majority” who are sick and tired of only crimes and tragedies being news.
I also just received a book on the Indus River. The author compiled hard, facts, facts, facts, facts, none of them news! It records what teams from the University of Calif. did, accomplished, actualities, but never, never news. If the Russians attempted, it would be news, even headlines. But American accomplishments???????
The book on the Indus (I once wrote, “There ain’t no Industries on the Indus”) has section after section on the Mangla Dam, a most successful accomplishment of a hottest local corporation. Period.
Once the University of California at San Francisco put on a gigantic food conference and a whole morning was put over to the problems of India. I have only lived there and wrote a paper covering a very simple problem which had been presented, and the ways by which these problems could be solved. Most of the solutions can be found in their research accomplishments—not efforts, but accomplishments of the University of California. But “everybody” knows the University of California is an accidental institution near Sather Gate where “real” events take place, especially those started by invaders. We have no time and interest in the classrooms and laboratories, the studios and lounges.
But we want peace more than anything else and the reactions of those persons who were present at the unreported conference at Geneva this year have been marvelous. This is going to give me complete leeway to write an unfortunate book.
I am sending a copy of this to a Marin paper, not with any hopes. All of the active persons in these projects live in one part of Marin or another, save one of my latest secretaries. They are being greeted where politicians and newsmen can’t get in—so naturally that is that.
I am also going to make another effort to reach the Christian Science Monitor. They gave me two hours in conference which is much more than any other paper has ever granted, but did not take a single eye-witness account. I am hoping they well change. In theory they believe “God is good.” I have not seen a single evidence to the contrary but news? It is only things to the contrary that are news.
We will continue to have joint Jewish-Muslim-Christian affairs and some other joint affairs which surely cannot be “news” if these accomplishments are not news.
My third home has now broken out—the Lama Foundation at San Cristobal, New Mexico. It has two pages in the National geographical Magazine and last night was given so many shots on the Tuesday night TV program we could not count it. So many people from Marin County have been there, and are going there. But this is not news. Accomplishments are not news; murder, crime, race-riots, “excitement” only such things are news. Carry on.
Still with love and blessing,
San Francisco Chronicle
September 11, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
Thanks so much for your many thoughtful and thought-provoking letters.
I’m off to Israel for a couple of weeks to get a closer look at the Middle Eastern situation. I’ll be looking forward to reading your letters upon may return. If I return.
Love,
Art
San Francisco Chronicle
September 15, 1970
Dear Mr. Lewis:
Though Mr. Hoppe is away on a newspapermen’s tour of Israel until the end of September, I am sure that he would want me to convey his thanks to you for your kindness in writing. I shall keep your letters for him to read upon his return.
Sincerely,
Patria H.S Basaya
Secretary to A.W. Hoppe
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
September 20, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
I had given you some not-news. The apology in the paper yesterday concerning various projects on the San Francisco Waterfront shows about news, and not-news. It does not depend on what happened; it depends on who wrote it. Well, I once wrote for the Los Angeles Herald and they accepted everything but my apologies for making occasional mistakes. These were never printed.
All over the Orient I was accepted and someday it will astonish the succeeding generations. After all, my best friend, Robert Clifton, lived twenty years in Vietnam and was turned down and turned down until he died from a broken heart. The changes for an eye-witness getting any kind of article printed are about 1 to 100, and I don’t care. “If you can’t lick “em, laugh at yourself.” So I am all ready—my publisher has returned—on my return from the East Coast to blast at everything.
Realism is an anagram on “Ram Lies” and I think our brethren of the “left,” “center” and “right” are united on this point.
I am a spiritual teacher—in the Orient. Goodness knows, not here; not in this city whose papers tell all the wonders of Assouan Dam (I am no authority, I only have lived in Egypt) and never, never about the successful Mangla Dam in Pakistan built by a San Francisco corporation. I ain’t no “experts” here either, I only lived in Pakistan. And I can tell you of my raids of wonders by U.C. graduates abroad, but they interfere with what all Tashkent and Zanzibar and Moldavia is discussing.
So the hard fact that we have been successful in putting on joint Arab-Christian-Israeli parties right here in San Francisco isn’t news. If they tried it in Samarkand it would be front page—here.
And the successes of our team in filming dances and holy places and holy men abroad isn’t news. If the Chinese try it, it will be front page. We have done it, and fortunately the American Society of Eastern Arts has promised to look at it. And we finally got one small radio station to heed it.
But I leave soon. Another peace group visited me. They have seen President Nixon. They are local and so not-news.
There is a paper called “San Francisco” and they want my money. I now have money, but will they accept facts? If they accept facts I might share some money, but the young are with me and for me and gradually the university professors.
Love and blessings,
cc- Herb Caen
Garden of Inayat
910 Railroad Avenue
Novato, California 94947
September 24, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
This letter on the point of departure for a visit to the East Coast where some personalities of social importance are waiting for me. In the current society this is what matters, but in the scientific world it is facts that matter. Therefore I am a devotee of Lord Snow with his doctrine of two cultures. So far not only has every scientist I have written to on the subject of pollution answered, but not a single non-scientist. And the scientists, that is the men who have had laboratory experience and done research (moi aussi), are very much afraid of the destruction of our culture, not by the evil industrialists, but by the literary men and especially the editors and commentators and ivory towered encyclopedists.
When I was a boy I committed a “sin” for which I have not been exonerated until lately: studied under Cassius Keyser of General Semantics. I had a boss, now famous, i.e. Louise Lurie, who encouraged such studies although he has long since forgotten me and that is my fault, not his. But I learned the rigorous thinking and when I was able to return to college and take up scientific courses the teachers all accepted my prowess, but the important people rejected everything. Amen.
My main gripe is the strange refusal to accept local talent. Nicol Smith wrote a book on Tibet and took pictures and data. He wanted and was not believed. Then laddy-daddy Lowell Thomas went with whitewash and soon the communists entered Tibet. Any American, and I can name quite a few, who happens to be eye-witness of important events is put on the witness stand as if he were a criminal. I am not going to add to this for it will go into my autobiography for which I shall be paid. I know a lot of us dog-housed Americans, a lot of them, Art.
I have mentioned 33 rejections of my paper on Vietnamese Buddhism, and the most successful interview with Gunnar Jarring. The pessimistic reports on Assouan and the optimistic reports on Mangla Dam, built by San Francisco industrialists, but not-news and I know a lot of not-news. What chance has a mere “peasant” when industrialists are by-passed.
Anyhow we are doing things. Of course I am resented. I have been kissed by oodles of Jewish girls and warmly embraced by oodles of Arabs and at last the Oakland Trib is waking up to hard, substantial facts anathema to the hopelessly divided power-hungry, lonely people, which the world is full.
I am a representative of a very large and historical spiritual brotherhood whose very existence has been denied by a lot of English and European “experts” on Oriental Culture. I have been assured by a number of them I could never understand the Chinese and the Chinese, the impudent saps, say I understand them better than some of them understand themselves. I was a guest of honor at the Imperial Palace in Japan. If a Russian and Chinese had even been invited that would have been world news, and how!
There are no problems, Art, save that the quest for excitement is greater than the quest for facts. nd the refusal of the passing dominant peoples to accept that there is a reality which might be called “Love” but not the “Love” of the common literati, not at all.
The past few days have been spent in “impossibilities” and let it be, such a wonderful joint Israeli and Christian dinner; and a joint Dervish-Yoga dance festival in Golden Gate Park. The passing generation has only two outlooks: (a) that these are impossible; (b) that the people involved are of low caliber.
But that day is over, Art, that day is over. The power-hungry lonely people will give way to a new type of humanity, predicted by H. G. Wells, Bulwer Lytton, Sri Aurobindo, and even a little by Jean Dixon. It is here. And while this is going on we, we have been mostly successful in a number of business and industrial constructive enterprises.
All the dialecticians and literati have not been able to stop us from putting on some of the most successful vegetable gardens, and more is to come. Plants are not poisoned by dialectics and subjectivisms.
Hope you have achieved in Israel. We are doing and succeeding despite all the ignorant, super sophisticated cynics who are so lonely in their hearts.
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
September 30, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California
Dear Art:
Here I am in New York City doing only impossible things, but interrupted by news of the death of Prime Minister Gamil Nasser. I am, of course, quite “incapable” of writing on this subject because I have lived in Egypt, the positively worst position to have been in to be permitted to express full opinions. So the generation gap. The young listen and are listening more and more and more and more, to the little man who has been there and are differing more and more and more and more from the expert who has not. I am awakening on the day when I have potential appointments with an Israeli and an Egyptian. Both are well-known and both have been very cordial toward this person.
The trouble with my eyesight is that when I came to Egypt I saw Alexandria Harbor filed with Spanish ships. This was so utterly fantastic my diary notes are reserved for future generations when they can as well serve for the bases of a future fictional Arabian Nights. The original stories, though stated to have occurred in Baghdad may well have taken place in Cairo, where I have lived and so never been permitted to speak, excepting once, because it did not please the Chairman of the meeting. In a democracy it is most important to have the chairman on your side. But there is a new generation, and they are overwhelmingly enthusiastic for anybody that has not been permitted to express in situ experiences.
Of course I was not interested in Mr. Nasser. I was interested in the efforts and accomplishments of my fellow alumni from the University of California. Oh boy! I live in a land where no matter how great the great accomplish, if they don’t satisfy the Vice-President and the editors who are in conflict with each other, it isn’t news except among the scientists, and who reads their works! Anyhow, with forthcoming appointments with an Israeli and an Egyptian, I had better keep quiet. Besides I have an editor who will pay me.
I have had two “impossible” experiences—grand welcomes from the young and from my disgruntled godson, who is also a sort of anti-Timon from San Francisco. Since news of the great achievements of University of California graduates is now newsworthy, and efforts of the Russians are always news worthy, not being in contact with Communists, I cannot send you news. But I can send you gossip.
To my surprise a government official from Washington came to interview me. I don’t know how he found out about me, but when I asked him, “Why is it that the achievements of certain Americans are never newsworthy and the programs of Communists are always newsworthy, it is impossible to be either loyal or disloyal.” I told him if I had turned traitor, I should now be on the payroll of some big publisher. I had failed. I had never turned traitor and so, both “sides” have always rejected all in situ reports. But I have my diaries, and they are full of excitement and interest and will be published sometime because I now have an editor. Besides, conflicts are so exciting they should be considered, and friendships are often dull as the basis for news.
