The confidence
we have
in the things we think we know
is truly
terrifying
to me.
. . .
. . .
. . .
“Do you think you have dogma in your belief not to embody dogma?”
“Huh??”
. . .
“What the hell are you asking??”
. . .
“Hold on, I need to think about this for a second.”
. . .
“Absolute belief in not believing?”
. . .
“Is there a dogma paradox??”
. . .
“We always believe in something . . .?”
“Except for those who don’t.”
“Huh??”
“The ones who think everything is pointless.”
“Oh . . .”
“But, that’s not you.”
“No, it isn’t. I believe . . . I am just not sure what it is I believe in.”
. . .
“Dogma in my belief not to have dogma, huh? I’ll have to keep thinking about that one.”
“Alright, you do that. I am freezing and I am hungry, so I am leaving now. It was nice to meet you.”
“Yeah . . . it was nice to meet—”
“—and she’s gone already. Well, that was sort of weird. I wonder what I seemed like to her? Oh well. Her confidence in her ability to be rational, and her denial of self-deception, is terrifying to me. That’s how it goes these days. She’ll be back, some day. They always come back. They never come back . . . And I never chase after them; no, I don't do that anymore . . . She’ll come back.”
. . .
. . .
. . .
“What is politics??”
“You came back!”
. . .
“I didn’t think you would!”
. . .
“Sorry, what did you ask earlier? What is politics?”
“Yes, what is politics?”
“It’s expensive theater. It’s getting re-elected. It’s competition among the ones who desire power.”
“What is politics?”
“I just told you.”
“What is politics?”
“It’s bull-shit. It’s division. It’s money. It’s narcissism. Democracy rewards the best speakers with the most charisma. The people that need leaders are not the ones who should be choosing them.”
“Yes, but what is politics?”
. . .
“It’s corruption.”
“Is that all it is?”
“Well, no. But I’ve told you already. Piece all my answers together, and there ya go.”
“You don’t understand the question.”
“Maybe not . . .”
“I’ve got to go.”
“Adios, lady in the yellow bikini. I—”
“—Gone again. Shit.”
-C.H. 7.15.2023