Once upon a time, a wealthy landowner who had a stable of slaves invited his friends to a party. He had the slaves trim out his grand mansion with many types of decorations. People came dressed in their most splendid for the occasion.
The tables were stuffed with delectable foods, and bottle after bottle of wine from the vineyards flowed freely. The day eventually gave way to evening, and drunkenly, one of the guests brazenly asked if the slaves busying themselves with tasks were well taken care off.
“Of course they’re well taken care off!” scoffed the host darkly, adopting an indignant air. He was about to further admonish this guest for daring to question the way he ran his household, but being the ever diplomatic politician that he was known to be, quickly decided upon a more tactful approach.
“How would they”, he began by pointing his finger at one of the nearby slaves, and continuing, “be able to appreciate the finer things in life the way we do?! By their very nature they are not created to be our equals!”
The drunken guest fell silent, and a small crowd dispensed with their conversations to listen.
The host with many eyes upon him, now inspired, swelled up his chest, and continued. “Sir, you forget there is an order to things in our world! But, just as nothing is fair in the natural world, then it also naturally follows that nothing has to be fair in the world of humans! But all the same, we do not operate on the same level animals do. Our particular species is far and ahead above the animal kingdom. We operate on a higher level, one that has its sight on higher principles. We must see ourselves as good stewards instead, and reach out a helping hand to our fellow man. We must aid in taking care of the less fortunate for they cannot aid themselves.”
And so it goes...
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4 comments:
. . . ad infinitum . . .
. . . and ad nauseum.
I was watching a Francis Bacon film the other day, and though he painted some of the darkest, psychological portraits in the history of painting, he also said he was a great optimist.
Well, that's interesting.
I was talking with a friend on the phone yesterday. Her partner just broke up with her, after finding another lover. She was expressing a lot of anger. I got off the phone feeling sort of deadened.
Today I have an email from her, saying a lot of what she said was "mad." I wrote back that anger is necessary and natural.
There wouldn't be any shadows if it weren't for light. We just have to keep looking for the light, and opening the chinks wider. I always like to see your paintings at the same time that I read your posts here. There is something Bacon-ish about the juxtaposition. And my goodness, your "Orange and Blue" is enough to give anyone hope, day after bloody day.
Ruth,I can appreciate your analogy of light and dark references and all the involved emotions in describing your unfortunate friend's recent breakup.
Sorry to hear it. Been there too. Doesn't feel good, actually feels like shit come to think of it. However, it did help me in becoming a stronger individual, as it will in time for your friend. I think that's the silver lining to that kind of ordeal - the 'light' side when you uncover a stronger you.
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