Your description of inciting F.E.A.R. reminds me a lot of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. He was known at the time as a social gadfly. Let me post a definition of “social gadfly” from the Internet: “A social gadfly is a person who interferes with the status quo of a society or community by posing novel, potently upsetting questions, usually directed at authorities.” Socrates would ask these sorts of upsetting questions in a public venue. When his opponents couldn’t answer them, at least in any consistent or intelligent way, they were publically embarrassed and exposed on the spot as hypocritical. He would often ask his interlocutors about the meaning of core values. For example, he would ask high government officials what it means to be pious or loving or just. (At least, this is the way Socrates is portrayed in the famous Socratic dialogues.) You can imagine how that might go over with hypocritical individuals who are in truth out for individual gain, not the correct moral answer. Socrates was eventually executed for being so disruptive. Asking tough questions and reasoning thoroughly can be a very powerful tool indeed—one that often frightens those who are immorally self-interested.
Jesus was also a social gadfly. He would commune with those society marginalized, such as the lepers, prostitutes, and tax collectors. In Jewish society at the time, sharing a meal with such individuals would be considered unbecoming, if not outright immoral. That’s why it was a big deal when Jesus would talk and eat with these individuals. Jesus would also offer novel instruction. He would teach with authority, in a way that challenged the traditional teachers. You can imagine how upsetting this might be for the traditional teachers, especially since Jesus was from Nazareth, which at the time was considered a backwater nothing. Like Socrates, Jesus was also executed young. As you said, “a martyr does not usually ever get to grow a gray-beard”. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
It’s good to hear back from you! I am humbled by your praise. I do try to understand others, though not always (or even often) with accurate results. I stand to learn much more about understanding others. As long as I’m imperfect in this respect, there’s something to work on. I remember coming across a book titled “How to Read a Book”. It was written by Mortimer Adler. I briefly flipped through the book. It seemed very interesting, at least at first glance, showing me there is much more I can learn about digesting written works. Since humans are (usually) much more complex than the words they write, there is much more for me to learn about understanding others.
Yes, keep projecting those aesthetic blessings! It means so much to know someone is calling out to you, or perhaps transmitting you signals through the “noosphere”. Some individuals feel like musical or artistic ideas strike them out of the blue. Perhaps they’re getting some of your aesthetic blessings? I know I certainly am profiting from your aesthetic transmissions. You might even say they’re inspiring me, in a way, as I write this letter!
I like your Latin phrase. I took Latin for several years in middle and high school. I have fond memories of the classes, because my teachers were so intelligent and inspiring. They taught me the value of loving a particular thing, in this case Latin, even when many others think it is stupid or uncool or unprofitable or a waste of time and resources. Some of the Latin poetry we read is truly beautiful. Because it is very easy to rhyme in Latin, poetry in that language had to rely on subtle literary techniques other than rhyming at the end of a line. The best Latin poets could improvise a poem about their current circumstances. It reminds me a lot of off-the-dome freestyle in modern day rapping!
Though I can not relate to Foster the Children, it hit me in a place that felt like I went through this. Your profile grabbed my attention, and your writing intrigues me. Please keep wring Roland.
inmates in the state are currently awaiting execution while the vast majority of the 700+ are in their post-conviction review process (appeal) in the state and federal courts. A process in which usually takes 25 years or more before a death sentence is either vacated or affirmed at i
What a blunt poem on toxic relationships. Sometimes it really needs to be said for people to see the ugly truth of the angry and manipulative. Thanks for that.
I read Brave New World when I was younger, and I really loved it. It had a lot of ideas about our possible future, and a lot of valid points about our current society that I thought were very thought provoking.
RSS
Jesus was also a social gadfly. He would commune with those society marginalized, such as the lepers, prostitutes, and tax collectors. In Jewish society at the time, sharing a meal with such individuals would be considered unbecoming, if not outright immoral. That’s why it was a big deal when Jesus would talk and eat with these individuals. Jesus would also offer novel instruction. He would teach with authority, in a way that challenged the traditional teachers. You can imagine how upsetting this might be for the traditional teachers, especially since Jesus was from Nazareth, which at the time was considered a backwater nothing. Like Socrates, Jesus was also executed young. As you said, “a martyr does not usually ever get to grow a gray-beard”. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
It’s good to hear back from you! I am humbled by your praise. I do try to understand others, though not always (or even often) with accurate results. I stand to learn much more about understanding others. As long as I’m imperfect in this respect, there’s something to work on. I remember coming across a book titled “How to Read a Book”. It was written by Mortimer Adler. I briefly flipped through the book. It seemed very interesting, at least at first glance, showing me there is much more I can learn about digesting written works. Since humans are (usually) much more complex than the words they write, there is much more for me to learn about understanding others.
Yes, keep projecting those aesthetic blessings! It means so much to know someone is calling out to you, or perhaps transmitting you signals through the “noosphere”. Some individuals feel like musical or artistic ideas strike them out of the blue. Perhaps they’re getting some of your aesthetic blessings? I know I certainly am profiting from your aesthetic transmissions. You might even say they’re inspiring me, in a way, as I write this letter!
I like your Latin phrase. I took Latin for several years in middle and high school. I have fond memories of the classes, because my teachers were so intelligent and inspiring. They taught me the value of loving a particular thing, in this case Latin, even when many others think it is stupid or uncool or unprofitable or a waste of time and resources. Some of the Latin poetry we read is truly beautiful. Because it is very easy to rhyme in Latin, poetry in that language had to rely on subtle literary techniques other than rhyming at the end of a line. The best Latin poets could improvise a poem about their current circumstances. It reminds me a lot of off-the-dome freestyle in modern day rapping!