by Rod Amis
DEVIL'S NIGHT OUT - Rod Amis's third post in the July Contagious Festival looks at the plight of Lebanon this week as a mirror on how we view ourselves.
22 July 2006: DELUSION, n. The father of a most respectable family, comprising Enthusiasm, Affection, Self-denial, Faith, Hope, Charity and many other goodly sons and daughters. - Ambrose BierceIt was Ambrose Bierce, also known as "Bitter Bierce," who over a century ago set out to show the truth behind the words we casually use. He called his tome The Devil's Dictionary
In admiration of his work, I set myself the task in my youth of updating his "dictionary" to our modern era, in other words, the task of exposing hypocrisy as I saw it.
Join me here, Gentle Reader, as I attempt to provide the new definitions of the words that define our lives.
I mentioned in the first installment of this project that there might be substantial digressions and dalliances with ideas not evidently apropos to the project of providing this new version of the Dictionary. This post is a case in point.
It has come to my attention that during this next to last week in the month of July, 2006, the country of Lebanon, already an invalid, has now been made an historical fiction, completely.
What can we say of Lebanon this week, other than that is the home of mass graves? What can we think, other than that it is an example of how location - as real estate brokers loves to tell us - is everything?
If Lebanon were Kansas, the great empires of our era would intercede vigorously. But the evil and mean facts are that any country in the Middle East, in the Balkans, in central Asia, is an essential non-entity, disposable and unwelcome on the "world stage."
Another definition comes to mind.
National Sovereignty, n: A form of honorific conferred upon those weaker and subservient countries on our planet by the stronger countries in recognition of their willingness and compliance in maintaining their status by way of sycophancy. Since only an honorific, it can be withdrawn at any time by consent of the governing national powers, unilaterally or collectively.
And still others:
War Crime, n.: Any act of conscienceless inhumanity committed against the citizens of one country's adversarial nation for the purpose of bringing that adversary into total submission which can only be prosecuted by the opposing nation should that nation prevail. War crimes are never assessed to victors of conflicts.
Terrorism, n: 1. The use, by others, of violence and intimidation against your nation's political aims in order to enforce those political aims of another nation or dissident group.
2. Doing what one's own group or nation does when committed against one's self and own interests.
Justice, n: Exacting repudiation or punishment upon those too weak, lacking in compensatory resources or helpless to resist whenever a perceived offense is inflicted. See also "Vendetta."
Of course, one cannot speak about Lebanon's devastation today without bringing up the nation Israel. Then, of course, as soon as one mentions Israel, every word must be parsed carefully. (More than ever, the definitions provided here must be well considered.) Otherwise, one is presented with the danger of being called anti-Semitic when referring to the actions of Israel, much as it is difficult to speak ill against any ethnic group - Black people, my own group - for example without being called racist or, if you are a member of that group, self-hating. Noam Chomsky has been made to learn this lesson well, to give but one example.
The sun never sets, in our forthright modern era, upon the temptation to find the mote in someone else's eye. (Sorry, now I sound more like Mencken than Bierce.)
IF we could manage to be truly honest with each other, of course, such parsing would be unnecessary. The injustice or cruelty perpetrated could be separated from an evaluation of the essence of a nation or a people. No matter who was unjust or cruel, we could call them on it without being accused of some form of bias against the perpetrator. But that will only happen when people are willing to accept evil definitions, the truth of things, as presented in this series.
So as not to be the object of your calumny, I shan't make a pronouncement about the actions of the state of Israel. I shall wax Socratic and ask, "Would you consider this a demonstration of the good from everyone and every other nation?"
I'll conclude by offering you a diversion from the heavy lifting.
A friend from New Orleans sent me a wonderful list of excuses of indulge in inebriation composed by Frank Kelly Rich, the editor of the Modern Drunkard Magazine entitled, " 40 Rock-Solid Reasons to Get Drunk Tonight." I share a few with you that made me chuckle.
4. Your favorite bar stool needs just one more sitting to break it in.
5. This is the one and only night your soul mate will wander into the bar. Seriously.
6. Word on the street is the booze has been trash talking you all day.
10. Remember that English high school teacher you and your pals used to call "Mr. McTightass?" You are so starting to remind me of him.
15. Your friends can't have a good time without you.
16. Your friends might have a good time without you.
17. The Man says you shouldn't and you don't want to upset the Man, eh slavebot?
22. Listen, are we down on this goddamn rock to have a good time or watch other people have a good time on TV?
< p>Those compelling thoughts in mind, I shall now go enjoy a cold beer.I again must wish you:
Good night and good luck.
G21: The World's Magazine
Introduction to The Devil's Dictionary: Thinking Evil
Second Post to The Devil's Dictionary: Showing the Love
Fourth Post of The Devil's Dictionary: Your Devil
Final Post of The Devil's Dictionary: Devil's Advocate
Rod's First Project at the Huffington Post
Rod's Second Project at the Huffington Post
© 2006, Rod Amis.
E-mail your comments to rod@g21.net.
