Joy Meets Churl

Mercurial Times ^ | January 14, 2002 | AnnaZ

[Mercuria]

A dear acquaintance of mine is an employee at one of the tonier eateries here in the greater Los Angeles area. He's a hard and cheerful worker. He was recently reprimanded, a rare occurrence in his over two years of employment.

As a customer was leaving after having had lunch my pal called out, "Have a great day!", with sincerity, and within the owner's earshot. The owner quickly spun around and said, "Darling, you have no right to tell someone what kind of day they should have." The term of endearment did nothing to melt the ice of the delivery.

One of my closest friends recently gave birth to her fourth bundle of joy. Her last month of maternity was filled with the drama of several false labors, embarrassing to such a pro, though quite amusing to her family and friends. As she went in for a checkup just before her due date, her husband -- as in supporter of her and the first three babes and payer of the monthly insurance bill -- called the hospital and asked that he be notified if they were going to consider inducing the birth.

When she arrived for the appointment she found herself being treated rather rudely, dismissively. When the doctor walked into her curtained-off-cubicle his first words were, "It's your body, you know. You can make any decisions you want on your own." She had no idea what he was talking about, but his disdain failed to dissipate and by the time she walked out to her car she was in tears.

A week later the baby was born, healthy, hearty and handsome, a genuine gem amidst the generic of the modern-day maternity ward. As my friend was checking out she said to the head nurse, "Why is it that this is labor and delivery, but it looks like a prison? Pastel paint can't cost more than gray, but it's much more cheerful."

"Not all women keep their babies," replied the nurse. But her tone was saying, "Duh!"

By now most people know about the homage to political correctness the New York Fire Department and assorted groups are planning on raising in commemoration of the sacrifices made at the World Trade Center on September the 11th. They're commissioning a sculpture based on the world famous photograph of three firefighters raising the American flag over the rubble that ruinous day, but in a paean to relativism over reality, the faces (and bodies!?) of the actual actualizers have been retooled to reflect a more diverse display. The flag, the former focus, is an afterthought.

It is now an Ode to The Outcry; The Outcry That Almost Wasn't. The clay model was unveiled several weeks ago, on December the 20th to be exact, to all the mush that is the mainstream media. The revision wasn't worthy of mention then. No, once again, it took individuals to fuss and fret and foment at the fabrication. Now it's news. But only because The People made it so.

The three men who raised that flag -- Dan McWilliams, George Johnson and Billy Eisengrein -- probably didn't set out to become global symbols that day. They look like three ordinary guys who needed to be inspired; yet they ended up inspiring millions. No, they weren't perfectly sinewed, they weren't a rainbow coalition, they didn't look like stereotypical heroes, but few true heroes ever do. But they were who they were, they did what they did, and they deserve recognition in whatever permanent position their actions eventually inspire.

But like the cheer of a person paid to greet and bid adieu, or the bliss of a new mother, let not their simple happiness be sustained, lest it be contagious or, worse, lest it remind someone else that it is not their own personal delight.

Henry Miller, in Sexus, put it so much better (yes, it seems someone almost always already has):

Tears are easier to put up with than joy. Joy is destructive: it makes others uncomfortable. 'Weep and you will weep alone.' What a lie that is! Weep and you will find a million crocodiles to weep with you. The world is forever weeping. The world is drenched in tears... But joy, joy is a kind of ecstatic bleeding, a disgraceful sort of supercontentment which overflows from every pore of your being. You cannot make people joyous just by being joyous yourself. Joy has to be generated by oneself. It is or it isn't. Joy is founded on something too profound to be understood or communicated. To be joyous is to be a madman in a world of sad ghosts.

Have whatever kind of day you wish.

Mercurial Times exclusive commentary. Reprints must credit the author and Mercurial Times.

[Jefferson Adams]

And PS - I noticed the tummy tucks on the PC version as well. Good catch on the smaller flag.

Diversity = Racism With Shiny Paint

[AnnaZ]

I love it! Gotta remember that one...

 

Good. Because I actually owed you one...

 

 

"Your ridiculous little opinion has been noted."

 

(((swipe!)))

[Dust in the Wind]

I'm glad you didn't take offence at my reply to you AnnaZ. Sometimes this peasant can seem churlish beyond redemption, but it's probably just tactlessness. There are times I will go for days with no contact with another person and loose some of my ability to be sensitive to others positions. This particular day it has been only three days past an actual face to face. Several on the phone and here on FR though, with thankfulness that JR has given us this forum and I can call my legislature's offices and speak freely.

Here is a link that may give some joy when clicked on ;^)

ONLINE PETITION: Depict the WTC Flag Raising as it Actually Occurred!

