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The Odd Angles of Political Speech

Monday, February 4th, 2008

“What will it be, Rip: grim humor and satire or just plain grief?”

Regular readers know that Rip and I (that’s Rip van Winkle, a not-so-fictional character born about two hundred sixty years ago, skilled in time travel and handling the shock of ‘progress’) have been following the horse race for the White House, assessing the official handicaps the nags are carrying and those they are bequeathing to us serfs. Rip’s inclined to grim humor and even more inclined to don snow shoes, grab an axe and head off to the woods for some ice-fishing. Needing the fire and more enmeshed in the collapse of the American era, I tend to serious grieving which includes diagnosis and prescription.

We decide to compromise in terms of satire or grief, something we will not do on Super Duper Tuesday or in November ‘08. (more…)

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Rip Grieves About the Distraction Machine

Friday, January 18th, 2008

Hunkered by the fire within Rip’s highly mobile dream, lubricated with pain-killing cider, we have a preparedness mechanism of great value. Moving through many periods of time, I sit and doze while Rip explores previous and future lives of which there are many to choose.

Occasionally, when we’re both awake at the same time we peruse the process of the horse race, better known as the distraction machine or pre-op room. This cannot be done without painkillers like a fire (the TV is near the stove) and the aforementioned beverage.

Rip has been working with me on a policy statement for a Presidential candidate from any party that will identify the problems rotting out the Republic and propose specific repairs. It will be good but probably a little too late. In the meantime, after a field trip to the 1890s including a visit to the library of H.G. Wells, we’ve returned to virtual land in time for the latest mediated confection: (more…)

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An Anonymous Hero: the Hinge of King Lear

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

The two previous essays have discussed themes arising from the character, conflicts and challenges of the major figures in Shakespeare’s King Lear, mighty players in the affairs of state. But at the climax of the play it is an anonymous bit character, someone like most of us in the sweep of history’s defining events that steps forward and changes the plans and hopes of the mighty, good and evil both. All the plotting and conflicts of the last two acts would be very different without the choice he made, expressed and put into deeds.

Who was he, what did he say and do, why did he act as he did and what was his reward? (more…)

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Heroism and Service: King Lear, II

Friday, December 28th, 2007

Shakespeare’s King Lear (1606) examines essential human qualities, relationships, conflicts and beliefs; they show that freedom is a fact of life, that everyone is tested in ways that expose their character, capacity for growth and faith that “the wheel will come full circle.” They allude also to the perilous state of our culture and to the lengthy, often debased, but vital campaign for Presidency now entering its second year of posing and polls. Its tawdry qualities test our caring endurance and discernment as well as our capacity to work to make a miracle for this campaign may be the last in which citizens can take a major role and thus maintain their humanity. Consider it then an important frame of reference for studying King Lear.

Some people prove their words in deeds; fewer speak wisely, sensitively measuring their words, especially reproofs to strengthen friends and amend rather than enflame enemies, or potential enemies of what they hold dear. Those who grow toward heroism develop these abilities in a high degree, none more than Lear’s counselor, the Earl of Kent, a great man by many measures and as true a servant as a man can be. (more…)

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Challenge and Heroism: Part I

Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

“The human race is different from all other species since it was given free will and the ability to involve itself with both perfection and deficiency… Every individual has his own challenge…all the gratifications and sufferings of this world is what the Highest Wisdom finds best for the individual” [1].

This comment is as an apt motto for Shakespeare’s greatest works.

Rightly read and discussed, Shakespeare’s plays not only are masterful demonstrations of plot, character development and conflict, but of providence: of the fact that over time, choices by many kinds of people reveal hidden truths of their characters, of nature, the material and metaphysical realms; bring rewards and punishments “measure for measure.” The more our culture decays into toxic institutions and official truths, the more urgently therapeutic Shakespeare’s plays become. (more…)

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Can Any Candidate Stop the Perennial Policy?

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

Congressmen Ron Paul has won adherents by long resisting expanded Federal authority and the taxes that support it. Taxes are about power: lower taxes prevent the American people from being further reduced to peonage while their lives, labor and capital are seized to build the pyramid of their oppressors. For opposing this, more power to the Congressman and those like him. Starve the beast-regime of its food, the lives and money of citizens, and it will shrink to proper size. As it is now, “arrogance raps its hips with fat [arrogance], its eyes bulge with fat.” They pronounce platitudes about oppression “and their tongue struts on earth” (psalm 73:6-9). (more…)

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