I am already scheduled to speak at Columbia, so will try to contact also Professor Badeau, who was once our ambassador to the UAR. We have had interviews in the past, and I don’t think he will kick me out. Besides, he knows what graduates of the University of California have done in the Near East, although I do not know whether he is an authority on Russian accomplishments.
Jesus may have said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” but today famous are those who write articles on peace that please important personalities.
Of more importance. My bussing program has progressed and crossed all racial lines. While the country is divided on bussing, I am definitely not divided on bussing. And so far into the night….
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
Wali Ali: I failed to take the name of that group to whom I wrote, whose offices are UN Plaza. I am not visiting that district yet, because Peter has plans for me and also we have to set aside certain times for appointments, etc. Yesterday I was successful in all my Pakistani enterprises, but the other matters did not go ahead due to absences. I knew I would fail to take all my notes, being too tired, but that part of life is gone. Saadia Khawar has been in New York and just missed her “brother” Norman, with whom I spent some time. If you ever run into Mrs. Leonard, please tell her I have seen Norman and he is very well.
October 2, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California
Dear Art:
In a sense this is the diary of Timon of San Francisco (in reverse). Apparently people here are not all convinced in “liberty, democracy, humanity, and peasants—shut up.” Somehow or other my performance at Geneva has leaked out and apparently God-Allah-Brahm is not against any of his creatures because they have not made social distinctions. So!
I have just returned from an interview With Dean Hovde of Columbia University. We actually accept the great philosophers of Columbia and do not accept Nietzsche, Marx, Heidegger, Existentialists, Dialecticians, and all the European unsettled sexual aberrationalists who are regarded in certain quarters as the great thinkers of the century. In fact, the Dean not only was glad to listen to a “peasant” who admired some of the philosophers who have taught at Columbia, he was even a step ahead in expressing his admiration for some totally passé New England transcendentalists. Not only did we get along handsomely and perfectly, but I found that Professor Joseph Blau, who formally was head of the Department of Philosophy at Columbia, is now a head of the Department of Religious Studies.
It was Blau who proposed a program for me, which was totally successful among Asian Asians, period—end of success. But it is a different age, and my earlier prediction that the real world war was between the professor and the commentator is not only come about, but there are signs of victory. You see, professors are interested in facts, while vice-presidents and commentators are interested in interpretations. The facts don’t have to be substantiated; the interpretations do. And thus the generation gap between those who like facts occasionally as they like food, and those who want to live on idiosyncrasies, idioms, and ideas.
I have already had a few programs and expect to be leading a dance in Central Park Sunday and speak at Columbia University Tuesday. In fact, when I complete this letter, I shall be taking up seriously programs based on facts and knowledge, which may be used by certain institutions toward promoting world peace. I don’t know whether it is New York or more than New York, but the young Arabs and the young Israelis and the young Jews I’ve met here are more interested in eating together than killing each other for the sake of some idiom, ideology, idiosyncrasy, idea, or idiocy. Of course, this is not news, but I have a sneaking idea some publisher may accept some facts before I can see my own publisher. And even President Nixon sometimes assents that truth belongs to the majority, silent or otherwise. And believe me, if he believes in anything, it is in getting the good will of that majority, and so keeping himself at the head of the state, or at the head anyhow. He has the merit of not wanting to die for some ideal called realism, especially when it is fantastic.
I might even dare to approach one of the peace organizations again. I shall not try to see Gunnar Jarring if he is around until I have cleared with some pretty big people whom all San Franciscans reject I could possibly know. Amen.
I am sending a copy of this to Herb Caen, not because I want to try to convince him that pogroms ought to be abolished, but rather that he should become interested in my “What a Diner’s Club Card Can Do To Promote World Peace.” I left San Francisco having paid all such debts and with an open-ended credit which has only been availed of slightly to this point. And even Rosh Hashanah was celebrated in a Caenian fashion. I’ve still Rabbis and Arabs to call on, but some other things to do in the meanwhile. I have been amazed what my colleagues have accomplished here, but am not going to name them.
Next week, some exceedingly powerful interviews coming up, and I certainly cannot get off any worse than in the past. Why, I’m even getting long-distance calls here, and I think the University of California in Berkeley will now be opening its doors more. My appointments Tuesday on the Columbia campus chiefly center around Professor Blau and former ambassador Badeau. Never a dull moment, newsworthy or not. But even the chronicle has published about the joint dinners— Arabs, Israelis and Christians. I must confess, and I hope Herb will agree, that whatever the faults of the Jewish religion may be, Jewish dietetics, nutrition, and gastronomy are so superior to establishment American dietsﾀ??these are never investigated in cancer research—that we may have a new method for peace and understanding—through the stomach instead of through poison gasses outside yourself.
Love and Blessings,
October 3, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
Well, it is coming true, “Timon of San Francisco—in reverse.” There is here a young man named Bob Kaufmann who met me at the international gathering in Geneva and was so impressed he came all the way to San Francisco. Now he is enrolled at Columbia and he has a big meeting in tow for next Tuesday night.
In 1960 much time was spent with one professor, Dr. Joseph Blau, on “How the Philosophies taught at Columbia can help the world.” It was this attitude which was the base of “my” Peace Program which so impressed Gunnar Jarring. (All others gave the boot, in the name of “democracy.”) But it seems that Bob is an in-law of Dean Hovde and we had a double-delightful time. For we have both exactly the same background—no dialectics, no European philosophies or existentialisms and plenty of American-American teachings which are almost totally unknown by the press. I mentioned Blau to him, “My best friend.” Not only that but Blau is back here and I hope to see him Tuesday.
Tuesday I am also to see former Ambassadors Badaeu who used to be in UAR and whom I have met previously. And in the meanwhile the secretary of Gunnar Jarring has written me another “impossible” but true letter saying he does not meet private individuals and then in her hand-writing (not typed) she has put down his room number! Well, Art, despite all the press, “good” people, “peace” organizations, and “experts” I know a few people and will first see Badeau and then go ahead.
I have also contacted Father Haughey, editor of the Jesuit “America” and he is so anxious to see me, and of course, the usual, “impossible” long-distance calls which go can and on. The news is definite. “Timon of San Francisco” has been so unwelcome in his home town and the impressions upon people who listened to me is so friendly it is impossible to reconcile, so that is that. I am to see him Tuesday afternoon.
In the meanwhile I have begun the “peace” groups over again. As soon as the first one found I was not seeking money they reserved. I am working for peace, not funds, but I am not going to share any funds with all the rival “world brotherhoods” and “universal societies” which make mushrooms look like imbeciles. This is no question but that the young want to get rid of war and hate and the press does not seem to understand anything else, only they are divided upon whom to hate.
Late last night I tried to crash into a big mass meeting and was seen surrounded by friends from all over the country. It was miraculous. I have no idea how it came to be, but just missed Alan Ginsberg who says he wants to see me. Someday I hope he will listen to some of my poetry. My rejected poetry is going to be published by friends in the business and I haven’t the slightest doubt about it. It will live.
Sunday I may put on “Dances of Universal Peace” in central Park. Led about a thousand young and young people in G.G. Park before I left. News is that these dances are wanted all over and preparations already on in Boston. Very full program.
Personally I believe there are other choices than before Johnson vs. Reston, or now Agnew vs. the commentators. I believe even in a “democracy” it may be possible (on occasion) to have occasionally some news based on sound facts and not just on the opinions of the elite.
Have a letter from my putative editor who wants my stuff hard facts, from a disciple of the American-American-American author of “Innocents Abroad.” I have my diaries and some day they will be consulted by persons who want some solidity. Now the parade of visitors is coming.
Love,
San Francisco Chronicle
October 6, 1970
Dear S.A.M.:
I can’t tell you how delighted I am by your continued success. Just don’t get so involved in New York that you forget about us back here in San Francisco.
Love,
Art
October 8, 1970
Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California 94119
Dear Art:
The position of Timon of San Francisco in reverse is getting stronger and stronger. The youth everywhere welcome my talks on “Reality vs. Realism.” Every person I have contacted in every department of Columbia University Seems to be in accord.
In the meanwhile, my associates in San Francisco have been successful in getting Israelis and Arabs to dine together, and perhaps more. This is no longer not-news. I understand the Oakland Tribune is now publishing all the details of events, not opinions but events. I hope you realize today, Art, that the generation gap is not between age groups, but between opinion groups and event groups. And we are not going to have peace, and we’re not going to have justice until some such program is enforced.
When I am on the campuses there is nothing but exchange. Elsewhere one has to break down personality reactions, the cause of most of our trouble.
I have been very successful here as elsewhere in promoting “Dances of Universal Peace.” Now even some churches are interested. I am not asking anything from anybody, but I know that future generations will look askance at our strange behaviors, especially with our verbal attachment to the word democracy without any substance.
The newspapers here are filled with pages and columns of political activity, and the ennui is terrific. I have been in New York before during campaigns, and the contrast is so great between the dullness of the day and the interest in the past that one can hardly believe it is the same city.
Love and Blessings,
October 9, 1970
Dear Art:
Just had a long session with an Indian student also working for peace in the Near East. We are interested in Indian students, Indian meals; Pakistani students, Pakistani meals; Spanish meals; Jewish students, Jewish Meals; Arab students, Arab Meals; Grecian meals. Also on Borsht.
The bussing situation is excellent but complicated. Women are asking for equality. What is a more male to do? But instead of giving tit for tat one is giving smack for smack; in other words, lip service?
Any comments? Must go to Boston, then back here and then “on to Washington.”
Love,
October 13, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California
Dear Art,
This is further report on the career of Mr. Timon of San Francisco (in reverse). God help the American who tries to do what the late President Kennedy said—do for his country instead of expecting his country to do for him. But now, at long last, we have a series of interviews coming up, and some publications are actually willing to look at the article which appeared in the Oakland Trib about the efforts of my entourage.
I have just completed a recent biography of King Samuel I, i.e. Mark Twain. Once he was going to write a book that would make Zola’s J’Accuse seem amateurish. Believe me, can do, but whether will do is another matter. If an American citizen happens to be in a place where history (not news, but history) is made, he is put on the third degree. How many times have Communists told me their plans, and how many times have they succeeded because the press and “intelligence” officials simply won’t accept anything from a “peasant.” The whole Vietnam complex began that way, and how many times have I been trapped; but fortunately, I have also lived. And now the young, god bless them, prefer the actual evidence of eyewitnesses to being divided into camps led by Vice-Presidents and ivory-towered newspaper commentators who know everything without going anywhere near the event.
