heart of culture found
in the hero – who is that
man who is revered
Based on a line written by Cormac McCarthy.
The complete line is:
The heart of any culture is to be found in the nature of the hero.
Who is that man who is revered?
In the western world it is the man of God.
From Moses to Christ.
The prophet.
The penitent.
For today, let me focus on just the line, Who is that man who is revered?, and consider how that has changed, say in the time, the years since 2016.
I don’t think I have to say much in the way of commentary about the time before and the time since 2016 and Who is that man who is revered? and the sad state of culture in the United States of America.
Consider the hero in literature.
Seems to me that a culture looked to the hero to protect them, to nurture them, to be, well, a hero in their eyes.
A hero would not exploit the fears of a culture to secure their place.
There are other words to describe those who exploit fear.
And it ain’t hero and they ain’t revered by history.
While this percolates, let me suggest another way to consider this.
What if we changed the line to:
The heart of any culture is to be found in the nature of its possessions.
What is that item that is revered?
What is that item that is revered above all others?
Not asking personally, but as a view on culture, American culture.
What is that item that is revered?
I think there is one answer.
And I think it is a possession built up on fear.
And I have to ask, when did we all get so scared.
On the first Christmas of World War 2, in his Christmas Day speech, George VI quoted from the poem, The Gate of the Year by Minnie Louise Haskins, saying: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
Hand of God … or a weapon.
What is that item that is revered?
No Haiku For You 