Cheney as the False Solitude (writings of Thomas Merton)

[Annces]

I was reading some of Thomas Merton’s book – No Man is an Island, and came across his description or differentiation between two types of solitude. One is the true solitude and the other is the false solitude. In reading it, it seemed like a perfect description for Dick Cheney.


Briefly, the True solitude “separates one man from the rest in order that he may freely develop the good that is his own, and then fulfill his true destiny by putting himself at the service of everyone else.”

Here is the false solitude.

“False solitude separates a man from his brothers in such a way that he can no longer effectively given them anything or receive anything from them in his own spirit. It establishes him in a state of indigence, misery, blindness, torment and despair. Maddened by his own insufficiency, the proud man shamelessly seizes upon satisfactions and possessions that are not due to him, that can never satisfy him and that he will never really need. Because he has never learned to distinguish what is really his, he desperately seeks to possess what can never belong to him.”

Then Merton goes on to say –
“When the Lord, in His justice, wills to manifest and punish the sins of a society that ignores the natural law, He allows it to fall into the hands of men like this. The proud solitary is the ideal dictator, turning the whole world from peace to war, carrying out the work of destruction, opening the mouths of ruin from city to city, that these may declare the emptiness and degradation of men without God.”


If our country is now in the hands of people who desire destruction, then perhaps it is connected overall with how we are acting as a people, in not obeying natural laws, in polluting the earth, taking more than we give.

[Annces]

1. crickets, snoring

Well, I guess I need to bring up aliens or athiests to get a discussion.

[Evoman]

2. Lol..here, I'll help you.

Atheists are immoral, and they deny gods existence and liberal christians are irrational and they might as well believe in santy clause. Lol..there you go, instant discussion!

Anyhow, your post is pretty tight. However, I don't necessarily agree with it. Bad people get into power everywhere...in countries where we don't have consumerism, or wealth, think of the leaders they have. Think about the leaders in the Congo, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Rowanda, Haiti.

The fact, Cheney is no worse than any of the leaders we have seen in the last 3000 years. Think Genghis Khan, Stalin, etc. We can blame ourselves for these men, I suppose. Every single group of citizens really has had the power to rebel and squash their goverment, but hasn't.

[Annces]

3. Well I think I don't put in too many questions

into my postings. But it seems like some of the silly, one-liners with one thought attached can get discussion in GD.

I think about Cheney once in a while, especially when people talk about how evil he is, and Bush too. I don't think about Bush as much, because he just seems more like there is not much going on his head in the first place. When I read Merton chapter on the false solitude, it seemed to fit Cheney very well. So there is at least some understanding into his personality.

I can't really discuss leaders of other countries, because I have not seen them regularly on TV or kept up with them as much as I have absorbed about Cheney, especially with the Plame case ongoing.

Anyway, thanks for responding. I want to put out stuff that is more "my own ideas", but it generally relates to animal rights and I know how unpopular that is around here. :P

[Evoman]

4. Don't feel that your opinion has to be popular

to post it. As long as it isn't right wing garbage, unpopular opinions start the greatest discussions. Besides, I'm sure you have opinions on a wide variety of issues. This is a good post, however, and it makes me want to read Merton, just to see his reasoning.

On edit: Have you tried posting this in GD. It may apply better there than the religious forum.

[Annces]

5. Thanks

I was reading Merton's "No Man is An Island". It is a great book for guidance on finding your own purpose, and how to keep strong in your purpose. I think it is what he taught to his monks at the monastery.

Thanks for the input. Will use it.