I must repeat here what happened at the University of California at Los Angeles. A book was written on the history of Thailand. I wrote the author that it was an excellent history, but his chapter on problems was entirely wrong—that every one of those problems had been solved, and not only solved, but solved by professor and teams from the various branches of the Multiversity of California. Solid stuff like this can never be news. I had interview after interview with the Hollywood Citizen News; they never accepted one fact, but at least they were willing to interview me, which is something, and something rare (I have only lived in Thailand, which, of course proves my incapacity).
In fact, Art, my name is in the hero’s book, which used to be kept at Fort Mason. The Army, god bless ‘em, would not release me until I signed the hero’s book. They told me they would accept no modesty—that they had the whole history of my life and they could prove it. Actually, Art, I discovered a Japanese settlement along the coast of Mexico, which was unmapped. I was also the bait and the trap which caught the Fascists in San Francisco, etc., etc. Years ago, I was the coauthor of Glory Roads, a book on the reform movements of California. Financially it flopped, but the predications would make any Jean Dixon or Edgar Cayce look like less than amateurs!
Now we are going ahead full tilt with our peace program, and by peace I mean peace and not some oratorical bombast by some very important person. We went all through that at Geneva where the self-important could not present a single sound program, only emotions; and most of the rest of us got along fine with each other and are doing what may bring about a better world, if we mean a world without war and hatred.
I am going to a conference tomorrow, and I notice that even in California, I am sometimes invited. We have danced in Central Park and been filmed again. The pictures will be shown in Rome. Some people have some ideas that human beings can get along with other human beings without some ivory-towered super-important infallible directing them. It is happening all the time, and now we have not only Israelis and Arabs, but some Jews, and there are some Jews who are not Zionists and wish to be friends with both parties. I can assure you, Art, they far outnumber the Vice-presidents and their opponents, the encyclopedic infallible super commentators who know everything about everything whether it happened or not.
I am sending a copy of this to Herb Caen, your colleague, and add that we are having a very good time when we have time, visiting restaurants in New York for which there are few or no parallels in San Francisco. The rest of the time we dine with young who really want a world without war, perhaps without opinion too. Why, I even have the good will of the oil companies, God bless them.
Now the telephone is ringing again and again and again, so we’ve got to sign off.
Love and Blessings,
October 19, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California
Dear Art,
This is a beautiful day and especially appreciated because yesterday was my birthday, and a whole crowd of young people gave me a glorious celebration, flanked by the arrival in this city of a number of my friends from diverse western points.
Saturday one of the radio stations gave me one-hour interview, and I understand that tape will be presented next Sunday. But I understand there is another interview coming up tonight.
In the meanwhile we have called on the Christian Science Monitor, and they are quite willing to at least review our actual accomplishments. There is a tremendous underground feeling for peace, and especially for peace in the Near East. In fact, my pseudo-motto, “Shish kebab for the Israelis and Gefilte Fish for the Arabs” has evoked nothing but laughter and approval. I know how the young feel, but the headlines are that everybody has power excepting God Himself.
Anyhow, tomorrow I have to see Professor Houston Smith of the mighty MIT and then will return to Harvard for a review of a review, and then proceed by stages back to New York City. In the meanwhile, I have met lots of young people here, and I presume being a Californian has the same magical effect on them that being a Hindu has on Californians. I have been compromised: I have missed you and Peanuts, and yesterday found Peanuts in the Sunday paper—thus the compromise.
Although my mail is not forwarded here, enough news gets to me that we shall have a mighty welcome home. In the meanwhile we hope to contact a great many editors, and even the Saturday Review of Literature. The Saturday Review of Literature is yelling and yelping more than anybody else that we cannot get any true news. Guess how many in situ reports of mine they have accepted; or even acknowledged. For a man of wrong profession to be where history is made itself is an element of “ancient history.” And how the young love to hear reports about people who have been where things have happened and their eye-witness reports garbage.
But, Art, I am now a gentleman. I was received by the Bank Americard office here with all esteem not given by the literati. Amen.
Love and Blessings,
October 21, 1970
Cambridge, Mass.
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
We are looking now to complete the visit here which has been full of pleasant surprises. The youth here do not accept the current policies of Excitement, War and Murder which the Vice-President in particular seems to uphold. Nor are they attracted to the opposition to him lead by the superencylopedists who can comment endlessly on rumors and occasionally on facts.
There is, of course, the educational TV station here which is educational, factual, informative, non-political and deals with realities, nor with “realism.” So it has been very easy to approach and attract all sorts of persons and to arise interest in what we are endeavoring.
Yesterday I saw my friend Dr. Huston Smith of MIT. He has been to what I call the Asia of God and Rand McNally. Any resemblance to “News” is often coincidental and to commentaries!!! As there is a growing possibility of an autobiography of “Timon of San Francisco—in reserve,” one is never sure whether one will waste times attacking dishonesty and egotisms or emphasize ways to more knowledge and with it more universal harmonizes.
We arm soldiers and demand. We permit them to commit and then hurl epithets and pass laws against the weak performing same sorts of acts. When murdering strangers is justifiable and smoking innocuous vegetable products is “criminal” we should not be surprised that the young are acting the ways most non-Americans are reacting. The present campaigns against “crime” are like the earlier ones against “sin.” But here one finds persons in the audience far more informed about American- American history than any of the top Ivory-towered superencyclopedists have. It is most comforting.
There is a revolution going on in food habits. And the more the self-righteous urge against psychedelics and “Drugs” and the more the young will turn from meats, alcohol and those poisons which really contribute to “cancer” and other diseases. The young are having less and less “cancer” but the establishments cannot and will not account for it.
Much of the rest of my short stay here may be concerned with horticulture and organic farming. Now the literati are not smothering me out any more. We are being permitted to at least send real news to the C.S. Monitor and city editors are no longer a-priori-ing me, thank God.
Love and blessings,
October 22, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California 94109
Dear Art:
Well, Timon of San Francisco (in reverse) is about ready to leave his paternal ancestral home for points west and south. He is even minded to start an organization: sons and Daughters of Jude the Obscure. This will be in opposition to all those “Liberty, Democracy, Humanity, and Peasants, Shut up!” groups. I have been over whelmed here, especially around Harvard Tessaract. A tesseract is to a cube as a cube is to a Square. In other words, Harvard Square is only one face and facet of the 1970 situation. Why, between the professors and the students and the young who are not students at the great universities, my problem here has not been to get an audience but to escape, and this we hope to do this morning.
The news from San Francisco and elsewhere is amazing, especially to find that one is the director a magnet, which despite Gilbert and Sullivan, is attracting silver churns. I knew it was coming and had the good sense to inform my secretaries and colleagues that if the sum exceeded a certain amount it was to be all for them and not for me. As written before, I am now in possession of the grand American virtue $$$$. And we have so many introductions now that by the time I get to Washington, we may even touch some of the top characters or actors who forefront the dramatis personae of the events of the day.
Why, even tricky Nicky has enough sense not to antagonize new movements which will permit him to occupy his abode without any further landlord interference from anybody, as he likes it that way; he does not always follow the vice-president.
This is a very dull election. There are three parties a) the Agnewites; b) the super-encyclopedists (ivory-towered commentators) c) Mayor Lindsay. In this democracy nobody else counts, thank God. Anyhow, my next report should be from New York City, and I have it on good faith that both the Lowell’s and the Cabot’s now speak to each other and leave it to the others to speak to God, especially the young, God bless them. And the young do.
Faithfully,
27 West 71st St.,
New York, N.Y. c/o L. Less
October 26, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
Sic transit glories “Liberty, Democracy, Humanity and peasant, shut up.” At least two very important persons who under no circumstances would grant interviews nor permit me to speak as a human being have endorsed the efforts of my disciple colleagues in their real peace endeavors. Indeed privately and publicly “my”: Shish-kebab for Israelis and Gefülte Fish for Arabs has won almost universal approval. And my young people report they have discovered a Vietnamese restaurant. This at a time when one receives letters from several parts of the world and especially from Asian-Asians who without exception approve of achievements.
Indeed these achievements have grown so much in stature and success that I may have to return to San Francisco earlier than originally planned. But there is also the hard fact that really big people are certainly open-minded and openhearted. And we may even reach the stage where newsmen, clergymen and humanists may actually listen. All other types do, even top “capitalists.”
It is very early in the morning and after the offices open we shall continue both with contacts and efforts. The universities and the young especially have been responding without “a cough in a carload.” And now a wealthy publisher is after me and it is difficult both to provide him with the materials and reports he wants, and to continue present missions. The future will look askance at the predominant but disappearing habit of deriding eye-witnesses of world events; and acclaiming the opinions of important (usually meaning “self- important’) persons world stirring.
With the financial success of my entourages and the call for my autobiography and writings by a wealthy publishes the time of harvest has arrived.
I was trained in logic and logistics by the friend and mentor of Alfred Korzybski, who stirred up semantic movements. Prof. Cassius Keyser especially drilled me in “The Human Worth of Rigorous Thinking” and I have never been forgiven—by non-scientists. But my next scientific venture will not be in the field of “pollution” which itself is polluted by non scientific verbalists whose opinions need not be based on facts at all. And many scientists are truly terrified because of this.
My next scientific venture may be in the field of plant psychology. When I was in the Orient did some searching for “Soma.” I have the advantage-disadvantage over the “experts” in having been a laboratory-flunky and therefore a person of no account. The great Faraday started out exactly the same way but parlor-scientists do not like to be reminded of it. It is too disturbing.
Anyone who is not a clergyman, commentator, humanist, or “expert” can be taught that the Gertrude Stein, “a drug is a drug is a drug” may have no meaning at all. But peasants have not been permitted to criticize the great Gertrude whose noisy followers are not so legion, as that they control the editorials and legislation.
I am looking for a more favorable response from MIT which is not exactly a kindergarten. And I have been helped in prestige no end by Baba Ram Dass—Richard Alpert in presenting Asian-Asian philosophies. Sooner or later my actual contacts, experiences and perhaps “wisdom” will not be brushed aside by the high-and-mighty (self-constituted).
