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Sure, people lie, and that produces much evil.

But the much more common and much greater evil-producing problem - that only SEEMS like lying - is a bit more complex:

People really think they believe what they say in one context with one set of people,
then they also really think they believe the contradictory thing they say in a different context with a different set of people,

and the two voices never talk to each other.

War Fair

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Primping before their glassy shields...
None tell the adolescent girls
When they march out upon the fields
What weapons they will wield and whirl

With burnished hair and polished skin
With bows and ribbons, medals wound;
Long-legged strides - again, again --
That build empires and tear them down.

For politics, philosophy
religion - all retreat in shame
From the swoops of covert troops
That turn all wars to giggling games.

Would-be heroes heed the call
to win this hill, to burn that town
for freedom’s sake, but it is all
the weaker vessel’s battleground.

Though kings and generals lead the way
to death of privates hard or green,
Each in his turn must bow, obey,
serve and defend his dizzy queen.

The wounded - home to cultivate
their bittersweet, sweet, bitter fruit,
wait upon the soft smooth throne
of she whose reign is absolute.

[1980]

The Sidestep Shuffle (2001)

It’s the (D) sidestep shuffle
where (E7) nothing’s what it seems
ap (A7) ply the rules, ignore the rules
Whatever is expedient; they’re very useful tools
And if the (D) facts give you trouble
just (E7) grease the old machine;
Ma (A7) neuver and evade [variation: committee them to death]
Stick them on the shelf
Add your own delusions, you can even fool your (D) self

(A7) You wash my back, I’ll wash yours
(F#7) That can open many doors
We’ll (G7) have a meeting to decide
But (A7) you and I will know the way that it will go
We’ll get it in the minutes even though it’s just a show>>>

If something true is said to you
that you can’t bear, here’s what you do:
Accuse that rival of being mean
Don’t face the truth. Act your part.
You can play the victim though there’s murder in your heart>>>

You don't drive me crazy (1988)

I heard his song on the radio
Man, he was lonely. Man, he was lonely
He wanted one thing and one thing only
so bad
You won't get that kind of pressure from me
I want your humanity
Don't want your vanity
Any other way is not conducive to sanity
I hope that you understand

(Refrain:)
You don't drive me crazy
And I won't die if you don't make love to me
A wise man grows
out of those highs and lows
But I'd appreciate your company
Would you like to spend some time with me?

I heard another song on the radio
He was empty and teary
weary and dreary
Maybe she believed him, but I was leery
Who's kidding who?
If you let a woman steal all your pride
then even the prettiest
can get pretty hideous
Women want men, not snivling idiots
That much at least is clear (Refrain)

We are lookin' for the same simple things:
Love fulfillable
A heart that's thrillable
Like findin' a rhyme of three whole syllables
That is one lucky day (Refrain)

We are what we are
Maybe kinda far
away from what we oughta be
Still, you could spend some time with me.

Brown Eyes (1983)

A step forward...a step backward
That is no way to acquaint myself with a girl
It’s not shyness; no, your highness
It’s just, the way you walk, you’d think you’re queen of the world

Brown Eyes. Brown Eyes.
What is a man to do?
You look so fine, Brown Eyes
and no one knows better than you

You act famous, but you’ll remain nameless
if you don’t realize the world is worthy of you

You’re admired, you’re desired
but you look tired of the things that men have to say
You’re delightful, but it’s frightful
if that delightfulness has made you act in this way

Brown Eyes. Brown Eyes.
You don’t have to hide.
You look so fine, Brown Eyes
and maybe there’s something inside
So please listen to what you’ve been missin’
Wake up and realize the world is worthy of you

A step forward...a step backward
Tell me exactly what a man is supposed to do
Wake up and realize the world is worthy of you
Wake up and realize the world is worthy of you
You’re really somethin’
so let me get closer to you, Brown Eyes

All Alone Downtown (1992)

The lights on the signs, O, they shine and they guide her eyes
to everything that they must see
And the beggars and stars, they can hardly be distinguished
from the beggars and the stars to be
There’s no doubt to Suzie, the center of action
is the boulevard for walking around
But she needs that something that’s goin’ to happen
`Cause the sun’s goin’ down
And she’s all alone downtown

Back in Missouri, she remembers it now, there is more there
than she cares to forgive
Her friends will all grow up and marry and die
Never seein’ how other folks live
Her Daddy knows engines and sorrow and bourbon
and walks to the burial ground
He raised up his girl with the back of his hand
and whatever he found
So she’s all alone downtown

(Bridge:) The city, it moves with high-steppin’ shoes
like a cowboy who knows where he’s goin’
And the voice in your mind will decline to the tiniest sound

Though the money is goin’, she knows that she’s growin’
She will find somethin’ or maybe be found
She’s left what’s behind her and meanwhile she’s fine
She’s just all alone downtown

Copyright © 1992 Donald L. McIntyre All Rights Reserved
[originally, 1974, All Alone in New York Town]

Ain't Got No Pain (1996)

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There’s a sun in your soul that shines bright
And dozens of moons for the miscellaneous night
And a garden of meadows and an eden of trees
But nothing much there that connects with me
I laid in the rain with demons all around
Wrestling with sleep and with silence and with sound
You asked from the shadows, “How are you, what’s new?”
Well, I ain’t got no answer
Got no explanation
I ain’t got no pain to sing for you

