Reply #63: It is with profound shame and embarrassment that I confess... [View All]

[Merlin]

... this thought has crossed my mind of late.

But whenever I am tempted to jump into the believer's abyss, the trusted guardians of cynicism and realism hold my impulses safely in check, whispering ceaselessly in my ear "Do not underestimate the tenacity and power of nationalistic anti-authoritarianism."

To which I reply, "Bullshit, those instincts were suppressed for decades."

And the response comes: "Give me a fucking break! You can't eradicate such instincts. And what about the shibboleths? 'You can't impose freedom on others.' Yada Yada."

And I rejoin "This isn't Vietnam, asshole. Get a grip."

Then, more angrily, "Why you faithless old coot! You..."

Suddenly a hand is nudging my shoulder and through the earplug fog I hear Jane's voice saying softly "Dear, it's time to get up."