[AnnaZ]

That E.B. White quote is AWESOME!! It perfectly captures my daily dilemma. I'm printing it up.

 

I may be occasionally mocked for my "creme-filled-center-swimming", but otherwise I'd never enjoy myself.

[AnnaZ]

Diversity also = making race a non-issue unless it's not an issue in which case we'll make it one

[AnnaZ]

No offense. Ever. (That would be being overly sensitive.) Besides I totally agree with you.

 

See my #67  (which was, BTW, an EXCELLENT year.)

[Dust in the Wind]

If the excellent year was in reference to '67 I could concur. That would be the year I learned to dance outside the box (square dancing to rock-n-roll and even waltz type slow stuff:^).

"She knows love goes,
only to return
in a new heart . . .
The scent of apples fill the air . . .
"When Summers Ended"

Is this the Morrissey you were referencing? I couldn't find that title here

Bill Morrissey Discography

Thanks for it BTW, I'd never heard this artist before.

[AnnaZ]

Well, for me, '67 was the year I was born. And, no, I actually meant Morrissey, the ex-The Smiths singer who went solo.

 

;^)

[LiberteeBell]

Thank you for the ping and the essay. Excellent as usual.

[SusanUSA]

To be joyous is to be a madman in a world of sad ghosts.

What an excellent quote! Thank you for another great essay. And for the pings. I'm sure you've seen and signed Jeff head's petition calling for the honor of the truth to be upheld in the NY commemoration statue, right? :-) Over 10,000 signatures and counting. Yiippeeee!!

My theory, for what it's worth...
When God is generally and aggressively cast out of society, then the joy that reminds us of His reflected glory is shunned, as well.

(Hey, I just got a great idea for my profile page. *L*)

I hope ya'll have a stellar day!!

[Jefferson Adams]

LOL - yeah, I don't remember where that "ridiculous little opinion" thingie came from, but it sure looks good in a 72 point font in a frame :)

[Mercuria]

P.C. WHIP...sugary, creamy, oh-so-smooth, a perfect accompaniment for fruitcakes...4 out of 5 dentists who make money off of tooth rot SWEAR by this stuff...

[Dust in the Wind]

Well, young lady;

Is It Really So Strange?
that
This Charming Man
just wanted to
Reel Around The Fountain
with a
Wonderful Woman.
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
because I may have made that
Girl Afraid
and
Frankly Mr Shankly
I'll
Stretch Out And Wait
to read
What She Said
cause she shows she's got a
Groovy Kind of Love
when she writes to us that
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Like the
Purple Haze
that gave rise to it's
Miserable Lie's
I'm going
Nowhere Fast
being told
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore.
I've been told I ain't no
Shakespeare's Sister
but I may be a
Handsome Devil,
so won't you help this
Sweet And Tender Hooligan
get what he wants . . .
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.
And that is that everyone should know that
Barbarism Begins At Home!!!

See what you started hahaha. I think I found the right discography this time. Good sound here, Thanks.
I reeeeeally need to get back "On the Road Again"! ;^)

[Dust in the Wind]

Beutiful picture,
WONDERFUL WORDS.

[AnnaZ]

LOL!!!

 

Well, whip out your winmx "theft device" and get Suedehead and Every Day Is Like Sunday. My FAVES!

[AnnaZ]

When God is generally and aggressively cast out of society, then the joy that reminds us of His reflected glory is shunned, as well.

 

Askel, quick, your Divinity of Beauty link, PLEASE!

[Beep]

I used to do that all the time with song titles when I was in 8th grade!! (Not that I'm saying that it's juvenile, at all -- I was just wayyyyy ahead of myself! *G*) It's fun, though, isn't it? Especially when you can do that instead of listening to a big ol' redneck trying to explain Sociology to you! LOL!!

[Beep]

Wow -- we're opposites except for the "Feeling" trait! I wouldn't have guessed that in a bazillion years!! Ah well, I still loves ya!! *G* (I hope you still loves me too?! *sniff* *snuffle*)

;-}

[Beep]

I'm glad you like! It captured me perfectly as well!! I am often accused of being naive, when it isn't my naivite that propels me, but rather a picture of an ideal to strive for! (Is that a bad thing?? I don't see why!)

Huggers to ya!

[Beep]

Presactly!! Although I would hope that any female with a soul would suffer profoundly for years afterward after making such a decision! Mind you, I'm not being a judgmental wench when I say that. They should be made aware of the fact that they most likely will suffer profoundly should they choose to go ahead with their decision to abort. Youngsters are not equipped to make decisions like that, which is all the more reason to abstain, or at least use birth control! (If they're not practicing Catholics, regarding the latter!!)