The election is safe for me. Either the V.P. will be put in place or his super-meta-encyclopedic critics, who know everything about everything without the need to study anything, will be rebuked.
The young don’t care and there is little interest in the election—though at the last moment somebody may encourage marching to the polls.
Despite the brush-offs by the “liberty, humanity, democracy and peasants, shut up” people, my own work is already being presented—and with credits, at the University of California and there is every sign it will be appreciated on other campuses, with a lot of red faces among the “peasant, shut up” people who at long last may even go so far as to permit me to present what I really know.
Itinerary uncertain because one cannot foretell the results of appointments on scheduled.
The latest Nobel award went to a man doing research on a subject with which I am well acquainted and which has been discussed in detail at U. C. Riverside; and in principle at U.C., Davis and Ohio State, etc. But who can convince a parlor-scientist! Now one does not have to.
Cheerio,
c/o L. Less
27 W. 71st
New York, N.Y. 10023
October 27, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, California
Dear Art:
Mr. Timon of San Francisco (in reverse) is now scheduled to re-arrive in the city of his birth on Monday, November 9, TWA at 1:38 pm.
One of the reasons for arriving at this decision is to satisfy one of the great TV networks who may now also take pictures of his activities. Yes, it has been most annoying to a lot of groups to have his “Dances of Universal Peace” reach so many young people. It is annoying to so many of the peace organizations to have the joint Israeli-Christian-Arab dinners and activities attract so many of the young…. If we were honest, it would be only the morticians who would resent this. But it seems we must accept the world as it is, which is not always what we want it to be.
For example, those people who had the non-student invasion—called a campus revolt—at San Francisco State would be surprised to know that the teachings and philosophy of this person are now being offered on the Berkeley campus and elsewhere for credit And I understand those persons on the San Francisco State campus who wish reforms suggested by themselves and not by outside invaders are not backing up all endeavors and activities. Former Ambassador Badeau has no time to see me; he has confirmed that the persons I already know and the plans we already have are worth something. And, if the good people of this country don’t wish to listen, it is not wrong to call on non-Americans provided they are not anti-American. (If I had only once played a little treason, I should have long ago earned the good will of the State Department and a lot of top publishers. But I have remained loyal and am not even ashamed of telling the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.)
Don’t get any false ideas. I am for Godell in New York.
The thundering, mutterings, and grapevine indicate I shall soon be teaching art forms and techniques drawn from the Asians of Asia and also from the Americans of America and integrating them. The very successes are bad news for all those groups verbalizing integration. As I studied the calculus, I don’t understand the modern uses of the term integration. But I’m always willing to have integrative dinners where the host, guest, companion, or scrounge.
Love and Blessings,
c/o Lonnie Less
27 West 71t St.,
New York, N. Y.
My dear Art:
There is hardly a dull moment here in New York where Mr. Timon of San Francisco (in reverse) is being received. The meeting with Dean Hovde at Columbia University was easy, partly because my local hosts is an in-law and then I found that his best friend was Dr. Joseph Blau who has been transferred from the Department of Philosophy to that of Religious Study.
We started off with a good bawling-out, the usual. It seems that while looking for Dr. Beadae, who used to be an Ambassador, he spotted us first and invited us to his office. Just as we were leaving his secretary came in. She was late but that did not excuse us. Fortunately it was in good spirit and we had completed the interview in the few minutes allotted us. As a man who has lived in UAR is the “worst” person to consult about Nasser, I shall keep mumb.
But we did find that there is an underground to bring Israelis and Arabs together and we may contact that if possible.
Then we went to Dr. Blau who unfortunately has been ill. He reversed all the stands of the various S.F. groups who have considered me as a nuisance. Yes, I am a nuisance but sometimes also an eyes-witness and an “I-witness.” We are now in a position to sow what people of prestige have refused absolutely even to consider. But this is a new day and age and the awkward fact that one has a stream of a priori, and I mean a priori rejections—not just rejections—is making me a hero whether one should be or not. Indeed one spoke at the University last night vindicating the program laid down from Dr. Blau years ago.
It is pretty certain that the philosophy departments of some universities in California are now going to accept that, awkward as it be to conflicting establishments who are too busy lambasting each other to consider objective facts.
I also had a most important engagement in the p.m. with an editor who is entirely in favor of my efforts but cannot stick his neck out and I can. When I return to S.F. shall get out my research notes, rather voluminous, to support programs for peace based on something more than emotions, prestige and telling others what they should do.
I do not see your column which I believe appears in a paper I do not read. In fact too much is going on all the time and this must be for at least a month.
Love and Blessings,
c/o L. Less
27 W. 71 St
N.Y. ,N.Y.
October 28, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California
Dear Art:
Another exciting chapter in the life of Timon of San Francisco (in reverse). At least one hour was spent this morning with a top representative of the Columbia Broadcasting Company. This man had the astonishing effrontery to accept that sometimes an eyewitness of historical events might be telling the truth, or at least should not be grossly insulted because he did not agree with the “revelations” of the great god UP-AP. He actually took with him some documents which covered historical events which just can’t be news, they just can’t be news. For example, (f’rinstance) a leading city editor of a leading Eastern newspaper said the public was not a bit interested in any effort to bring hostile groups together, either the Arab and Israelis or any hostile groups. She insisted that the minds of Americans ware so intent on the “exciting” election that is about to take place, that they had no time for anything else. (I am stupid enough to believe more Americans are interested in football than in the elections.)
In fact, yesterday we spent a lot of time with an editor who is devoting all his efforts to try to stop Israelis and Arabs from hating each other. He is, of course, totally unqualified, being an Iraqi by birth and having lived much in America and Israel (no qualifications).
Anyhow, I am taking full advantage of the generation gap—no, the generation gap is taking full advantage of me. The silenced majority now accepts everything I say without trying to confirm the facts. The TV representative was appalled and astounded that every statement I made on every subject was backed by some fact and some personality and some other evidence (you know general semantics: peasants must have references). Anyhow he walked off with some of our material and said it would be worth some time and effort to look them up, not to confirm Timon but to get other real news of the real world where they are barred by realists.
In any event, it would appear that cameras, sound equipment, etcetera, are being given instruction to welcome Timon of San Francisco (in reverse). The chief obstacle is that a rival TV network may also be doing the same thing. Awful, isn’t it?
Of course, when they look up my diaries and see a multitude of letters to one San Francisco Chronicle, the existence of which might be aware to you, that none of them were ever published, this objective evidence…. I doubt if I will even have it published in my autobiography, but I won’t be able to stop the coming generations from looking up my notes and confirming it. I guess it was the wrong person. But I don’t mind it. Look at the other wrong persons; I can name them, including some ex-ambassadors. No wonder at least one ex-ambassador is firmly ensconced on my bandwagon. Of course, man bites dog isn’t news; of course dog bites man isn’t news; of course dog kissing cat can’t be news even if it happens. This is against the truths of biology, which has the same relation to scientific biology as popular “pollution” has to actual pollution.
I think I’ll start a new religion in defiance of the great god UP-AP. It will worship witnesses Jehovah.
As long as I am giving you some impossibilities, let me tell you my next venture is to encourage and confirm a professor at the University of California at Berkeley who tried to get 15 students to sign up for a course studying what I am doing and giving the world. He did not invite 15 off-campus celebrities to stage a riot and get world coverage. He just wanted 15 students. He has a mob. I had to tell them that some of the top people at the University of California have been among my best friends. They even give me interviews. They even accept some of my facts. Wrong number, maybe.
To tell you the truth, Art, I am in a fix. I have always been a lover of Shakespeare. I have wished to be Puck or Prospero or King Lear, but Timon? Well, there you have it in reverse, it’s coming true. There will be huge welcoming parties, unattended, of course, by all those proud advocates of “Liberty, Democracy, Humanity, and Peasants, Shut Up:
Love and Blessings,
c/o Lonnie Less
27 West 71 Street
New York, N.Y. 10023
October 30, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California
Dear Art:
The people accused of heresy have declared the district attorney guilty. Or something like that. Look at the next episode in the horrendous life of Timon of San Francisco (in reverse):
Tomorrow we are scheduled to meet a top AP editor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why, he may even listen to the report of my long session once upon a time with Gunnar Jarring. Well, Art, my materiel has been given to one of the Ambassadors whom I have met previously (of course); not news, always not news? And the situation is getting so….
I understand my associates put on a successful joint Israeli-Christian-Arab affair at the First Unitarian Church. I guess we are on our way. Why, I have even had editors and reporters listen to my “exploits” in actual Asia. This may deflate the importance of my forthcoming biography or auto-biography. I might even suggest that crime might be lessened if witnesses were allowed to testify. This jest ain’t done in international affairs. I am further going to corroborate this when I get to Washington.
Maybe someday in San Francisco I can get a “peace” organization or a church or some humanists or some groups interested in international affairs to at least give me an interview. I have been 0% successful in this. Now, of all people, the press and fourth estates are accepting the fact, the very hard substantial fact, that I was a guest of honor at the Imperial Palace in Japan where they have never invited our Vice-President—you can name the Vice-Presidents.
Why, in the grandiose war between the V.P. and the super-encyclopedists, perhaps someday, inshallah, a common man may be allowed to say something. Even Franco permits that.
Guess I am too high to add very much more. But did get into a tiff with a Rabbi last night who never heard of Governor Saltonstall (later Senator) who threatened to put himself in jail if there were anymore anti-Jewish riots. Hard facts like these smustn’t in public debates. I guess I am the smustn’ter of the smust’ntest.
Alas! Hollywood ending. The Rabbi apologized to me. His friends apologized to me. Everybody apologized to me. That is in New York. Maybe this can happen in San Francisco; let us hope.
Love and Blessings,
27 West 71st St.,
New York, N.Y.
November 1, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle,
San Francisco CA 94109
Dear Art:
The utterly impossible has occurred. It probably had to sooner or later. Three hours with an A.P. representative. This was much harder to obtain than meeting with Prime Ministers and Presidents of foreign lands which all “good people” know could not have happened, but did, not often but quiet actually.
He accepted at once my three greatest claims to fames:
a. Free dinner from Armentians
b 33 (thirty three) rejections of my paper on Vietnamese Buddhism
c. First simple citizen to have had invitation as guest of honor to the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo.
