Hey terrans, writing again from the same ol’ table here in The Inn, Far far away. Things are going well here. Everything steady and as expected. There’s more to say about the mob I was anticipating, but I have something else on my mind.
The last time I wrote, there was… an unplanned event at an awards show. I wanted to add that I found it interesting that Smith summoned principles of love to explain his actions. I get it. He is claiming protective/avenging mode. Maybe that’s true, and if so it’s respectable. But in so-doing his language used a lot of love talk: “I’m being called on in my life to love people . . . I want to be a vessel for love . . . I want to be an ambassador for that kind of love and care and concern . . . Love makes you do crazy things.”
The love-talk reminded me of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with his love-talk like: “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality,” and, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” The irony is that, Smith was speaking of love to explain, and maybe defend, his violence (like with “Love makes you do crazy things”). But King's love-talk denounced it:
“At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.”
“Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love.”
Now, Smith's apology to Rock did have a subtle change of tune: “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.” It was more love-talk but denouncing rather than explaining. It’s almost like someone tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Ya can’t channel Dr. King in defense of violence.”
This all has me more interested in non-violence. I’ve noticed a twitter mutual is committed to it. Maybe I’ll ask him about it, but right now I should probably get back to my doings here in the realm. Although demand for extra help has really lightened up of late. Maybe I can take a day off!
-Pen
P.S. I found those particular King quotes here: azquotes.com/author/8044-Martin_Luther_King_Jr/tag/love. They're often cited there too.