Tuesday, June 16, 2009

To Resist

Would you believe that after work last night we pulled right behind the boy racer I mentioned yesterday.
Later, after a night out at a posh Indian restaurant in Mansfield Woodhouse, we entered Newark from the sugar beet side at 10:20pm and guess who screamed round the island as we approached it? That's right! Now what are the chances of seeing the same nice young man three times in one day?

We were actually looking for him this morning.

The Children of Freedom book arrived yesterday and I was impressed with what Emma Dancourt says of the verb 'to resist'. To resist what imprisons us, to resist prejudices, hasty judgements, the desire to judge, everything that is bad in us and cries out to be expressed, the desire to abandon, the need to make people feel sorry for us, the need to talk about ourselves to the detriment of others, fashions, unhealthy ambitions, prevailing confusion. To resist, and...to smile.

I like it too because it implies a relentless but necessary struggle against something that is naturally inherent within us. I'm reminded that the natural man is an enemy of God.

Not to resist is to allow the weeds and the jungle to totally smother, drag us down, stifle, strangle, cripple and imprison us.

Anyway, I'm considering my efforts to resist some of the above mentioned to ascertain how free I really am. I want to stand up strong and free so perhaps I'll drift from my comfort zone a while and have a 'peek a boo'.

I have noticed though that some who champion freedom of thought display prejudice towards those who practice it...especially those who embrace religion...not that the religious amongst us are without fault.
"As among God, country and apple pie, the least evil has been done in the name of apple pie."-- Robert Brault

Its doesn't matter if you are fat, thin or perfectly formed you'll find yourself up against it. If you are Pakistani, British, American, Indian... or any race on Earth, you'll be hated by another.

If you are wealthy, poor, clever or stupid, industrious or lazy you'll find someone to cross swords with you. Even Mickey Mouse has his critics.

Anyway, to resist and to smile must obviously have a lot to do with the book and the struggle of resisting the German occupation. I've another 20 odd pages of 'Larkrise' before I can start this one though.

TBC... if I can identify prejudices lingering and things unhealthy about me, and if I dare to bare!

Well, I've had a think, and I'm just about perfect really. Okay, there are a few things I can improve on. I tend to treat differently those who don't like me. If someone throws mud at me, I tend to reciprocate if I feel it unjustified.

I don't like advertising boards of the human variety. Wherever there is skin these days you'll find a picture or a message. I don't like reading people before I meet them. I'm sure that's just a dislike though because I seem to laugh and talk with such a lot of them. I don't like them less, I just disagree with what they do. They think I'm as loony for the things I say and do.

I'm still thinking about things...

2 comments:

  1. Ken,

    That last paragraph is a howl and full of great one-liners. It stirred a few thoughts of my own:

    "I like to holiday where there are lots of barebacked young folk about -- makes for good summer reading."

    "Saw a young fellow lying face down on the beach the other day, back plastered with messages and something on his soles -- footnotes, I guess."

    "I used to be able to read young people like a book. Now they read more like a advertising brochure."

    smiles,
    rb

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  2. The footnotes quote is priceless...tickled me for ages.

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