He then said, “I bet that happened in other lands.” Of course, it did—not news, smustn’t be news, wrong person!
Once I was a pal of Hon. Sam Yorty. I lived in Los Angeles and the way they stopped “crime” was to throttle and finally murder eye-witnesses. The relatives of the eye-witnesses objected. The crimes were forgotten while everybody was aroused by the disturbances to the eye-witnesses.
That is the American foreign policy. We both agreed on that. We have even been in the same lands and our observations and conclusions were identical. After all I have been a laboratory flunky, the worst background to be heard on Silent Spring, “pollution,” etc. But the disciplines caused one to observe scientifical1y after I had been, and professionally, a political reporter. To combine these two outlooks was “impossible” and on this the religionists, humanists, literati and “experts” have agreed. But now the young are for me, not because of any knowledge or experience, but simply because of the rejections by all the elites who measure everybody by where they think one would have to sit in the French parliament of 1790.
It was delightful to sit with somebody who was concerned with objectivity, with facts, with events. We are all concerned with “interpretations.” The “interpretations” are so important that the facts are outshadowed, just as in Los Angeles the fate of the witnesses overshadowed the crimes which were supposed to have been committed.
The hard but most pleasant thing was to have an A.P. representative accept one’s backgrounds, one’s facts and never, never go into tirades over one’s character or lack of it or one’s unfitness to have been a reliable witness by being where one should not have bee. And he accepted all my real reports on real experiences with real flesh-and-blood communists in foreign places not visited by Vice-Presidents or their metasuperenclopedic butts. In fact his own experiences and those of his colleagues, he said, were very much like my own and the only differences has been that I have been “a priori rejected” by the good people, while he has been paid to collect data and pay no attention to how it is used (or misused) afterward.
What was more awkward-delightful was that we had the same outlooks in politics and our acceptance of American-American philosophers and philosophies untrammeled by the overtouted existentialists, dialecticians and subjective European outlooks euphemistically called “realisms.” We both see an underground hope in the resurrection of objective outlooks as possibility saving the world, although there may be very little opportunity regardless of the election results until we can accept the outlooks of a Burns or Whitman with regard to humanity.
It was so wonderful to have complete confirmations, although this has been true on university campuses.
It has made it an open matter that one can now write and criticize all those super-subjective groups who call themselves “realists.” They all, differing violently, accept “all the news that is fit to print” but differ on what the word fit means, connotes or implies.
Wednesday I go to Washington for a short visit and may call on a Senator or twos—it depends on the election results. Also on Howard University and may also cover Penn and Princeton “Ivy” universities, which of course is “impossible” to the good people. But Timon-of-San Francisco (in reverse) is quite willing to forgive. Why the other night I deliberately insulted a Rabbi and then he apologized. I have had a lot of that this year from clerics. Their continued adherence to subjective falsehoods make peace and understanding most difficult. But “some of my best friends are clergymen.”
There is every possibility—nay probability, that there will be some follow-up here. My Present secretary will remain in New York and the East Coast) for a while and follow up.
In the meanwhile my own philosophies and dances are being presented at the University of California, Berkeley, for credit, and the classes overfilled despite no effort at a dramatic scene or invasion by outsiders. If one can get 15 paid persons it is easy. We did and how! And the rest of the things on the U.C. campus, beautiful, factual, objective and some may just become news. Who can tell?
Love,
P.S. Smuttish literature must be abolished. It is competing with the theatres. You can buy the books cheap but it costs to see for yourself. Ah! Unwilderness!
November 4, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California
Dear Art:
You will get some of my views and news in the carbon of letter sent to Phil Burton.
Actually, there are a lot of things going on in the life of Timon of San Francisco (in reverse). Tonight we visit a leading research scientist at his own request. He is now specializing in the field of plant psychology without abandoning his profession as a polygraph operator. And he is far more advanced in the philosophies and psychologies of Asian Asians than almost any European or “expert” I have met.
Sometimes I think I may also be Socrates in reverse, but the question is whether I have been successful in “misleading” the youth or they been successful in misleading me. I consider it absolutely horrible to declare it criminal for partaking of some of the substances of nature while the newspaper pages are crammed with huge advertisements of pornographic and sexual aberrational dramas which display their unnatural outlooks in the theaters. (It is, of course, illegal to print this stuff in cheap magazines.) It is quite legal and proper only if it involves large sums of money. Believe me, the youth have nothing to do with all this.
I am going to take up seriously with the scientist I shall be meeting the psychic effects of indulging in certain mutual activities with the plant world. Criminal, no doubt, but very “exciting,” and being exciting this automatically makes it legal and proper.
Cordially,
November 5, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California
Dear Art:
“The tumult and the shouting dies.”
“The captains and the kings depart” and also Sam Lewis prepared to return. Overlooked was the election of God, easily won by Mr. Reston who had no hand in counting the votes over dispirited Agnew. Mr. Agnew forgot that educated people are allowed to vote, and I’m happy to learn that the people in California have also elected an educated man to be in charge of their schools. What will happen I don’t know, but Mr. Reston has been very modest.
The trouble is that most commentators have never studied real mathematics. In real mathematics negatives are as important as positives, but the pollsters and machines don’t think so. So in this democracy only the positives are counted. This is not true, of course, in “democracies” like China and Russia and Spain. Any vote is a plus.
I see Mr. Nixon agrees with me on the mathematics, but with all his being right, he has no control over the tallies in the House or Senate or State Legislatures. Maybe he will atone by coming out for recognition of China.
I see the UN does not like a nation which subsists on headaches, headache remedies (which mustn’t be called drugs in this country), and plants that have special psychic values. I am guilty of super-treason (Jane Fonda, please take notice) because last night I spent some with a polygraph operator who is applying his knowledge to plant physiology and is learning some illegal things from the plants themselves. It just happens to be because of the profession as polygraph operator he has the F.B.I. on his side. In fact, he has worked for them. I haven’t consulted either God-Agnew or God-Reston on this point.
It is a little ticklish to go into it, but we found according to his machines that the plants themselves are ticklish, and they let you know although their howls are silent (I have no doubt this is all against “science,” but scientists don’t think so.
Apparently also the majority in the UN don’t accept the American definition— if you want to call it that—of “crime.” The backward nations seem to believe that crime consists of muggings, murdering. maiming, and attacks on persons. They don’t even like our theaters filled with pornography and perversion.
The young are not concerned, but I believe some of them are going to take over the country. They have already notified the barbers, the costumiers, and next the morticians. Don’t invest in these, you will lose out.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
November 10, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, Calif. 94119
Dear Art:
Well Timon of San Francisco has returned, in reserve of course and the house was packed. Nobody was invited and the parapsychological grape-vine was overworked. In fact we have to look for a hall or auditorium. Think of it, a time is coming when an every growing member of people, especially the young, have the confounded impertinence and audacity to accept the little man who has been there over the big man who has not. Why in New York I even insulted a “gentleman of the cloth” publicity and his claque were furious. They attacked me one by one but they were themselves guests and forgot that. I had the hosts with me (in both senses) and the “gentleman of the cloth” apologized to Timon-in-reverse. “That can’t happen here” but we may expect more and more of it.
There were also a scattering of laboratory flunkies who believe humanity is aided by careful research work and come out for “rigor” and not for “logic.” You see in “rigor” it is what you know and have done and are doing; in “logic” it is who you are. True, an upstart friend of house-traders and pig-breeders upset “science” and the good people in the days of Queen Vickie. Then a French charwoman and janitress discovered radio-activity. This is very upsetting and “we” are trying to so it doesn’t happen again and it is always happening.
I won’t have to write on “pollution.” The present issue of Fortune magazine has an article in which the writer takes each specific case of poisoning, shows what causes it and how it can be corrected. He did not refer to a single “expert” or literature man who obtains his livelihood by writing on these subjects, such as pollution, ecology, environment, etc. There’s good money in it and once you reasons of the elite and “an expert” you get lots of lecture appointments. Don’t you realize, Art, when serious people face serious problems these will be solved. So I won’t have to go through any more being rejected by the “experts” and editors and “elite” on this subject.
What is more, the young believe me and so do the laboratory scientists. But apparently a lot of laboratory scientists are going to flock here. I had quite some experiences in New York too where technicians with proper apperati were discovering all kinds of things which will dissatisfy the “experts” and parlor-scientists. It is quite a career and I have at least two appointments this p.m.—lab-flunkies not parlor-scientists.
Well my dance work is expanding. My writings are in demand. Some wealthy editor wants everything from me especially what the good” people and especially the “good” people have a priori rejected, ho hum!
And this morning we go off on the Near East complex. I fact had to leave New York. There they reversed “Timon.” He was so welcome, he was greeted with consideration and when he had sound, solid facts, friendships were established. “It can’t happen here” applies only to one’s home town. Especially when one is not of the “good” and “elite” and “experts.’
More and more and more of the same from “Timon of San Francisco-in reverse.”
Love and blessings,
November 18, 1970
Dear Art,
I am seriously thinking of opposing lowering the voting, age. The Chronicle has interviewed a number of young children and asked if they were satisfied the way their parents were raising them and they unanimously replied they were satisfied and even more than satisfied. As their answers are so exceedingly opposite to the Gallup Polls amongst sociologist and psychologists you can see how dangerous it would be to give them the vote.
While I am in this negative mood I am wondering where you got the prerogative to criticize the President. Isn’t that for the President’s wife? Look at Dolly Madison! Look at Eleanor Roosevelt (I don’t mind this in the least). Their pictures at least in the art galleries. Thomas Jefferson believed that a President who wasn’t worth being criticized wasn’t worth being a President. I am glad you agree that the man who did more to establish the United States of America than anybody else.
I am having such a hard time getting young folks away from LSD by method’s which are so supremely unorthodox that they can’t be published. The very fact that they are always rejected has caused an editor who has the great American virtues ($$$$$$) to send for me and I think I will accept his bribe. We have more fun without psychedelics while the rest of the world is divided between fun, cum-psychedelics, and no fun and no psychedelics.
There is going to be a big bazaar held for me in Sausalito on December 20 and then I’m going to put on my own Christmas show there on the 23rd. We are having New Age dances and at the same time using the Bible via Handel to supreme edification. (You might look up edification in the dictionary, of course.)
