Chopstick Chatter

A Chinese lad was at table dawdling with his pork and rice. This upset his mama-san who reprimanded him in a trice! "Clean your plate! Children in America are starving, son!" And she continued to berate him - her tirade had only begun! "Your papa-san has a great job while dads in America are on the dole. Our economy is booming while that of America is lagging, on the whole! Papa makes good money to provide Americans with the things they need. You should be very thankful for the jobs they send here, yes indeed!" "Kids in America can't get a job even with a college education, But, son, America will provide you with a job in any old vocation! This is the land of opportunity, my boy, thanks to American capitalists! You must appreciate all they have done for us Chinese communists!" "Not so long ago your father and I didn't have a yuan to our name. Now we have a house and brand new car - life will never be the same! So I don't want to hear any of your sass or fiddling with your food. Thanks to the generous Americans, they have lifted our nation's mood!" "I want you to clean your plate and grow strong to follow in your dad's shoes. Uncle Sam needs you to make TVs and shirts or anything else they choose. No more lip! Clean your plate! I want to see those chopsticks flying! Think about the kids in America who'll got to bed tonight hungry and crying!" Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired © All Rights Reserved