Thursday, March 4, 2010

Happy belated birthday Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)


This week the beloved children's author turned would have been 106. While some parts of his life are controversial, and some of his books simply silly (but great of course) he did have some amazing things to say, and phrased them so simply that a five year old can get the idea, now that is a skill. Anywho, here are two of my favorites in the category of 'social issues'

From Horton Hears a Who:
And that Yopp
That one small, extra
Yopp put it over!
Finally, at last! From that speck on that clover
Their voices were heard! They rang out clear and clean.
And the elephant smiled. “Do you see what I mean
?…
They’ve proved they ARE persons, no matter how small.
And their whole world was saved by the smallest of All!”

From the Lorax:

[reacting to the Once-ler making a "thneed" from a tree he cut down]
The Lorax: I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. And I'm asking you sir, at the top of my lungs - that thing! That horrible thing that I see! What's that thing you've made out of my truffula tree?
The Once-ler: Look, Lorax, calm down. There's no cause for alarm. I chopped just one tree, I'm doing no harm. This thing is most useful! This thing is a "thneed." A theed, a fine something-that-all-people-need! It's a shirt. It's a sock. It's a glove! It's a hat! But it has other uses, yes, far beyond that. You can use it for carpets, for pillows, for sheets, for curtains! Or covers for bicycle seats!
The Lorax: Sir, you're crazy. You're crazy with greed. There's no one on earth who will buy that fool thneed!
[a man drives by, buys the thneed and pays the Once-ler]
The Once-ler: The birth of an industry, you poor, stupid guy! You telling me what the public will buy?

I also posted these on facebook and encourage you all to add some of your favorites.



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