I have so many dancing classes and the rest of the time interviewing young people and finding life cheerful and prosperous by legal methods which are verboten … if they were illegal I should be famous. If they didn’t work I would be exposed and thus infamous. You can see why I no longer watch any humor shows on TV. I won’t reveal my secrets because so homespun and ordinary that “everybody” knows them but nobody else does them. Why I’m even converting some of my old enemies by out-laughing them.
Love and Blessings,
Nov. 22, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, Ca.
Dear Art,
I am very up-set this morning. I am not upset at all; I am up-set.
When a magazine dares to intrude, to publish articles which may actually solve problems, treason, mayhem, murder become small potatoes. What the heck are we gonna do when only scientific persons, which nobody reads, may theologically and loyally solve problems and thus destroy the two monuments of present day culture: headaches and excitement. Why you can even be exempted from pledging allegiance to the flag, let alone the Bible, but to solve problems!!!!!!!!!
In Fortune for November there is an article “New Ways to More Power with Less Politician” by Lawrence Leasing. The writer had dared in the face of civilization, culture, and excitement to list problems and show how they can be solved. I give up. Every paper I have written on pollution and sent to a scientist has been acknowledged; every one sent to a non-scientist has been wastebasketed, and presumably burned, adding to smoke and smog.
Some time ago I saw a picture on Lake Erie and “everybody was blamed.” A simple peasant like myself who unfortunately studied logic under several professors at Columbia University did not have a chance. He could only shut-up. “Everybody was to blame.” Of course the next day when be opened his mail he found a copy of Science which told all about mercury pollution.
I remember the time when at a discussion on Silent Spring I had the effrontery, the damnable audacity to rise and say, “As a retired professional spray-operator with a background in organic chemistry….” The panel of “experts” in sociology, medicine, law, nursing, and politics turned their chairs around in public and refused to answer my question. What right had I to interfere in the discussions of the cultured?
I may have been a professional spray-operator with a knowledge of organic chemistry, and if in this land of liberty, democracy, humanity, and peasant shut-up I could not even ask a question, what right have I to say I have lived in cities where smog has been cleared up? No doubt this is true, and I may have been a professional spray-operator with a knowledge of organic chemistry, but this of itself shows I was not a factory worker or industrial producer, or anything of the kind.
Every time a bunch of drunkards get into motor car accidents, Nader and company descend on Detroit and we are now remaining bumper to bumper in bumps, where you gotta pass laws. I upset people at Christian Science Monitor by telling them I did not know of a single problem which has not been solved. And maybe someday some people who are attacking our Universities may be willing to read Fortune and accept some sound facts and splendid logic. That is why I am up-set. Think, Art, there may even be a civilization without smog, smoke, and smut, and with slightly less excitement permitting the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.
Cordially,
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
November 27, 1970
Dear Art:
Written at Novato where we had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner to welcome home Timon of San Francisco (in reverse).
The Vietnamese Buddhists, proud of the 33 rejections of my paper on Vietnamese Buddhism, have asked me to join them. And my putative editor-publisher gave a long-distance telephonic conversation accepting everything I have done, especially when rejected by the “good” people who know next to everything on next to everything.
Then my closest relatives have prepared a home coming party, the first time in my life anything like that has ever happened.
And on December 20 there is to be a bazaar in Sausalito for the benefit of myself and colleagues. In the meanwhile my god-son reports entire success in fund-raising for real cultural exchange with real Asians and for the promotion of “Dances of Universal Peace.” A close friend of Ruth St. Denis was here to dinner last night and her outlook is so different from that of the “important” people who know next to everything on next to nothing.
The University of California has now scheduled two big meetings for me and other things are going on and on.
The editor-publisher also wants some sort of autobiography. And it has been reported that my leading a thousand young people in dances in G.G. Park has been televised. And now some of the leaders of “Liberty, Democracy, Humanity” and peasants, shut up seeing the size of my audiences and income are willing to accept that may be, just maybe I may know something about something.
I am too full of joy—and food—to write more.
Enjoying your reports but eogcentrifically enjoy my own more.
Love,
December
My dear Art:
I ain’t no Jean Dixon and my prediction of having a “Timon of San Francisco—in reverse” return had to run into some hard, solid faces. It was raining terrifically. The students were cramming for the finals, i.e. all those not busy on Nob Hill, and so what did you expect?
Well, Art, for all this and all that, the hall was packed to the gills. I don’t know how and don’t care why. These misled students have the curious idea that the little man who has been there may just know a few things that the “experts” who have not do not know. And when I got down to very, very real personal experiences which just cawn’t be, I am either a very clever Baron Munchausen or have showed up at a time and in an age where some people want some real honest facts, just occasionally, to see what it is like.
Anyhow I have to go back next week. And the professor who introduced me is so optimistic. Just think a man who really knows what he is talking about is more admired by students that the great superencylopedists who worship the great god UPAP whose very high priests denounce, but the “dear public”—it just cawn’t be otherwise.
There was almost unanimous agreement that problems can’t be solved by murdering the “guilty.” And I came away rather well off without trying to pull authority. True the heads of the U.C. Alumni Association are among my best friends. They know I know what U.C. graduates are doing, have done, but this is not news and mustn’t interfere with Seaborg anyhow.
In the meanwhile the efforts to get the pictures which began with my Dances of Universal Peace are mounting and mounting. A lot of silly people are beginning to announce that their mission in life is to support me financially because, because, because and their “becauses” sometimes have more rationale than the “liberty, democracy, humanity and peasants, shut up.” The kids are all for “peasants, shut up.” If only I had been permitted to speak before being bawled out. But this is a new age. The young don’t think differently, They Think, which is worse.
Every now and then I meet a friend of the publisher who wants all my anecdotes. After all my three claims to fame are having been a guest of honor at the Imperial Garden in Tokyo; having had a free dinner from a Armenians; and having had my paper on Vietnamese Buddhism rejected 33 times!
I am optimistic enough to believe that in the end reality will triumph over “realism.” I confessed my faults: I did not believe in dialectics and haven’t studied sociology. To my amazement they liked that.
Love,
Dec. 4, 1970
Dear Art Hoppe,
In re me-moires.
This is to attest I am still reading your column with enjoyment plus. I really have no comment and therefore will make a long report.
When I was over at the University of California Tuesday night and the rain was terrific and the finals were approaching and all the reporters were up on Nob Hill watching the hall where I spoke was packed. Some of them were interested in what I had to say but all of them were interested in my me-moires. After all, don’t I have three claims to fame: a free dinner from the Armenians; having been a guest of honor at the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo; and 33 rejections of my paper on Vietnamese Buddhism?
There is a new generation which actually believes the Baron and would accept a positive answer to “Was you dere Cholly?” But the devotees of the great god UPAP do not have to have been there; it is unimportant; what is important is not what happened but the meaning of what happened. This was called “realism.”
Anyhow I told a lot of tales, actual experiences with names, data, places, and all the requirements of scientific reporting, but of course not part of “realism.” If anything happened, and it has not concrete meaning, it must be treated as if it didn’t happen. And if anything didn’t happen and the report has meaning and “realism” then it must be told.
But somewhere or other along the line wires got crossed. Mors and more people are beginning to accept that the little man who was there actually there and knows all about the people involved even though he is not able to interpret the meanings thereof should be taken into account. And he must be especially taken into account if his reports are interesting or thrilling. So that is what we did, and the students invited me back next week though I told them I didn’t know anything about sociology or dialectics. But they liked my me-moires, especially these based on facts.
Although I am not a great bridge player, plans to produce some peace in the worlds of God and Rand-McNally are making some headway. A very close friend of Golda Meir is new in California and she wants to meet either me or my representatives who are now busy with the program derived from my own research efforts, to bring peace in the near East. This is not “realistic” of course, but it is reality-ism, and therefore not-news.
So I am sending a copy of this to Herb Caen, and when, as and if we most the lady who is not only a friend of Golda Meir but of Ben Gurion we shall let him know.
In the meanwhile, shish kabobs for the Israelis and gefülte fish for the Arabs, and good will for everybody.
Love and Blessings,
Sam
December 5, 1970
Mr. Arthur Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco 94119
Dear Art:
The return of Timon of San Francisco (in reverse) will be officially celebrated at the Art & Garden Center in Sausalito on December 20th. I do not know the details. I am being kept (and rightly) in the dark. I shall have to make a speech and show the “Dances of Universal Peace” which nearly all the “good” people disdain but to which the young are coming more and more and more. Indeed we are sending a delegate to the chief friend of the late Ruth St. Denis to tell what we are doing—realities, not “realism.”
Why even the local press welcomed my representatives, Sometimes “excitement” gets boring and they welcome a change. And then again, it is most interesting after all the “good” and “nice” people a priori refused to let me speak on the Near East, Gunnar Jarring and his associates listened so attentively and admired it, and me. This is so contrary to the “good” and “liberal” and “tolerant’. They know all about me and that is enough.
Last week my family welcomed me back after I had been kicked out so many times. The younger generations found their elders entirely wrong. And then I learned my cousin had been a high-priestess of the great god UP-AP and she knows what I know and what the UP-APians know but there is no use telling the public because the public just wants “excitement,” not truth.
(I am quite unfit to speak on East Pakistan because I have lived there, but that applies to a lot of other places and subjects and I do not stand alone. The revolution is coming for the young prefer to listen to those who have been there than to the oratory of the important people why have not. This covers many things. And when we get out of “realism” into reality, a lot of problems are going to be solved.
A friend told me he has been asked to address the A.M.A and expects to be kicked out. He comes from a land ware cancer is almost entirely absent but the methods are more obnoxious than the disease. Let’s have the disease and a billion or so “research” and everybody will be happy excepting the diseased.
Anyhow I am kept busy all the time by the young, more and more and I hope you can come to Sausalito on the 20th. The press will be admitted free.
Love,
Dec. 6, 1970
Dear Art,
Reading your editorial this morning, let me advise I have no cause for alarm. I get up so early in the morning that an alarm would be superfluous. Beside we have nothing but electrical clocks in this house. People who have cause for alarm must be reactionaries.
Progress for the reception of Timon of San Francisco (in reverse) continues unabated. We know we are going to get a lot of folks, but the purpose is to raise the virtuous standing (dollars, of course).
I have it on good evidence that Mr. Nixon sleeps in a room full of mirrors. Every morning he gets up and holds a council, and is amazed at the unanimity of opinion. Therefore he was indeed shocked when a schoolgirl attempted a minority report. There are no minorities in this palace of mirrors where every view is possible. He himself does not understand why there is so much agreement, but the evidence is that there is.
