Wednesday, February 12, 2014

The Savage



I recently shared midday meals and time with strangers during a training course near the Gulf coast in Texas that I attended for work. As the training involved a supposedly "universal" incident management program, there were individuals present from both government agencies and private industry.

On the second day, I shared lunch with one man, a trainer in operations with the army. He was stationed in the area. And soon I realized that neither of us were sitting at that table for any particular reason.

He had been in California, Louisiana, Kansas, New York. I had been in Louisiana, North Carolina -- these for birth and family, education and joy. To Texas came I for sustenance, which in this State (i.e. the U.S.A.), must come from money.

After lunch we sat in my car, waiting through the 2-hour period so irregular for us, perhaps not so for the others, who were public servants. Like me, one of his enjoyments is music in the Irish tradition. We both know of Julie Fowlis.

Yet as we sat and spoke of music -- and listened -- I could not dispel the feeling that neither of us were at all capable of interesting the other. Neither of us were at all capable of engagement, cordiality, connection.

"Yes, I know this artist you speak of. Do you know this one?" And a dry exchange ensues.

He had a humility and honesty about his eyes and speech, but perhaps the iciness of Statism or the gray sky or the cold unshakeable tool of capitalism that makes its will ever known to our fears came like a silent wave and shook our plastic & leather capsule til we were subdued and wanted escape -- not from the truth but from the reminder of the truth in a man's eyes, heart, tongue.

Here in Houston, we are all killers. On the roads, we are seldom hot and angry, just full metal coolness and murder. To every man a compensatory pick-up truck. But the object dissipates as we climb into our vehicles and the desire to inflict upon mad drivers the panic only comprehended as hatred overthrows the possibility of temporal despair. And we are all lost in the welling hell.

Once back to the plastic and leather capsule of our holes, we dive into the filtering shell that seems to be an outlet but really is a thief in saving us from saving harm.

And paradoxically, you should watch The Matrix and try with good will to see how we are hastening the loss of the human. And paradoxically I will write on, aware of the death clinging to my words unless you let them live.

I do not want the grace of doctrine. If my mind is free, but every act refutes its call to free my body, my mind is in chains.

I want not to be a slave. I do not want my fruit taken with assumed justice unless I see it's worth the price. And I cannot see it. And unlike God the United States of America merits no Mystery.

What is to become of us? What is to be done, my dear fellow slaves? Dare we raise our heads and cry to God the shame upon the heads of those who bend our noses to mirrors on the ground? Dare we cry shame upon our own heads as we bend them to the ground?

God save us and have mercy.

If I were not drawn with fear and harsh words saying I neglect responsibility, I would drop this sordid towel that mops the drops gushing from the staunched fountain. Death and love and freedom rather than ongoing.

God did not make these walls.

Will someone shoot you for saying "I am a man, and will forage for food. I am a woman, and will feed my child. I am a man, and will farm this land you leave wanton and fallow. I am a woman, and will tend this house you leave neglected"? Perhaps it is best to be shot.

Shots can not harm us as we walk through the fields, feeding a living act of God's love with grain on the Sabbath.

I would invite any and all to contemplate these shots and those rocks that come in through the window in Trois Couleurs: Rouge. See earlier post for viewing information.






3 comments:

  1. See also my comment to your "Love in the Cold" posting. I am getting the impression that you disdain the United States of America and capitalism. I am of the opinion that you have not spent any, or enough, energy studying American History, including the founding fathers. It seems that your judgements on the American society are exclusively based on only recent history. There is some "beauty", not perfection, in the discovery and founding of this nation, and it's people. It would be truthful to post essays on the beauty of this nation and its many beautiful people. We the remnant, virtue seeking Americans can, with your positive encouragement, rise up and overcome this growing statism, secularism, narcissism and soullessness!

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  2. I certainly agree with you that "virtue-seeking Americans can ... rise up and overcome this growing statism, secularism, narcissism, and soullessness!" It will take those who seek virtue to accomplish such a feat of manliness and valor, of womanliness and care.

    However, I cannot agree with you that only "essays on the beauty of this nation ... would be truthful." I think you agree that some of my statements are also truthful, which is why you have said that this "growing statism" must be overcome. Because they are truthful, to some degree, concerning the modern subjects that they address, I cannot see where you would see a reason to make a judgement about my study of American history.

    I would certainly welcome a comment that actively applied the founding principles of this nation to an analysis of its current status.

    As for capitalism, I am deeply and constantly suspicious of its spouses and of the roots of the idea. I may also be disdainful, but I am happy to discuss my reasons for suspicion with you if you desire.

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  3. I would like to see YOU clearly compare/contrast the founding principles of this nation with the current situation when you write a post.

    Also, it seems that you are forgetful of our commissioning by Christ to preach the good news, to baptize, to be the salt and the light in the world! I would love to read a post about how to be salt in this flavorlessness and light in this darkness.

    As far as for your disdain of capitalism, it is true that sin can distort all good things, and no economic system here on earth will ever be perfect. However, as long as the dignity of man is upheld and respected, regardless of his "productivity", capitalism is a far better option than communism or socialism have proven to be in human history. (See some encyclicals on Catholic Social Teaching: Laborem Exercens, Rerum Novarum, etc.)

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