1984

In The Napoleon of Notting Hill, GK Chesterton writes about a futuristic king who as a joke turns each suburb of London into its own country. The new countries adopt formalities, royalty and quickly come to arms with each other. Adam Wayne, the provost of Notting Hill is most dedicated to the new ways that the king has established, and he beats all the other suburbs as they battle to put a road through the small, poor suburb.

The end result is a severe patriotism, and a real improvement in the way of life for the citizens.

At the end of the book Wayne learns for the first time that the king had established the countries as a joke, but that Wayne had pursued the end result whole heartedly. Chesterton seems to wonder if God hasn’t created the world as some kind of joke that we take just way to seriously.

This book was written in 1904 and referred to a world 80 years later, or 1984. Later Chesterton gave a struggling young writer named Eric Blair an opportunity to publish his first essay in GK’s Weekly. Blair wrote under he pen name George Orwell, and later wrote a futuristic book entitled 1984.

Cartoons

Which is the greater: the man who ignores the child taunting him, or the man who becomes enraged over the taunting?

Which is the greater god: the god whose followers carve him out of wood, paint him, prop him up and then bow to him or the god who is self existent?

Which is the greater god: the god who must be defended at all cost or the god who needs no defense?


The recent publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in blasphemous situations and ways has created a simple yet effective test to observe the strength of the god being worshipped. There are throngs of Islamic people protesting and enraged in their zeal to defend the Prophet. When even just the dignity or the civility of the Prophet is questioned or impugned, the followers find it necessary to take up arms and lay down lives in defense of the beloved Mohammad.

My God is greater, much greater, than I, and He is much more capable of defending himself than I could ever hope to realize, and therefore, He is not in need of my defense. I may grieve or be annoyed with blasphemies such as “The Last Temptation of Christ” or other equally disgusting rot coming from the entertainment community, but I don’t have to take up arms. God will jealously protect His name, and doesn’t rely on my feebleness to protect it.

I am reminded of the Huns’ sacking of Rome nearly 1500 years ago. As Attila entered the city the heathens made haste to their temples to protect their gods, and were rightly ridiculed by the Christians. Why? Because…

ANY GOD IN NEED OF MY PROTECTION IS UNWORTHY OF MY DEVOTION!

I took a puff on my cigar and blew it up into the cool air of the library. I glanced out the window at the snowy, crowded street in front and turned intently to my long time friend. "Jerome, we've been friends for a long time."

"That's why I came to you Fin. I just don't know what else to do. I'm kinda at my whit's end. If one or even two of these had hit, but all this at once...I really need some help."

I watched him, and we sat in silence for a decade it seemed. "Jerry, that's what friends are for, to help each other out, you know." Another long pregnant pause filled the air.

"See here Jerry, what I really could use to get back on my feet is a car. I need transport in order to attend to a job.” He nervously darted his eyes around the room, and his fingers played concerto’s on the handles of the stiff wooden chair. “So what is old chum?”

I drew heavy on the cigar, and let the smoke gently escape my mouth as I stared at him. “Fin, I’d love to help you out. I have an extra car, actually two extras, but I can’t let you have either of them…”

“Oh, of course not, Jerry! I’d just borrow one for a week…maybe two.”

“Emm… As I was saying… The Fiat is not available since it technically doesn’t belong to me.”

“Doesn’t belong to you?! Jerry, I was with you when you bought it.” Fin’s face glowed red as he choked out the words.

“Fin, I promised the car to the salvage yard down the street when I’m done with it. I’m helping out that worthy institution by allowing them to have it when I am done and no longer have any use for the car.”

Finnigan just stared at me, but I had to attend to the ash. Finally, he quietly, and with great enunciation, said, “Do you feel some special satisfaction at giving them what is useless to you? That is quite a sacrifice.”

My head was down, and I was trying to relight the cigar when he spoke. I glared at him from over my glasses. “No. My real satisfaction is that I willed the other one, the Rolls, to them upon my death.”

“Doesn’t your son want it?”

“Of course, but I’m giving it to the business there at the end of the block. They’ve been good to me.”

“No your not, Jerry.”

“Not what?”

“Jerry, you’re not giving the car away. You’re stealing your son’s inheritance and giving that away.”

I ushered Fin out, and as I watched him walk away down the street I thought that some people can really be self centered.