11 May 2006

Infants, Imbeciles, and Domestic Animals

"If we were dealing with rational people you would have a case. But these people are not rational. They only respond to intimidation and manipulation. They want cowardice. But you aren't going to give them the satisfaction of that, are you?"

You certainly did not.

"Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be 'cured' against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals. But to be punished, however severely, because we have deserved it, because we 'ought to have known better,' is to be treated as a human person made in God's image."

-- C.S. Lewis

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The Horror! The Horror!"

jules said...

love the picture.

muah.

Eva said...

Still persevering . . . eight more days!

Ashley said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

I liked the Lewis quotation. Machiavelli, too, has wisdom to offer. He criticized (medieval) Christianity for its pious cruelty. When your mandate is from God, what limit is there?

h. e. c. said...

and nietzche.

Nathan Martin said...

(well said, well said)

that's one of my favorite lewis quotes...



period

Kirsten said...

I don't understand...why is the dress code so oppressive? Didn't we submit to rules voluntarily? Can't we submit to others, even if they are not perfect, out of reverence for Christ?
I am truly sorry that this has been so difficult for you.
I will miss you when you leave, even if you won't miss this.

andrew mook said...

kirsten,

you are missing all of the points...(the school is UNHEALTHY) - heres to the revolution...or biblical backlash to an instituion restricting, dulling, and in part perverting the WORD. I love you!

k, bye,
Andrew