Puck on... Politics pt. 4

I told you we set traps, boy. And here is fertile ground. A veritable minefield.

You lure us into politics?

Oh, I wouldn’t say lure. It makes it sound so degrading. And give yourselves some credit. I mean we didn’t really invent it. Government, politics, democracy. You thought these up yourselves. Do they seem like something we would condone?

I think you would condone anything you could turn to your own devices.

Ah-hah! You have it! I have taught you well I see. You are quite right. It’s not so much what we make but what we can use. And there are lots of things, lots of things that fall into that category. Because, of course, it matters not the means but the skill to work it to your own ends. And, as I said, politics is rich territory. As an institution, it breeds conflict, nurtures subterfuge, praises ends over means. Why there’s often very little we have to do to really take advantage of it. Especially in recent years. It’s getting to the point where they don’t even hide it anymore. Why, it is common practice for your candidates to change their tune depending on whose favor they’re trying to curry. So commonplace as to be expected, tolerated and, in some ways, even encouraged.

Rich territory, indeed.

Yes. And yet, you would have me think that it is a place you and your kind ought to tread? Ah, but of course, you’re trying to redeem it. But are you? Can you? Is there redemption for politics?

You’re saying there isn’t?

I’m saying if you ever actually did or could, wouldn’t it cease to be politics? Setting aside, for the moment, whether or not you should, let’s address whether or not you are even trying to.

I think some people are.

And are their efforts meeting with success?

I don’t know how we would measure that.

Well, that does make it hard to figure whether or not you’re doing anything constructive, doesn’t it?

I suppose.

Well, let’s see if we can figure out some sort of rubric, then, shall we? Let’s see. Perhaps, if more laws that followed your specific moral stance could be passed, that would count, wouldn’t it?

I suppose.

Or if your kind had more freedom to voice your beliefs in the public forum, that would be a good sign, right?

I suppose.

If more people were elected who subscribed to your faith?

I suppose.

Maybe, if the overall bent of the government was towards your morality and away from some secular one; how about that?

I suppose.

Ah, but how exactly is any of that different from a political party? You want laws that follow your way of thinking, to have more people elected who are a part of your group, to have more people hear your opinions, to have the institutions of government under your control. Why, it seems that you’ve reduced your truth to a political platform and your kind into little more than a lobby group. What’s the difference? How exactly are you standing out from all the other politicos with their heads up their-?

Ah, but you’re right! That’s it. The difference between you and them is that they’re wrong and you’re right! So, it doesn’t matter if you use the same methods because the agenda you’re pushing is the correct one. And, of course, the ends always justify… the means.

Oh my. It seems we’ve wandered into a moral quandary.

Have I made a misstep? Tricked you in any way? Or have I just uncovered the little lie that you all have been telling yourselves this whole time? Now, what are we make of that?

Puck on... Politics pt.3

And do you see now the error of your ways?

Educate me.

Gladly.  You, your kind, your people have the truth, correct?  The unequivocal, irrevocable truth of the universe.  Isn’t that what you believe?

Yes.

And this truth, it is timeless, correct?  Beyond the scope of individual ages, ever-present, constant, ever-meaningful, continuously applicable.  Yes?

That’s what we believe.

And you don’t think it’s a bit contradictory, even hypocritical to tie this truth to a system that is, by its very nature, as changeable and timely and fickle as anything else?  You don’t think it represents a conflict of interests to have something that claims to be older than time itself connected with something that changes with the winds?

You do begin to see my point, though, don’t you?  You talk of civics, of responsibility, we’ll get to that later.  Explain this.  Explain what business the meaning of life has with parties, with factions, with capricious platforms that shift with opinion.  Go on.

I suppose, some would say, that the point is not to engage the system but to change it.

But can you?  Your faith speaks of new creations, of new heavens and new earths and new men to fill them.  Different men.  Men changed from the sloppy, sinful things they are.  But politics, where’s the redeeming quality?  It is a system that is built, founded on man as he is, no better, because it does see men as better, it does not expect men to be.  It can’t.  You want to redeem it?  Would you redeem backbiting and gossip and inconstancy?  Are these not politics?  Mudslinging and the breaking of vows?  Because you must take it all.  We are not in a world of ideals, my boy; these are the realities. 

It is a beast.  You can defeat it or accept it.  But if you wish to talk about redeeming it, you may as well talk about redeeming sin itself.  Even I can see such things are nonsense.  Can’t you?

But forgive me my rough speech; I am only trying to educate you as requested.  You were actually quite accurate in your statement.  That’s the trick, you see.  The worst thing you can do to truth, especially universal truth, is not to deny it but to act like it is less than it is.  Oh, wasn’t there some line, about “pearls before swine”?

And don’t you wonder, where you learned that trick?

Puck on... Politics pt. 2

Are you saying we shouldn’t be involved in politics?

Are you saying that you should?

Well, I think we have an obligation, not just out of civic duty but responsibility, to participate, to make our voices heard.

Oh, you should watch your choice of words, child.  You may have to eat them later.  But for now, let’s deal with a more important word issue.  We are talking about politics, not government.

What’s the difference?

Oh my dear boy!  The fact that you’re convinced they’re synonymous shows just how far afield you are.  Oh, I’m sure, back in the day, when the Greek was better understood, it really meant “the people”, that it really was about them.  But you have to pay careful attention to words, because they do have a habit of changing definitions on you without changing usage.  Language, it’s such a fluid concept.

Government, or shall we democracy, is the mechanism, the science, as it were.  And, at bottom, it’s really how the system ought to function, hypothetically, if all things were equal and well maintained.  But the reality, how the machine actually functions, ah, that is where politics comes in.  Why the change, you may ask?  Why shouldn’t they be the same?  Well, one is theory, the other is practice.  Government comes from a book.  Politics comes from the people involved.

Oh, perhaps I’ve misjudged.  Maybe the word is closer to the original meaning, albeit twisted slightly.  After all, it is people, isn’t it?  That’s where the whole thing goes to pot.  It’s fine on paper.  But, in practice, it involves people, fickle little monsters that they are.

In any case, that is what we are dealing with.  You can talk political science all you would like, but in the end, the beast is politics, and it you must vanquish or appease.

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.

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.

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.

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?