day no. 16,290: life in padded cells and death in open country

"In the bathroom two water tumblers were sealed in cellophane sacks with  the words: 'These glasses are sterilized for your protection.' Across the toilet seat a strip of paper bore the message: 'This seat has been sterilized with ultraviolet light for your protection.' Everyone was protecting me and it  was horrible. I tore the glasses from their covers. I violated  the toilet-seat seal with my foot... I began to formulate a new law describing the relationship of protection to despondency.  A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ." -- John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley

Nobody, child or adult, likes to be reminded to put their coat on before going outside, but it's better than having a coat forced upon you. It is one thing to be bullied by the concerns of another who can't bear to see you in danger, but quite another to be bound by the sensitivities of others who can't bear any kind of danger whatsoever. 

The "better safe than sorry" crowd cannot bear the risks of danger, no matter how much the reward may be. They were those who once said, "Better Red than dead," and proclaimed that they'd rather "Live on their knees than die fighting." Freedom is too small of thing for them to surrender their fears. They'd rather live under tyranny than die for freedom. They'd rather live in padded cells than die in open country.

Steinbeck is reading our mail. A nanny state is suffocating. It smothers others by perpetually enforcing what's best for them with no end in sight and no joy or fun to be had by anyone. Fun is often dangerous and contagious and safety simply can't have that.

There are worse things than germs, Germans of the 1940's variety, for example. Incidentally, those were some people who hated "germs." They hated them so much, they launched a crusade to rid the world of them. Some people just won't rest until everyone else has their rest taken from them. They just can't sleep unless someone else is robbed of theirs.

You can be safe from infection in a sterilized room and yet in grave danger. If germs and scrapes and broken bones and blood and sweat be the risk of living, then I say let's risk it all and have ourselves a time. 

"I know I shall die, and I shall die on time. Therefore, I must make the most of the moments between here and there.” - St. Boniface

There are fates worse than premature death, like immature living for example.

Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare ourselves for trial. 

Let us neither be dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers, 

nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. 

Instead, where the battle rages, let us find ourselves. 

Run towards the roar of the lion! 

Run towards the roar of battle! 

That is where Christ's most glorious victories shall be won!

- St. Boniface