A Baby In a Bulrush Basket (Michael's Term Paper)

Michael W. Rice
Peoples and Cultures of Africa
11/30/04

Story of the Blog

As WC Fields once ominously stated, “The times were full of peril and imminent danger.” This poignant quote rings true when I consider my ongoing academic endeavor. Today in African Cultures, as my fellow students retrieved their term papers from their backpacks I entered a state of what I can only describe as sheer panic. I followed suit, hoping against all odds that perhaps a term paper might have some how, some way, managed to find its way into the comfort of my North Face.

Perhaps it fell from a tree, the product of over achieving squirrels. Or perhaps the Ghost of Procrastinators Past paid me an early visit this Holiday season. After all, I thought, this is the season of perpetual hope. But alas, nothing to be found, unless I could somehow convince my Professor that a rotten banana, spider man key chain, twenty nine cents in loose chain, and some chewed gum can suffice as a term paper. Sigh.

So, tail between my legs, I went to his office after class, only to find he was in a terrible mood. I sheepishly presented my case, begged forgiveness, implored a second chance, but to no avail. After no consideration whatsoever, he stated, “No. That won’t work out Mr. Rice.” The way I see it, at times like these you have two options. Concede, take responsibility, and suffer the consequences. Or, act like an idiot and make a fool of yourself. For those of you who know me, I need not say more as to the decision I made.

I regrouped, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, concocted a more absurd strategy, and attacked once more. For those of you who know me, I don’t need to say this, but my argument grew more bizarre.

The argument went something like this: My term paper was like a baby in a bulrush basket floating gently down the river, and all great things and civilizations have begun with a Samaritan of sorts rescuing the baby from the river. If he Moses had not been saved, where would be? The Jews would remain in Egypt! Western Civilization as we know it would cease to exist!

It was there in that office, as I made my term paper analogous to the fate of Western Civilization that I realized… Well, my own absurdity I suppose. Somewhere out there in the land of television syndication, George Costanza was smiling.



How does the story end Michael you ask? Let’s just say John Gammon called me “The Silver Tongued Prince” for good reason. Now the question becomes, can I convince my teacher to accept this blog for my term paper.

Yours,
MW Rice