It is only a rumor, but it may be true: As long as we are passing laws against the misuse of words, such as smut and pornography, why not go all the way and stop “inflation’. I am sure without “inflation” everybody will be happy except the grumblers and editors, but after all, don’t grumblers and editors make up the real majority? Here, even I am on their side.
Don’t get any wrong ideas that I am always on the opposition side. Hail the memory of Huey Long! Hail the victory of Louisiana State! I feel very good about that.
Love,
December 8, 1970
Art Hoppe
c/o S. F. Chronicle
Dear Art:
I am amazed that you have not learned yet that a problem is a complexity which can only be solved by the “right people.” If you can’t find the “right people” you have to abolish the problem.
I am a great authority on “flation.” I don’t know what it means so I am an authority. We have had several kinds of “flation” such as “de,” “in,” “re,” etc. They keep on bothering us. Sometimes they are forbidden words.
Ever since the late Irving Fisher got kicked out of Senate hearings I have stayed away. He was the “wrong” man. We preferred a depression, even a holocaust. Now when I mention his name he becomes a hero. After all, liberty, democracy and humanity are only for the chosen few, aren’t they? Or maybe it is different now.
No we have “pollution.” I was re-invited last Sunday to my old family home. I was kicked out of it steen times. Every time my brother broke the law I was expelled. That was “justice.” Now I am back. My cousins are anti-establishment. And I went there and found everybody thought everybody else “establishment” and nobody was!
So I said that the waste products of one industry were the needed resources of another and before it was finished I was a hero. Nobody attacked my character—the usual in the past. They all accepted the idea. So I am “in” and maybe may do something about. After all I am ready to go into the compost business but am too busy for the nonce. Nothing but programs.
The misled young have the strange idea that a men who has lived with Asians and studied with them may sometimes, occasionally, know as much as the “great” expert who didn’t have to. And I do tell people I am disqualified to write on Zen. If I had been a lecher or a drunkard or immoral I could write such a book. I am not against lechers and drunkards and immoral men but none of the “good” people want to hear me speak on the Asian philosophies of Asians who do not think a la Hegel or Aristotle. When one does not think a la Hegel or Aristotle he is told, by the good people of course, that he does not how to think. The Asian-Asians, who of course are not “experts” on Asia, differ and we are having a delightful time.
In fact I have so many delightful times, including two conferences today at the University of California (how did I get in there?) that I cannot detail my program. I cannot even finish the letter. And of course, I am totally disqualified to offer any solution for “pollution.”
Love,
9 December 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco, 94119
Dear Art:
I am the most unqualified person to comment on the Pakistani election. I only lived in both wings—which is the worst starting point. I only spoke to the multitudes—which was worse. The communists, the real ones, followed me around. I was dangerous. Once an American came to some of my lectures, a paid schoolteacher. When I told the Embassy that the commies were following me they laughed. That is the way the foreign office treats citizens.
I was a guest of the “Guided Democracy.” Went to Santa Barbara to the institute for Democracy—and “peasants shut up” for which they garner thousands of $hekel$, ye goode American way. Nobody wants information from the “wrong” person. Why I have even visited the village of Khaki in East Pakistan from which we get an American word.
Now I am becoming famous. Three grand meetings on the Berkeley campus yesterday. Those strange professors actually believe that a citizen who has been there can sometimes know a little about strange places abroad. But the State Department and press will have nothing of it, or him. Anyhow I am on my way, next month, to a publisher who wants my stuff. And don’t think I am the only one in this boat. We would rather have wars and population control (via the military) of strange people. Once I arose in a public meeting on Pakistan and said, “I have lived in the place discussed and would like ….“ “Sit down. Nobody asked you to speak.” I can tell you where and how and when. But the young and the universities will have no more of that.
Well, bye-bye black bird and SEATO and CENTO. I have been on the inside, actually, really, but this ain’t part of “realism.” Too busy now working for peace in the Near East and rather successfully. But “we” don’t want peace. We’ll probably lose Jordan but never, never, the democratic system of never listening to little people who have been there. This mustn’t. And the Chinese are willing to let Muslims lecture on Islam in their land and we are not!! After all, Art, there are only three religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Fanaticism.
I am feeling fine and know there are millions of young Americans, having studied the sciences more than dialectics, who respond to facts and information and not to dialectic ideas from ivory towers. But we are too concerned with the poor victims of the holocausts to bother with opining. We leave that to the experts.
Love,
Samuel L. Lewis
Cc Cranston
Cc Burton
December 18, 1970
Dear Art,
I take an oath that I am in no sense an undercover agent, or anything like that, and I am not having you investigated.
Au contraire I am having as investigated. My birth records were lost, which is of course, unforgivable. My bills are being paid, which is also unforgivable. I have been a lot of places and done a lot of things which were actually far out in the awkward sense that the term “far out” used to mean in the English language before contemporary Americanese was discovered or uncovered.
Most of my life has been spent in Marin County or San Francisco. I am now under contract with a publisher who wants to print my biography because whatever my achievements—and believe me I have had them, the local press is too busy telling what the people are doing in super-Kanhangad or Okley Jokley Fokley, wherever that is, to record the unusual, especially when it comes from one of your neighbors (the two greatest tragedies resulting from the absolute refusal of the press and foreign office to accept eyewitness reports from persons I knew very well right in this vicinity).
It is wonderful. It is delightful. It is very truly? American. Anyhow, some of my young enterprising associates got a picture and article in the Chronicle and one of the Marin County newspapers has actually put my picture in it, not because I have written them, not because I have lived in Marin, but just because they found they were being left out.
Anyhow, I am going to stand or fall Sunday, and thus learn whether I have something solid in me or have been assuming and over-evaluating. I feel just like a football manager before a big game in which others are doing the playing.
Jack Anderson quotes from former President Kennedy, “It is not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Oh boy—!
Well, I am absolutely anti-administration and establishment. I believe in extending good-will to men, and not expecting it from them.
Love and Blessings,
Dec. 21, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
c/o San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, Ca. 94119
My dear Art,
I wish to thank you for your wonderful Christmas greeting. Ordinarily there would either be no answer or a reply out of courtesy—ordinarily. But there is one thing you will not find in my life and that is the ordinary—maybe the ornery but not the ordinary.
My friends and disciples put on a Dervish Bazaar in Sausalito. Despite the seemingly inclement weather the place was packed. Socially and financially it was such a success we have been asked to put on Bazaars seasonally, and we may well do this. I can say that I really believe the world is coming out of realism into reality, and I have no more fear about this country (it is not so long since God refused to destroy California when a lot of so-called seers said it was coming). Seers are not always correct, although they may often be famous—no connection.
We originally planned the Bazaar to help promote a peace program which I think I have sent you. Many serious people are also looking at it seriously, as I have long said vide Clemenceau, “War and peace are two things too serious to entrust to diplomats and generals.” Anyhow, my colleague, who has been in New York, will be leaving shortly for Israel, and while without expressing undue optimism, we do not believe that the majority of mankind wants wars merely to preserve some questionable status quo. For one thing, youth will not accept the hogwashes of their seniors who seem to assume that delightful phrases can solve real problems which endanger human welfare.
We are putting on a number of Dances and Pageants in commemoration of an upstart Yid, who refused to conform, and paid the penalty. We are even going to use his words, his words, not theological commentaries which have been substituted there for. We have seen no particular good in these substitutions, and now find the great majority of young people and a lot of, perhaps the majority of, the actual students and professors of the actual educational institutions of this land agree with this.
My first speech was to the point and follows what I used to write to you: “Kill them all, the Lord will know his own.” I do not believe any American has the right to protest against the misbehaviors of others concerning Vietnam until he himself has expressed his actual interest in the actual humanity that inhabits that most unfortunate land. I publicly attacked my protests on the part of anybody who has never listened to any Vietnamese himself. I hope you get the point.
Peace on earth with good will to man, not from them.
Love and Blessings,
Dec. 25, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
Saw Francisco, Calif.
Dear Art:
The Unsad Story of the Return of Timon of San Francisco (In Reverse)
Now we can release the whole thing, excepting of course for the psychics and sears who never accept real predictions which come out exactly, when they are from the wrong persons.
The preview came last week. While my chief secretary was pushing my program he was approached by Generalissimo of Semantics. Semantics is supposed to be an art and science which carries logic to its logical conclusions. According to the late Alfred Korzybski it should be super-logic, always demonstrable, and always having facts behind it. But the Generalissimo has improved even that.
The Generalissimo has a remarkable record of deflating and exposing all “pretenders,” and of course I am in the top rank of those. When my chief secretary told him he was studying Oriental philosophy, the Generalissimo declared: “My grandfather was an Oriental and a skeptic; therefore all Oriental philosophies are wrong.” (That is, according to the Generalissimo, who is the champion of champs, especially on keeping his own records.)
When he learned that Sam Lewis was teaching Oriental philosophy it was a little awkward because the previous occasions he has accepted articles on the “only in America” Oriental philosophies written by drunk and lechers who have great prestige—that is their books sell—but this was only the preview. Last Sunday, despite the inclement weather, we had such a wonderful Bazaar in Sausalito, attended by many hundreds of people and dollars—not only by people, but also by dollars. There are a lot of young people who have curious ideas that there are some real values in Oriental philosophies undiscovered by Generals and Generalissimos of Semantics. Indeed the affair was so successful we have been asked to repeat in May.
This was followed by a very successful Christmas party in Sausalito Wednesday night, and another in Corte Madera on Christmas Eve, and another in Novato tonight. It is quite evident that the young do not have particularly high regards for Generalissimos.
In the meanwhile we received a large advance payment for my auto-biography and stories, especially stories of the leaders of the various “liberty, democracy, humanity, and peasant-shut-up movements.” In addition to this, we have been approached by so many “peasants” who believe neither in Generals or Generalissimos, military, semantic, or otherwise. In fact, the young people don’t seem to wish to confirm and conform to religionists, humanists, ethical culture people, and all their “nice” elders who delight is being divided. The young seem to believe that in union there is not only strength, but wisdom and harmony. They see examples of it in science and technology, and they want to apply it to other aspects of life.
I think I received everything I wanted this year without even asking. It was truly marvelous.
