Of Bulls and Elephants

I want to begin with an apology. I would like to apologize to the handful of folks that regularly read my blog. It has been several weeks since I have written anything. I am sorry about that. Moreover, I might need to apologize in advance for what follows. After the hiatus, I would hope to offer something inspiring or, at least engaging. I suspect that what follows is more likely food for thought.

I am sure that many of us are following the escalating situation in Egypt. While the media is offering what is probably a very limited picture of what is going on over there, it is still enough. I suspect that a lot of people around the world sense the tension and see what looks increasingly like a rising dial on a pressure cooker.

I have noticed that in recent accounts, the Egyptian Army is mentioned again and again. The media seems compelled to assure the world that the Army is close by and that, at least to this point, has been generally supportive of the protesters. Contrasting this is the image of the police. Apparently, the police has historically been firmly in support of the regime and this has served as a menacing influence and a catalyst to the anger of the people. I wonder what it means when an Army is somehow the most prominent sign of hope.

I am no expert on what is going on in Egypt. But what I do see in all of this is a familiar theme. It is a story about people and people can be fickle. Sometimes we want freedom and autonomy and other times we want order and security. It's an incredible challenge for us to find the appropriate balance between these two competing interests. As I watch the clips from Egypt and listen to the comments offered by the protesters, I cannot help but hear the tell-tale sound of danger. We are seeing that these people have felt oppressed. Yet, are we also seeing a fragile capacity for restraint? What is it that calls freedom so often go hand in hand with looting? What does it mean when people violently call for freedom?

While it might appear that I am suspicious of freedom, it is quite the contrary. When it comes to the age-old debate between liberty and order, I am pretty sure that I am a liberty guy. I don't like rules. I don't like rulers and I figure that I can discipline myself pretty well. I am just not so sure about your capacity to do the same...

See what I mean? There is a hidden caveat in all this. I think that it is generally called hypocrisy. We say that power corrupts but we generally mean everybody else. If someone has to be in charge, we figure it best be us. And to be fair, there might be something to this. It may be that freedom is something that people have to learn over time. Maybe Americans are somehow more capable of liberty because we have been at it for a while. Of course, the sad part here is that it would seem that our society is far less free than it was a couple of decades ago.

Anyway, keep an eye open to what is happening in Egypt. We haven't seen anything like this for a while. If people are going to kill and die over all this, it would be good for the rest of us to at least learn something in the process...

Finally, I would like to conclude with a less serious, and potentially, more informative story. My son recently told me that the Mythbusters took on a couple of age-old assumptions.

The first was the proverbial Bull in a China Shop. Apparently, they turned a bull loose, dumped him right in there with all the dishes and glassware. The results? Not a thing. Apparently, the old boy just strolled through the aisles as though he might be an Englishman looking for a new tea set. Go figure.

The Mythbusters then took on the ole' Elephant and the Mouse question. You know, the cartoons--elephants deathly frightened of tiny little mice? Well, it turns out that one is apparently not a myth. Different elephants were tested. And time and time again, they would consistently change course upon encountering a mouse. They would see the repulsive thing and immediately avoid it all cost. What is that? Are they afraid they will turn an ankle or something? Is there some ancient elephant-lore involving that kangaroo that Sylvester kept mistaking for a mouse? Or are they just a little further down the evolution road and see something that we simply cannot yet understand?

Here is Paul's take on the whole Freedom-Liberty issue:
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Galatians 5:13-14