All across the planet, from Portland, Maine to Timbuktu, people joined the Zoom meeting, the hugest one ever held.
Interpreters were standing by to make sure everyone could understand whoever was speaking, no matter what language. Robot translators were ready.
But for some reason, no one spoke. Everyone simply looked at the cascading faces on their computer screens. Those observing on their smart phones needed good vision to see the thousands of tiny faces staring back at them.
People waited until some brave soul would speak up first.
A man from China spoke.
He told the millions of Zoom participants that he and his family were going to celebrate his daughter’s birthday, which was on June 4th. He got polite applause. He seemed like a simple-minded fellow.
Then, someone in a gray uniform approached him from behind and dragged him from his chair. He was whisked away.
One of the robot translators explained that the man should have known that June 4th could not be spoken in China. It was the date of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
This seemed to put a damper on the Zoom audience until a little Chinese girl sitting on her mother’s lap said, “Mommy gave me a Winnie the Pooh doll for my birthday.”
A few moments later, both she and her mother were grabbed by two soldiers and escorted from the room.
Again, one of the robot translators explained that it was forbidden to say or write “Winnie the Pooh” in China because Chairman Xi had been compared to that cute little bear.
One of the moderators on this international Zoom meeting encouraged participants from other regions of the world to join in.
Finally, on young man from Hong Kong raised his hand.
Zoom participants waited for him to speak.
But instead of speaking, he held up a blank sheet of paper, not saying a word.
In moments, he was approached by two men, charging into his room. One of the men ripped the black sheet from his hands, and the other man escorted the young man out.
As on cue, a robot translator explained that holding up a black sheet of paper in Hong Kong was now considered a sign of protest and therefore was banned.
Yet even in the freer parts of the world, no one spoke up. Even though words weren’t exactly banned in their countries, they could be labeled right-wingers, or Trumpers, or left-wingers, or who knows whaters.
Safer by far to keep silent.
Finally, the smiling face of Chairman Xi filled the screen.
A sigh of relief filled the Zoomasphere.
He really did look like Winnie the Pooh.
