Sunday, May 27, 2012

Puck on... Politics pt. 1


I must admit I have wanted to discuss this topic with you for some time, but something told me you weren’t quite ready for it.

Why?

I didn’t think you were quite ready to accept what I had to say.  I dare say it might come as something of a shock.

I wouldn’t think you would care about what shocked me.

True, very true.  But I do so hate to repeat myself.  And I would prefer you were in a more, shall we say, “receptive” position.  More ready to accept what you really ought to.

What changed your mind?

When are you ever “ready” for anything?

Nevertheless, we soldier on.  I do hope you can keep up.

I’ll try.

Good boy.  Now, politics.  That delicious little topic.  I doubt it surprises you to find that I’m involved in that.

Not at all.

Do I detect a hint of bitterness there?  Nevermind.  That should come as no shock whatsoever.  But we are not here to discuss how I and my kind act politically, but how you do.

Me?

You and your kind.  Because that’s where the really thorn of the issue lies.  Oh, we can talk about laws and parties and scandal and corruption and its all well within my field, no argument there.  But what about you.  Are you so removed from all that?

Is this about governmental politics or church politics?

All in good time, child.  Let’s start with the obvious.  You count yourselves very lucky to live where you do, in a nation that allows you some semblance of participation, of citizenship.  If you lived in a monarchy we wouldn’t be having this conversation.  Of course, there would be a lot of other fun things to talk about, like beheadings.  But no, democracy, (or republicanism I suppose, but it’s all just words), that’s the name of the game.  Now, we could talk about how little you exercise this ability, but that’s really beside the point.  This is a government by the people as much as it is for it.  You have control.  But the question is how do you use that control?  Not just the citizenry a large, but your kind.

It is very important how we conduct ourselves politically.

Yes, it is.  Only you’re missing an important point.  How you conduct yourselves politically reflects heavily on you.  The fact that you conduct yourselves politically at all reflects even more.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Puck on... Trust


You tell the truth?

Does that surprise you?

Yes.

That’s to be expected.  I can’t say it shouldn’t.  Indeed, you are correct, lies are my native tongue.  But I’m a polyglot.  Yes, lies are my language, but I think you’ll find I speak truth quite fluently.

But can you be trusted?

Oh my boy, you can trust everything I say.

That doesn’t mean I should.

You’re getting better at this. I’ll have to step up my game.

Still, I think you’ll find much of what I have to say of value.  After all, consider my existence.  I have seen time and space rolled out like a curtain.  I have watched your world spin through the black reaches since time immemorial.  I have seen your race since it’s infancy, witnessed history unfold for countless ages.  I have watched the births, lives and deaths of so many men you could not imagine the number.

Solomon said, “there is nothing new under the sun.”  And how long did he live?  One man.  What could his experiences be compared to mine?

So, admittedly, I might not be the most decent of sources, but can you really pass up the opportunity?  That is why you’re here, after all, isn’t it?

I suppose it is.

So, are you willing to take the chance?

I guess I am.

Splendid.  I must reiterate, how much I have personally enjoyed our conversations.  And just as a show of good “faith”, why don’t I enlighten you on a subject most pertinent and educational.

All right.  What is it?

Politics.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Puck on... Options


What?

Who told you there were only two options?

What do you mean?  Of course there are only two, you can only accept or reject it.

Says who?

Says…

Accept or reject?  How terribly one-dimensional.  Why should you be limited to wholesale acceptance or rejection?  You can reject partially, accept under certain circumstances, refute all except the smallest piece of truth.  There are any number of options besides the extremities.

So, where would you have gotten the idea that acceptance or rejection was it?

You.

Right.  Me.  Careful where you take your cues.  Or have you forgotten what I am?

Funny, all this time and you still haven’t answered that question.

What question?

Whether or not anything I say can be trusted.

Can it?

What makes you think I can tell you?

I don’t suppose you can.  After all, lies are supposed to be your native tongue, right?

Oh, yes.  That is what they say.  And I can’t say it’s altogether inaccurate.  Lies are, in a way, our language.  It makes us very dangerous.  Unfortunately, for you, what I have to say makes me much more dangerous even that that.

Why?

Because I tell the truth.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Puck on... Ignorance


I don’t know.

You don’t know?

No.  You’re right.  I hear what your saying, but… I just don’t know.

Well, you have certainly have taken embracing your ignorance to heart.  Oh, but I fear I’ve broken you.  You were so adamant about your position, it made for wonderful debate, but it’s no fun to be agreed with all the time.  On second thought, it’s quite enjoyable, but still.

I didn’t say I agreed with you.  I just don’t know.

Is there a difference?

There has to be.

Says who?  Someone once said, my boy, “if you’re not a part of the solution, you’re a part of the problem.”  Just because you don’t agree with me out loud, doesn’t mean you aren’t actually doing it.  You can accept what I say or reject it, but to say you simply don’t know, to put off answering as if that were enough, does not put you on the side of good.  It does not even put you on a side different from me.  There is no “pass”, there is no “ask me later.”

To answer is to choose, to not answer is to let someone else choose for you.

So, what’ll it be?

I don’t know.  Maybe you’re right.

Oh, my boy.  My dear boy.  You are making it too easy!  My, my, will I have to give everything to you?  Here, let me help.  This whole time we’ve been talking, we’ve been dancing around a central issue.  How do you know what I’m saying is right?  I may be lying.  I am a liar after all.  But then again, I may be telling the truth.

I understand.

So, at the bottom of it all, you have two choices: you can accept what I say or reject it.  If I make a statement, you can agree with it or throw it out.

That makes sense.

But there.  Right there.  There you go again.  Don’t you see?  Don’t you even realize what is going on?

What?

My dear boy, who told you there were only two options?