And so our arts education resumes.
What stirs in the ungiving heart but a cold draft and here
is what Sir Thomas More, the Man for All Seasons, will not forfeit: the dignity of his faith, private
beliefs vs. public duties.
The message here is that strength and honor come from an
intelligent, consistent belief in society. That a selfless approach to life –
insert golden rule here – for want of a
better term this time of year is the Christmas spirit (leave irony at the door,
for once).
It is, hopefully, a time for a revival and renewal, to
consider the greats of moral strength and duty who do the right thing. How
actions that are driven by a selfless consideration of others are not to be seen
as weakness. Rather it is to be, in the language of Trump, the bully of a
compassionate heart.
As an example, consider the splendid humanity of Bolt’s “A
Man for All Seasons.” A universal lesson that these days seems drowned out in a society that values
power at any cost.
Obviously, the glory here is not the physical. Sir Thomas
More is beheaded for his steadfast unwillingness to renounce his faith. Here is
the grander spiritual victory.
More becomes a symbol of pure resistance, the saint for not
just this season of hate and tweeting discontent, but for all seasons.
Next: Running for Your Life: Think Different Again
