dibs

    6/10/1999

     It is my belief that we all know Dibs. The success that Dibs found socially and academically after his therapy leads me to believe that has found, or will find, his way into the public's eye. With the combination of raw cognitive power, impressive courage, and desire to help people that he portrayed in himself, I bet that Dibs is someone popularly prominent in our society.

     I put a lot of thought into who he might be. I played with several ideas:
1. George W. Bush - he most likely came from a ritzy sort of family who would have been embarrassed of him early on. However, the presence of his elder brother was not consistent with the story, and I think that that is one part of the story that would not have been changed because Dibs' having only one sibling, a younger female sibling, would have been an important variable that would need to be portrayed accurately. Also, I would expect that Dibs would not be able to flourish in the stiff confines of national Republican beuracracy.
2. Ian Anderson, of the rock band Jethro Tull - he has a lot of interest, obviously, in music just as Dibs did. But, he did not get involved in playing music until his early 20's. He moves naturally to the music with rhythm and grace, but in a manner that is less than orthodox, just as Dibs might. However, if Dibs was 15 in 1946, then Ian would be too old as he is in his 60's.
3. One of the Village People - again I was thinking of Dibs attraction to music. But, the Village People were also a light, happy style of music with easy melodies and simple choruses, as Dibs might like.
But, then I realized who Dibs was: 4. John Hagelin, of the Natural Law Party - he was nominated for President in 1996. Although I don't remember anything about his family background, I'm pretty sure he matches the age bracket Dibs would be in. In true Dibs style, he was a registered genius, and his platform with the Natural Law Party was based on helping people through conservation. You might even call him a tree hugger, not unlike Dibs. And, although he is a politician, he is also a scientist which would nicely blend the affects of Dibs father's influence on him and Dibs' own desire to be altruistic.

      I think that Dibs dealt with the developmental through therapy better than many people do in the course of their lives. By the Epilogue Dibs was entirely and perfect functional and perfect. The Author's Notes shows, through the letter to the Principal, Dibs' courage continue at least to his teenage years and showed signs that it would continue. I also think that it is very likely that someday Virginia Axline will be allowed to break her vow of silence and that John Hagan is indeed the "Dibs" that so many students have read about.

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