Wednesday, March 25, 2009

John Kass and Mayor Daley - Mannish Boys on Commongound?




I have read John Kass this morning!
I am over come by a wave of Agape*! There is no sentiment so powerful, aside from a man's love of his wife, or a parent for children, as two lusty men joined in an electric charge of human understanding and compassion.

David and Jonathon
Achilles and Patroclus
Alexander the Great and Hephaestion
Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr and Mary Rozet Smith

Now, two titans of Chicago's Olympus descend from opposite sides of the rocky summit and lock arms and eyes in mutal recognition!

The Greek and the Gael!

Not since Winston Churchill and Michael Collins drank London dry while negotiating the Irish Peace Treaty of 1921 have too formidible foes set aside antipathies for Au Bon Pere's at Midnight!


The hoary rope of Hellenic soul twines tightly a Gordian Knot Round the Claddagh Heart & Hands of the Celtic Chieftan and by such bond no small energy can toss flowers of approbation and Huzzahs of Manly Enthusiam from the throngs of Chicago.

As Alexander Pope said,...

A generous friendship no cold medium knows
Burns with one love, with one resentment glows;
One should our interests and our passions be,
My friend must hate the man that injures me.

My Thigh is All A Tingle

*The Christian usage of the term agape comes almost directly from the canonical Gospels' account of the teachings of Jesus. When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus said, "'Love (agapao) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love (agapao) your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

In Judaism, the first ("...love the LORD your God...") is the Shema, the second ("...love your neighbor...") is the Great Commandment.

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