Sunday, March 11, 2007

Dear George,   Vibrant empires need two types of barbarity.  Obviously, they need the brutal barbarity of the savage.  But of even greater importance to the well-run empire is the serene barbarity of the civilized.    Three qualities make for a great barbarian:  a strong arm, a strong stomach, and a feeble memory.  Without a feeble memory, the average barbarian traces a rapid descent into civility because a remembered sins torment, and this leads to repentance.     A well-trained barbarian is the torch that lights up our heart of darkness and transmutes gore into glory.   His only response to screwing up is denial, a denial that allows him to repeat his screw-ups.  For the barbarian, the definition of sanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results every time.    While we’re on the subject of barbarians, I understand one of your generals went to the producers of the TV series, “24” and asked them to stop the torture scenes because they were endangering our troops.  Fortunately, the producers blew him off.   George, find that general and cashier the son-of-a-bitch!  The man obviously is too intelligent and sensitive for empire.   Your admirer, Belacqua Jones     7:23:19 AM    comment []

comment []