All nature is gentle in her darkest hour
But look all around you at her terrible power
I’m the Great Wall of China to your blazing hands
But my gates open wide when you weep and make demands
I’m the obstinate stain on your carpeted floor
I’m all spent and empty and you still deserve more
Then you say, “I feel lonely -- Can you sit for a few?”
Well, I ain’t got the time
Got no inclination
I ain’t got no pain to sing for you

We’re friends, then we’re strangers
as the monster continues to feed
Then lovers, then rivals
and anything else we both need

As you try and you try to do what you do
To bring comfort in all the ways that comfort you
To keep everything civilized and peaceful and pure
Like the tuxedo in his coffin with the ultimate cure
But the seed is the seed and the soil is the soil
And there must be a raging fire for the water to boil
Beneath everything that’s convenient there’s something more true
But I ain’t got no pain
Again and again and agan
I ain’t got no pain to sing for you


Copyright © 1996 Donald L. McIntyre All Rights Reserved

Paper Listening (1992)

This closedry fragment man-
made of plundered tree
meant
(n)earness to me
when your ears
were distant paper

As much as I resist the conclusion emotionally, it is becoming increasingly evident to me that the only ultimate option for a true disciple of Jesus, in the midst of conflict, is non-resistance. If we do not practice nonresistance, it is too likely that we will dishonor the Gospel of the grace of God in Christ.

How can we be believed when we say that we forgive our enemies and rivals in the name of Jesus if we exhibit the same lust to self-righteous victory that they are exhibiting? At some point, the faithful disciple must yield - allowing opponents to win, to have the nation or the world they think they want, providing them merely with the memory of one who forgave and cared for them, even in the midst of conflict.

When Jesus was crucified, the Roman soldier was heard to compromise his own position and prestige when he said, "Truly, this was a righteous man." He only did so because he knew enough of Jesus to know that he did not "go down swinging," that his attitude was not, "Looking out for number one," or "I don't get mad, I just get even," that he had a mode of living that was undeniably good and noble.

From his deepest, most honest essence, Jesus exhibited the fact that he was living in a better realm than the one most people most of the time take for granted in their daily life. I certainly expect that the Roman soldier who said that went on to lead a remarkable life; most likely, a life that was cut off early by someone with a more conventional view of righteousness.

What brings these thoughts to mind is my recent experiences of just how willfully ignorant, self-defensive, blindly self-justifying, and irrational folks are in defending their own religious, political, relational, sexual, ethnic, national, marital, educational or financial identity or agenda.

Pleading for "civility" from one's opponents only, while not even recognizing incivility in those with whom one agrees.
Arrogantly denouncing arrogance.
Riots in the cause of peace and non-violence.
Criticizing people for being critical.
Defending "women's rights" unless the perpetrator agrees, or the woman disagrees, with our politics.
Shunning "aggression" but embracing passive aggression.
In the face of the identical behavior, criticism for our rivals and excuses for our friends.
The inability to see one's own anger - producing irrational fear of those upon whom one projects that anger.

It seems clear to me that blind human evil is never more likely to raise its fierce head than when we are defending our viewpoint about what is good, or right, or just, or fair, or true. We seem increasingly unable to disagree agreeably, or even to listen respectfully. Increasingly, our passions seem to need to play the innocent victim while attacking what we regard as the wicked opponent (s) of our identity and agenda.

This willful blindness transcends all the usual boundaries we use to distinguish ourselves from each other: profession, appearance, gender, ethnicity, politics, income, etc.

Personally, I want to learn to choose defeat in a confrontation with a "bad person" rather than to defeat that person in his or her self-serving arena of battle. And if it is possible that I'm "the bad person" - which it is - all the more reason to seek to lose.

There are significant biblical exceptions, most notably those involving the military and law enforcement (Romans 13:4). Also perhaps John 2:14-17, which I am having a hard time applying to the present day Christian realm. But as with all things truly Christian, it is more a matter of the condition of one's deepest, most genuine essence than one's public activities or actions.

It must have been so painful for Jesus to be so willfully misunderstood, so lied about, so defenseless in the presence of those who were experts at manipulating the political and religious system (Matthew 24). But in the end he surely knew that at least some would see the wickedness for what it truly was, would be inspired by the new vision He had given them, even to the point of following His Way. "Take up your cross and follow me." One by one, in one situation or another, we are intended to catch that vision, I believe. Even if it saves no one else from drowning in the toilet of the world and its falsely moral rhetoric, one can at least save oneself. And it will almost certainly save others. It is at least arguable that it has been transforming the "real world" - though at a slow, grinding pace.

Does this mean that we are called by God to be doormats? Codependents? Enablers? Pathetic victims?

Hardly. If Jesus had been any of these, he would never have been such a danger to the scribes, Pharisees and Romans. He spoke eloquently, He taught profound details. He stood up to evil more than any other person in history. He just did it in a way that proved how remarkable he was. He demonstrated his "Way" powerfully and courageously - all as the lies and manipulation built up to a crucifixion that proved, once and for all, the nature of conventional human religion and conventional "goodness." And enough people noticed to make it worth the trouble. If the resurrection meant nothing else, it would mean that, and that would be more than enough. "Take up your cross and follow me."

How different the world would be if the condition of one's soul at any given moment was immediately reflected in one's public face.

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As we move beyond our infancy, we corrupt ourselves by always turning grief into grievance (it feels less vulnerable). The process of healing and true maturity begins when we start to turn our grievance back into grief.

A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, "...don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, 'Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.' People will beg the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and plead with the hills, 'Bury us.' For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" -Luke 23:27-31

Facts all come with points of view

"Facts all come with points of view." - David Byrne

Transportation Security: The Next Generation