Stereotypes

"As Napoleon once said 'What is history, but a fable agreed upon?'" ~ Dan Brown

Looking at History through the lens of what people chose to write about is an increasingly interesting pursuit for me.  Sometimes the descriptions surrounding a particular writer or an era of writing speak to me of our own times.  Today in an American Literature book, I was fascinated to read that not all Puritans, in fact many Puritans, did not fit the stereotype of a Puritan that I have essentially been taught since childhood.  

I was surprised to read this in an introduction:  "Puritans in general were lovers of life, their clergy were well-educated scholars in whom the Renaissance lamp of humanism still burned.  They did not forbid gaily colored clothes if they could get them..."  This passage did not neglect to mention that there were indeed harsh things that happened within Puritan culture, but that was not the entire story.  It said that many Puritans even drank in moderation, enjoyed the arts and made several advances in education that we tend not to think about (like creating Harvard).

History is far more nuanced than we tend to know.

 

Tree photo by Susan Larison Danz.

The "Hear" in Heart

There's a reason why "heart" begins with "hear" . . .

I had to stop and re-examine my post from last night, Swordplay.  When one writes spontaneously late at night within a shifting space, it's easy to overlook the true heart of the matter.  In truth, only some of my writing has carried any sort of sword, certainly not all, even in my Oprah forum years.

And as usual, balance is the key.  When there is something powerful to say, perhaps sometimes it's best to say it, in one way or another, even if privately at times, free from self judgment or concern about the judgment of others.  It really has more to do with one's intent.  Even crusades have their place at times if the intent is to truly help, not hurt.

Is it the sword in my hand the real issue or wounds from a source as yet unseen?

I do know this much is true.  If the only words I ever say again are peaceful platitudes, then in putting down what I perceive to be a sword, I'll be surrendering my authenticity in the process.