[lit-ideas] Re: Fw: Alcibiades, Nicias & aerie philosophy

EY:

How would we know? I like that question. It's better than being sad.
Almost anything is better than being sad. Even anger. I'd rather be angry than sad. Angry at God, angry at Santa, angry at myself and everyone I love. Assholes!!!!! There I feel better. Sadness has its poignancy, don't get me wrong -- but I call it "autumn melancholy" then. Sadness just makes you sad, but autumn melancholy can make you feel more sensitive than you really are. "Gusty emotions on wet roads on autumn nights"* -- oh yeah, that's me to a T. Until I get bored. "Goddamn fucking wet leaves sticking to everything. Jesus Christ! just like goddamn fucking Republicans with their sticky fingers in the till!"** That's probably more me. I don't get bored with that. I think Lawrence and I are a lot alike. Except he's all wrong. I can see him walking his dogs in San Hyacinth (as JL would have it) and muttering to himself: "War, we need more war, war to make brave, honorable men of these sissy boys. Give me war, I want war, WE need war." I'm sure he enjoys his anger as much as I enjoy mine.
"How would we know?" Eric asks. Exactly. We don't even what we want: virgin whores, sensitive alpha males, sincere politicians, honest lawyers, caring doctors, cheap air conditioning repairmen, fun mathematicians -- face it: we want it all, and we want it now. Two store window signs from my Seattle days that are still with me: "For those who can't wait for instant gratification" and "I will always love the false impression I had of you." I will also always love being a human being -- even as I read about human beings burning other human beings to death over political disagreements. I doubt that I'll ever understand how that can be. Some people just take themselves toooooooo seriously. Bring on the clowns. Ya da dada dada ya da dada. 

*Wallace Stevens
**Mike Geary

Mike Geary
Mephirst
----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Yost" <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx> 
To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 11:06 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Fw: Alcibiades, Nicias & aerie philosophy



Mike: NO MORE  WAR.  Get it?
Yes, but to quote Steven Wright, "What did Jesus ever do for Santa Claus on his birthday?"
At first, this seems like a bumper sticker along the lines of "No More War!" Sweet but useless. Yet it makes us question our knowledge.
Maybe Jesus does help celebrate Santa's birthday. Maybe we aren't invited. All that wine, happy elves dancing with baby seals, lots of loaves and fishes, Mrs. Claus not having to cook for once, Santa getting expensive gifts from Wise Men, extra-bright and multicolored northern lights, Jesus giving Santa new red suits and better cushions for his sleigh. Maybe Jesus does the same for Mrs. Claus on her birthday, and each of the elves, and the reindeer. 

How would we know? Maybe we just weren't invited.
Then someone has to wonder why we weren't invited. Maybe they don't like us or don't consider us friends. A sad thought. Personally I think it was just a mistake and they forgot. Maybe the invitation just got lost in the mail. Didn't check the message machine. 

How would we know? I like that question. It's better than being sad.

Eric
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