What's reserved? Well the cross is reserved of course. Which allows me to make a couple diversions: 1) Let's always remember that Jesus wasn't the only one crucified. That horrible, torturous death was visited upon who-knows-how-many hundreds of wretched souls. 2) Which poses the question: Why is man so cruel as to devise these actions? I've forgotten the movie, set in the middle ages, where some unfortunate guy is set to be burned at the stake. He's crying in agony as the smoke and flames slowly have their way. Eventually he's begging the onlookers to have mercy and stoke the flames so his torture won't last as long. Eventually they comply. 3) And from Firesign Theater's first album, "Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him": INDIAN: Well, I think it's about time - the way the corn's been growing for the last two or three generations. SECOND INDIAN: Look at that herd of buffalo! They're ready! INDIAN: Everything's living The Great Spirit's Way - in Harmony. SECOND INDIAN: He'll be here soon. INDIAN: The True White Brother is coming home. Remember what the Great Spirit said? If we did what we were supposed to do and lived according to the Plan, White Brother would finish his work in the East and come back to us. SECOND INDIAN: It'll be nice to have the family together again.
(A Conquistador, a Padre and several Spanish soldiers enter to a trumpet fanfare and flamenco music. The buffalo scatter.)
CONQUISTADOR: Buenos dias, amigos! INDIAN: Hello! You must be The True White Brother! CONQUISTADOR: Sure! You must be The Indians! INDIAN: Yes! SECOND INDIAN: Welcome Home!
( All the Spanish soldiers cheer.)
CONQUISTADOR: Welcome to New Spain! This is your new Father - Father Corona. FATHER CORONA: Pax venuti nictum! Down on your knees, now! D'ye recognize what I'm holdin' over yer head, lads? INDIAN: It's a Cross. The Symbol of the Quartering of the Universe into Active and Passive Principles. FATHER CORONA: God have mercy on their heathen souls! CONQUISTADOR: What the Father means is - what is the Cross made of? Gold! Have you got any? INDIAN: No. CONQUISTADOR: What about the Seven Cities of Gold? Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas? SECOND INDIAN: This is gold. CONQUISTADOR: What's that? INDIAN: Corn. SPANISH SOLDIER: Corn! Now we can make tortillas! ANOTHER SPANISH SOLDIER: We've been waiting for this for hundreds of years! THIRD SPANISH SOLDIER: I just invented tacos! CONQUISTADOR: So this is all you've got? INDIAN: Yes, but aren't you The True White Brother who's supposed to come and live with us in peace? CONQUISTADOR: Sure! Therefore, I claim this rich, verdant pasture land in the name of the Empire of Spain!
Whoa Nelly there's lots here, but I want to say first and foremost your point about crucifixion is well taken - it wasn't just Jesus and I don't forget that, absolutely not. May do something with that in the future, actually...
What's reserved? Well the cross is reserved of course. Which allows me to make a couple diversions:
ReplyDelete1) Let's always remember that Jesus wasn't the only one crucified. That horrible, torturous death was visited upon who-knows-how-many hundreds of wretched souls.
2) Which poses the question: Why is man so cruel as to devise these actions? I've forgotten the movie, set in the middle ages, where some unfortunate guy is set to be burned at the stake. He's crying in agony as the smoke and flames slowly have their way. Eventually he's begging the onlookers to have mercy and stoke the flames so his torture won't last as long. Eventually they comply.
3) And from Firesign Theater's first album, "Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him":
INDIAN: Well, I think it's about time - the way the corn's been growing for the last two or three generations.
SECOND INDIAN: Look at that herd of buffalo! They're ready!
INDIAN: Everything's living The Great Spirit's Way - in Harmony.
SECOND INDIAN: He'll be here soon.
INDIAN: The True White Brother is coming home. Remember what the Great Spirit said? If we did what we were supposed to do and lived according to the Plan, White Brother would finish his work in the East and come back to us.
SECOND INDIAN: It'll be nice to have the family together again.
(A Conquistador, a Padre and several Spanish soldiers enter to a trumpet fanfare and flamenco music. The buffalo scatter.)
CONQUISTADOR: Buenos dias, amigos!
INDIAN: Hello! You must be The True White Brother!
CONQUISTADOR: Sure! You must be The Indians!
INDIAN: Yes!
SECOND INDIAN: Welcome Home!
( All the Spanish soldiers cheer.)
CONQUISTADOR: Welcome to New Spain! This is your new Father - Father Corona.
FATHER CORONA: Pax venuti nictum! Down on your knees, now! D'ye recognize what I'm holdin' over yer head, lads?
INDIAN: It's a Cross. The Symbol of the Quartering of the Universe into Active and Passive Principles.
FATHER CORONA: God have mercy on their heathen souls!
CONQUISTADOR: What the Father means is - what is the Cross made of? Gold! Have you got any?
INDIAN: No.
CONQUISTADOR: What about the Seven Cities of Gold? Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas?
SECOND INDIAN: This is gold.
CONQUISTADOR: What's that?
INDIAN: Corn.
SPANISH SOLDIER: Corn! Now we can make tortillas!
ANOTHER SPANISH SOLDIER: We've been waiting for this for hundreds of years!
THIRD SPANISH SOLDIER: I just invented tacos!
CONQUISTADOR: So this is all you've got?
INDIAN: Yes, but aren't you The True White Brother who's supposed to come and live with us in peace?
CONQUISTADOR: Sure! Therefore, I claim this rich, verdant pasture land in the name of the Empire of Spain!
Whoa Nelly there's lots here, but I want to say first and foremost your point about crucifixion is well taken - it wasn't just Jesus and I don't forget that, absolutely not. May do something with that in the future, actually...
ReplyDelete"What the Father means is..."
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Firesign Theater...