Chapter 2816 The Final Question

"Thank you, kind sir! Thank you very much!"

Sally Hemings hugged the baby gratefully and tried to stand up and bow to Joanne.

Joan hurriedly stopped her from getting up, and accidentally found that the baby's complexion was obviously whiter than the mother's. She couldn't help being moved, and out of curiosity, she asked a casual question.

"Where is the father of the child?"

Sally Hemings froze for a moment, then quickly turned her face away, not daring to meet Joan's gaze, and replied vaguely: "I don't know either..."

Although she didn't want to reveal the identity of the child's father, she couldn't hide her heart from the "myth warning".

In an instant, a familiar name was conveyed from Miss Hemings' heart to Joan's mind, causing his expression to change slightly.

Yes, the child's father is white.

It is Miss Hemings' master, Joan's old principal, the respected Mr. Alexander Jefferson.

This astonishing fact confirmed a prediction made by Rebecca at the weekend party many years ago.

At that time, Joan was very disgusted with Rebecca's groundless suspicion, thinking that her unfounded suspicion was tantamount to slander, a manifestation of lack of rationality and logic.

Indeed, many of the predictions made by Rebecca lack conclusive evidence and rigorous reasoning, but she can always hit the nail on the head.

Looking back on the matter now, Joan feels that he who quarreled with Rebecca in order to protect Mr. Jefferson's reputation is just a smart clown!

The sound of footsteps from behind interrupted his thoughts.

Joan turned around and looked, her gaze pierced Mr. Jefferson's pale face like two invisible daggers.

All the past events from many years ago came to my mind at once. Looking back on the high-level theories of this person that I deeply admired and regarded as the standard, and comparing his actions, Joan felt more and more that this person's words and deeds were contradictory, very hypocritical, and filled with indignation. Make a question that comes out of your mouth!

"Mr. Jefferson, I used to idolize you when I was young, but look what you have done now?!"

"You once taught us that 'the tree of liberty must always be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants to grow evergreen', but as the chairman of the parliament yourself, how can you abandon your compatriots and become a deserter before the enemy arrives?"

"You once warned me, 'A person who does his own duty is not worthy of praise, otherwise it is tantamount to forgiveness of dereliction of duty', so how do you evaluate your dereliction of duty?"

"You preached 'all men are born free and equal', and inspired countless young people like me to devote themselves to the just cause of mankind, and to sacrifice their lives for freedom, but you yourself are a great slave owner!"

"In your writings you claim that 'Negroes are inherently less intelligent than whites', that 'mulattoism is a biological farce that violates the true distinctions nature has already made', and that you declare the prospect of interracial marriage to be dire and dismiss it as An important reason why it is difficult to end slavery, but why did you commit adultery with your own black maid, Miss Sally Hemings, and gave birth to an illegitimate child?!"

"You have said countless high-sounding words in public, and you have dressed yourself up as a sanctimonious saint, but you have done so many inconsistencies in private, which are disgusting. Isn't this a hypocrite?!"

Faced with the angry reprimands from the former students, Alexander Jefferson's face turned green and pale, and he was very embarrassed. It took a long time before he made a shameless but very honest defense for himself in a tone that was almost self-defeating.

"Son, you can't accuse me like that... It's true that I've done a lot of things wrong, but so what?"

"Who can not make mistakes in this life?"

"What's wrong with me?"

"I just said what I believed at that time at every stage of my life, what do you want from me?"

"I did nothing wrong!"

"Just said what I believed at the time at every stage of my life" so there's nothing wrong with it?

Mr. Jefferson's shameless self-defense reminded Joan of the topic he had talked with His Majesty Roland in the Far Eastern court this winter.

The philosopher Mr. S also expressed a view similar to Alexander Jefferson in a speech, but Mr. S not only encouraged his students to believe in the choices made at the moment, but also emphasized that everyone should make every decision for themselves. Choose to be responsible.

The philosophies of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. S have the same beginning, but they have embarked on different paths. The difference is that Mr. S believes that "responsibility" and "freedom" are inseparable, while Mr. Jefferson only wants to enjoy the convenience brought by freedom. , but do not have the courage to bear the price of freedom - that is, "responsibility."

And when Mr. Jefferson tried to avoid responsibility, he began to lie, and had to invent more and more elaborate lies to cover up the lies, until his life was surrounded by endless lies, and even himself was made up by himself. Blinded by lies to the point of sincerely thinking that he "just said what he believed at the time at every stage of his life" and that "nothing was wrong".

Comparing Alexander Jefferson's words and deeds in his life, it will naturally outline a textbook-like portrait of a "hypocrite".

What is even more sad is that there are still countless young people in this world who have not yet seen the true face of Jefferson. They fell in love with their homes just because they were moved by his saying "all men are born free and equal", and worship him like a god and idol—— Like the old Joan.

Thinking of this, the young mage felt desolate and funny, shook his head wordlessly, turned around and left.

At this time, a call came from behind, and Mr. Jefferson, with a dejected face, trotted to catch up.

Qiao An stopped and turned around, looking coldly at this man who had fallen from the idol altar, to see what hypocrisy he could say.

"Joan... There is something I can't let go of, I don't know if I should ask."

"Speak straight."

"I remember when you left Leiden College, you told me to find the answer to a question, the answer to the meaning of life, child, I know you look down on me, and I don't deserve your respect, but I am really Wondering... after all these years, have you found the answer to that question?"

After hearing this, Joan felt his nose sore for no reason.

Looking at the haggard and earnest face opposite again, the young mage sighed softly, all the resentment in his heart dissipated.

What is the meaning of life?

"Mr. Principal, regarding this question, I dare not say that I have found the ultimate answer. I only have a preliminary conclusion."

Joan looked up at the night sky to keep the tears from slipping out of his eyes.

"In my opinion...the meaning of life may lie in the courage to bear the meaninglessness of life."

(end of this volume)