Some things just seem to drop out of the sky at the moment they are most needed.Such was the case while I was trying to think of a witty description for this new blog,something that would serve as a name for this new child of mine,or,if you prefer a theme,or mission statement to help guide things along.Then,as I was listening to my radio today over breakfast it just arrived over the airways perfect and fully formed.
This is what,in summary the news report said: several people are sitting around a campfire in Brockville,a small town in Ontario,Canada.All is presumably well until an argument breaks out.That argument turns out to be over the shape of the Earth.One party is adamant that the Earth is flat.And someone else tries to reason with that person,presenting various arguments as to why the Earth is round.The clear voice of reason to be certain.Until things escalate.The first party won't back down.And the second person,the voice of reason responds by throwing various things into the fire.Including,at last a propane cylinder.That prompts a police response.Luckily nobody was killed,but one person is now wanted for mischief after having fled the scene.
Now it seem obvious that something much deeper underlies this story,but it doesn't really matter what that something is.These people are said to be family members,so the incident seems to be the sort of thing that could give rise to redneck jokes or find it's way into the witty monologues of comedians.One also imagines the ingestion of various intoxicants.Not the first time such things have happened and It most likely won't be the last.Best to hear it,have a good laugh and forget it.
Except that it occurs to me that this story contains a complete metaphor for the world we find ourselves in right at this moment.
By that I mean that the world seems to be increasingly governed by partisan ideologies,intoxicating to be certain from which fewer and fewer people are willing to back down.Think American Politics here people.Think Orlando! Think of a dozen stories that range from the sublime to the ridiculous.
The Earth is obviously round,right? I mean Brockville,for those who don't know is located between Canada's largest two cities,and yet you can't see either from there.So they must be hidden on the downside of a parabola,thus rendering them invisible.Yet you can drive to either in just a few hours.Therefor... Moreover,people have been traipsing around on this side of The Big Puddle for several centuries now,and,even in the beginning,they went back,most several times.And of course millions of people today still travel to the other side of the globe.And most times,save those rare occasions when somebody misplaces a commercial aircraft while it's still in flight,those people return.Therefor... Oh,and one more thing.When you are in those commercial airliners,you can actually see the curve of the Earth.
But for some people,the Earth is still flat.It's flat because they wish it to be so.They don't all respond to that perceived reality by going into training for The Darwin Awards,as did the knuckle dragging neanderthals Brockville. But they seem to have a million ways of taking the Earth,chiseling away at it's inconveniently rounded sides,until they have reshaped it to their liking.But the real problem is,even though they think they live on a flat Earth,an Earth from which they could easily fall off,THEY NEVER DO.
So here I find myself,writing a blog which I hope a few of you will take the time to read.That blog was conceived in the general era of the American Presidential elections,Orlando,the shooting of a gorilla at the Cincinatti Zoo, ISIS,the death of Mohamed Ali,a marked increase in shooting homicides in the city I live in,Black Lives Matter,the vote in Great Britain to leave the European Community,and dozens of other things both large and small,worrisome and happy,occurring in towns and cities all over this vast orb,in backyards,streets,campgrounds and high offices.
A metaphor is not overly apt if it needs to be explained at length.Some of you are following along with no trouble.For others I assume that the concept of metaphor is something that is beyond you.So,if you are in that category,go on home,open the refrigerator door and pin down that little white button with duct tape.There,you see.The world really is round.Or at the very least,the refrigerator light goes out when you close the door.Just leave those propane cylinders alone,Please.
-Blyndpapaya
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