I've read Havel's magnificent book, Joe, and found it inspiring. Your characterization is a beautiful and illuminating tribute to his core theme about Truth and adds a richer meaning to Shakespeare's oft misunderstood admonition from the lips of the cowardly Polonius, "this above all, to thine own self be true. . ." The deeper meaning both Shakespeare and Havel intend is "be true to Truth, despite yourself." Now that's something worth living and dying for.
Thank you Jerry! I am increasingly convinced that the challenge of our times is the temptation to opt for a virtual reality rather than reality itself. This has always been a challenge due to our fallen condition, but today it would seem to require heroic virtue to resist the various forces attempting to confine us to the realm of willful self-delusion. But we don't have to be heroes alone. In fact, we can't. "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine."
Amen, brother! Looking forward to more conversation about this on Thursday morning! I'm particularly interested to learn more from you about Havel's distinction between small t truths and capital T Truth.
I've read Havel's magnificent book, Joe, and found it inspiring. Your characterization is a beautiful and illuminating tribute to his core theme about Truth and adds a richer meaning to Shakespeare's oft misunderstood admonition from the lips of the cowardly Polonius, "this above all, to thine own self be true. . ." The deeper meaning both Shakespeare and Havel intend is "be true to Truth, despite yourself." Now that's something worth living and dying for.
Thank you Jerry! I am increasingly convinced that the challenge of our times is the temptation to opt for a virtual reality rather than reality itself. This has always been a challenge due to our fallen condition, but today it would seem to require heroic virtue to resist the various forces attempting to confine us to the realm of willful self-delusion. But we don't have to be heroes alone. In fact, we can't. "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine."
Amen, brother! Looking forward to more conversation about this on Thursday morning! I'm particularly interested to learn more from you about Havel's distinction between small t truths and capital T Truth.
Jerry