We live in a world dominated by electronics.
Examples abound, among them doors opening and
closing automatically, which brings me to my subject of
recalling how, when I was a kid, ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES was such an exciting and imaginative tale that fascinated me.
It was my fantasy that I, too, could have a magic genie that obeyed my command to open and close a door as he did in the tale where
he discovered the treasure laden cave of the thieves.
They’d shout, OPEN SESAME, and magically the door opened.
CLOSE SESAME, and the door would close.
The tales were fhe ARABIAN NIGHTS where a clever wife doomed to die if she didn’t hold the caliph’s interest told him a thousand and one tales and thus saved her life.
Among other tales included flying carpets and the fabulous land of Persia with its jewel castles and dancing maidens.
But as a former school librarian, it saddens me kids are no longer amazed nor attracted to tales such as Ali Baba’s.
What is the magic of those when jet planes have taken the place of flying carpets and a mere flick of a button opens the garage doors of the garages of ordinary houses without saying, “Open Seasame” or “Close Sesame?”