It has been so evident to me for a long time—and I have written to you on it—that I night have a career something like that of that other Samuel, i.e. Samuel Morse. Well, everybody turned him down (just like me), and then he proved his worth, although he had to do this in the law courts. I did not wish to do this. Besides, I am getting paid to write stories about the high and mighty, who are so devoted to words that they can earn their livings exposing the worthlessness of words—which they do verbally.
At the same time we are working for actual peace, not verbal peace, not emotional peace. My representative has left for the Near East with my proposal. Now a lot of people want this. But it is nothing for me just to give them out. I have done this many times in the past and gotten exactly nowhere.
At the same time, it is evident that many groups of young people are seeking world peace, and unlike their elders are inviting this person to participate. They do not seem to accept the prerogative of a priori rejections which has so long been the standard procedure of the now-disappearing dominant groups. In fact, I have so many invitations now I do not know what to say at all, but at least the young people, unlike their rapidly disappearing elders, wish to hear what I have been trying to do, which is something more than the now-disappearing dominant liberty-democracy-humanity and peasant-shut-up groups—the divisors and the dividers.
So I am facing a new year with joy and hope, and can readily forgive the sins of persons who might have become my friends but at least didn’t have to become my enemies. Of course I am going to write up about them, unless…. I am being paid to do so. I think we can have a world without any more suppressions of what one might call the Judes-the obscure (vide Hardy). Those silly games are over, but if we are working for peace no can also overlook the short-comings of the now-disappearing dominants. And if we can’t have peace—at least we can have more good will to men and with men, and stop demanding it from them.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
Dec. 26, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
Dear Art:
Apparently Allah and Santa Clause have been in favor of Timon of San Francisco (in reverse). I am deliberately making copies of this. There are a lot of good people, and I mean really good people, who do not seem to be moved when a small person is offended. They think the small person should forgive and forget, not seeing that forgiveness and forgetting require greatness.
I know at this writing some of the people who will get copies aren’t taking me seriously, but I am exactly in the same position I was in many many years ago when a very important diplomat held out his hand and said “Mr. Lewis, I have been around the world three times; I have met every king and prime minister, and you are the first man to bring me what I want.” But we don’t work that way. We accept little people, ignorant or learned, to conform to others, and we do not obtain what we verbally pretend we want—that is peace in this world. It is a great game, and champions in this game are the very verbalists who think that they have found the secret of communication in not using words—that is, others shouldn’t use words. This is called communication. Frankly, I do not understand it at all.
The news from New York is marvelous. There are a number of peace groups who believe that my program, so admired by Gunnar Jarring, and so unadmired until recently, has the essence towards a stable peace in the Near East. A lot of young groups are now seeking me out.
My own conclusion is simple: all those who think they have a peace plan and deride other people are either fools or scoundrels, though they do not know it. You cannot have peace by overriding; you may be entirely in the right, but you cannot have peace by overriding, and this is something that so many important persons like the Generalissimo of Semantics cannot understand, and do not want to understand.
One of my great presents—I don’t know whether it is from Allah or Santa Claus—was to have a Vietnamese at my Christmas party. There are such persons you know, and some of them think they know what they want.
I have had the most marvelous gifts and considerations, and I mean to do something about them and with them.
My representative is now on the way to the Near East. I hope to hear more from him later.
I think there is nothing more diabolical and hypocritical then to verbalize peace on earth, good-will to men, and then act personally diametrically opposite. But I have no Ill-will concerning those who do that for they are helping me upstairs as even my best friends can’t.
Love and Blessings,
Dec. 27, 1970
Mr. Art Hoppe
San Francisco Chronicle
Dear Art:
Youths and Parties.
I don’t want to dig you; I want you to be very much alive. I think we should join not the old style admiration society but the new style mutual plagiarizing societies. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday—all parties. Rather unpatriotic, for with the finances up, I have been treated to some of the best dinners of my whole life and so there was no need to patronize the restaurant. Indeed, I see the possibilities of establishing our own—boy what dishes, and no recipes out of leading magazines.
My main difficulty came last Sunday. I wanted to speak on Jesus Christ. I looked into an audience and there were at least 100 young men with long hair, beards, and brilliant eyes. I almost couldn’t talk at all. And I am beginning to see more and more of them. I have no hope of convincing Billy Graham that Jesus may return in 10 million people, but it is possible that Saint Nicholas who occupies the White House may be won over.
On Wednesday night at Sausalito again I appeared as a wise man of the East. But how are you going to tell which of the 100 young man was most like Jesus. Personally, I believe Whitman’s America is coming into its own. (There is one point on which the Marxists and the meta-establishmentarians seem to agree and that is they don’t want any Whitman. But I think Allah and God are both for Whitman and that the future America is going to be as grand and glorious as orators proclaim, but not necessarily in the ways they proclaim.)
Isn’t this a grand introduction for a really happy new year?
Sam
San Francisco Chronicle
January 5, 1971
Dear S.A.M.:
Thank you so much for your letters. They have given me such continuing encouragement—knowing that, at least with you, there is some peace and good will in this world.
Love,
Art
Jan. 19, 1971
Dear Art,
This letter is not from S.A.M. Friday at 1pm he passed over to the other side. He had fallen down some stairs accidentally a couple of weeks before and his consciousness fluctuated after that time.
One Buddhist group has already conferred on him their highest title, roughly equivalent to “Saint.” But before everybody fits him into their concepts, no matter how high and holy they are, we can remember an irrepressible human being with a laughing heart.
His body will be buried on the mountain at Lama Foundation, God willing. Pir Vilayat Khan, head of the Sufi Order, will lead a Universal Worship Service at the Sausalito Art Center Wednesday evening 8pm.
As for his many young disciples, we will dance on his grave.
Love,
Wali Ali
San Francisco Chronicle
January 20, 1971
Dear Wali:
Thank you ever so much for your note about S.A.M. What gladdened my heart were your final words: “We will dance on his grave.” That’s so very lovely and so very much what I’m sure he would have wanted.
I hope, when the time comes, that someone will come to dance on mine.
Love and admiration,
Art
April 1, 1972
Dear Art,
Since our spicy friend Sam danced off the clackety clack of his typewriter no longer adorns my breakfast nor later year desk each day. This book is a first fruit of some of his writings with others to be offered someday soon, even perhaps many excerpts from his letters—unique no doubt, certainly prolific and irrepressible.
Not a cocktail party “holy man,” he was also holey and even wholly man.
Well Art, do you knew his Dances are spreading all over the Western world including Texas and Georgia and Holland? And some of his students are in Jerusalem, Hebron, Ramallah investigating the use and abuse of holy places.
People are dancing on his grave in the mountains of New Mexico, and what more could one want?
Love,
Wali Ali
April 13, 1972
Dear Wali Ali:
I can’t thank you enough for sending me Sam’s immortal words. The photos alone stirred the embers of joy that he left in us all.
I am deeply indebted.
Love,
Art
July 1, 1972
Dear Art,
When the democratic national committee offices were bugged and the bunglers caught, Pres. Nixon’s press secretary scoffed at any connection with the president. He said, “It would be foolish to associate the president with a third-rate botched up burglary,” or words to this effect. The implication is delightful if not pleasant and set me to thinking—a troublesome situation—until his annual news conference the other night which was enough to stop all mental processes.
The enclosed work is more material associated with the character you knew as Sam. There are plans in the mediate future to publish some of his mystical poetry; Omen press in Tucson is readying a book on his lectures on first Corinthians, and we have even been considering publishing excerpts from some of his letters. What do you think of that? Is it possible that a scamp who broke all the rules and didn’t blow when to shut up can find fame and fortune in the afterlife? There is a movie tool with all sorts of holy amen in it, and S.A.M. making an omelet and playing solitaire, etc.
More later.
love,
Wali Ali
July 5, 1972
Dear Wali Ali:
Thanks ever so much for sharing your delightful observations with me and for sending the fascinating booklet on spiritual dance and walk. I am studying it avidly.
Most gratefully,
Art
Feb. 20, 1973
Dear Art,
Greetings from beyond the grave.
You remember Sam wrote you a lot of letters about a movie being made of the holy man and spiritual revolution in the U.S., and somebody turned the camera in the wrong direction and shot a lot of stuff of our wise-cracking friend. Well here it is! And guess who turns out to be the star of the film? Well you see all the other holy men tend to sit on platforms and make profound remarks, but our friend Sam is filmed playing solitaire and watering the garden and making breakfast (and puns, which he tells the film-makers his friend Art Hoppe will love), and then he has the good dramatic sense to kick the basket right in the middle of the film!
So anyway now it’s being premiered here and I thought you might like to meet your old correspondent laughing and dancing from beyond the pale.
Will write letter. All love to you Art and keep laughing.
Wali Ali
February 23, 1973
Dear Wali Ali:
Thanks much for your note. I heard about the movie earlier in the week from Ralph Silver. I will try my very best to be there, as Sam always brings warm memories to mind.
Grateful1y,
Art
July 31, 1973
Dear Wali Ali:
Thank you for your subversive letter, which I have passed along to the SPCA. They will be sniffing at your trail shortly.
Gratefully,
Art
August 14, 1973
Dear Wali Ali:
Thanks so much for your letter. Obviously, we’ve been thinking alike.
Thank you also for the Sam Lewis book. I’m looking forward to getting into it.
Gratefully,
Art
October 1975
Dear Art,
This country is going to the dogs.
I don’t know anyone else to write, Art. Of course King Timahoe continues to keep his nose clean. But tell me honestly, would you buy a used car from him?
And now the priorities of the beef/meat shortage are coming out. While Americans, including all us members of the vegetarian party are having to struggle along on one steak, chicken or pig a day, the same is not true for our canine friends. Have you seen those ads by the leading pet food, Alpo? Really Art, it’s a crime if we don’t feed dogs 100% meat. Cereal! Agh. You could be punished by having your arm caught in an elevator door.
Am enclosing a copy of the latest book by Sam. These lectures retain a great deal of his own inimitable style, verve and nerve.
Love, ain’t it great,
Wali Ali
P.S. Please do not turn this letter over to the S.P.C.A. You think Auschwitz was bad, have you ever seen their gas chambers?
October 7, 1975
Dear Wali Ali:
Many thanks for the Samuel Lewis book. I shall treasure it, as I treasure the memory of his friendship.
Gratefully,
Art Hoppe