The Sea People and the Fallow

Though it seems unbelievable, there once was a massive army of invaders known only as the Sea People that wreaked havoc on Mediterranean civilization. Historians know very little about them other than the fact that they were sea faring, warlike and rather primitive. Their modern name comes from what the Egyptians called the mysterious force. Historians do not know where they came from, where they went, the name of their ethnicity or what language they spoke. They invaded the Greek islands, Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt around 1200 BC and perhaps wiped out the Hittite, Mycenaean and Mittani civilizations. Unlike typical invaders, the Sea People took no advantage of the technology, language or culture of the cities they conquered. They burned the cities to the ground and either left or replaced the cities with villages that were less advanced. The Egyptians repelled their force, but the Greek civilizations were not as lucky. The destruction caused what is referred to as the Greek Dark Ages (1200 BC – 800 BC).

Often when human beings hit a “funk” in life, they can trace it back to a cause. Sometimes someone gets dumped or they lose their job. Perhaps tragedy strikes like a family member dying. Or it could be as simple as day-light-savings time ending or a holiday approaching. In a world where everyone believes Newton’s third law, humans believe their lives are also dependent on cause and effect.

Now to rise from life’s nadirs, the human also believe they must overcome the problem that sent him down. For instance, Maverick felt that he was not fitting it with his squad, had issues about the truth of his father’s death and was mourning the loss of Goose. These issues negatively affected his life in the form of decreasing his ability to fly and his relationship with Kelly McGillis. Maverick overcame this lull by finding out his father was a good pilot after all, finding a new wingman and making friends with Ice Man. Poof, his ability to fly and love returned.

Yet, suppose much of the time or even most of the time there is no cause for slumps. What is there then to overcome?

Just as the Sea People and the Greek Dark Ages are a mystery, so are often our moods and abilities. Sometimes people feel down. Sometimes baseball players bat poorly. Sometimes blogs go unwritten for a month.

But, thankfully, also without cause, renaissances occur.

It’s Self Exposition, Charlie Brown

Anyone who is familiar with the Peanuts gang knows of Linus van Pelt. Linus is famous for his faith and superstition, which are displayed in his quoting of the bible and his “security blanket” which is so famous that it actually coined the term. Though a loser without elder guidance like Charlie Brown and Lucy van Pelt, Linus is clearly happier and more at peace with himself than his best friend or sister. Linus is the religious zealot who finds happiness in his faith. He saves himself from the existential wallowing of Charlie Brown, the masochistic rage of Lucy, the hedonistic lust of Sally, the fantastical escapism of Snoopy or the lonely artistic indulgence of Schroeder. Though most of us identify with Charlie Brown, it is Linus who we feel good feelings towards despite his delusion (or perhaps because of it).

Linus’ most memorable appearance is in Schultz’s remake of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting For Godot” entitled “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”. Linus practices temperance and forgoes the worldly pleasures of Halloween candy and fun and instead waits for the Great Pumpkin who will supposedly give presents to those who have faith in him (or is it Him?). Linus, being a man, falters slightly and says “if” rather than “when”, but his faith was not swayed and he vows to wait again next year. Like Becket’s Godot and Jesus, the Great Pumpkin never arrives, but the devoted continue to wait. So, in the end, this play, this life and this TV special are exercises of inaction. Nothing happens really, but that is not really the point. From a wasted night in a pumpkin patch, we learn quite a bit about who Linus, Charlie Brown and Sally are as human beings.

Shifting gears, in “The Great Muppet Caper”, Miss Piggy walks into the office of Lady Holiday and impossibly lands a job as a receptionist. Lady Holiday begins telling Miss Piggy all about her life. Miss Piggy asks “why are you telling me this?” and Lady Holiday responds “it’s plot exposition”.

Yes, the seemingly pointless does, in fact, have a point. God’s existence, non-existence or partial existence help us understand ourselves and influence how we interact with society. Are we hopeful, yet deluded and cold to our friends like Linus? Are we pessimistic, yet real and warm to our friends like Charlie Brown? It is all exposition of one’s personality and incredibly relevant in our lives.

Could one marry a zealot? Could one marry an atheist? It is amazing how important these questions are in world without demonstrative higher beings. Good grief.