OCR Text |
Show Friday May 7, 1965 SIGNPOST Page 6 The Philosophical Critic Background on Man For Ail Seasons by George Butsikares It is not always easy, today, to be an individualist. Automation, creeping socialism, fear of atomic genocide, the population explosion, and the spread of Com-muncism as an ideology are but a few of the problems facing the modern man. Who is a true conformist, and who is a true individualist, however? The answer to that question depends upon both what is right, a man may be a conformist without harm to his character. If the widely held view is wrong, a true individualist follows the uttermost dictates of his consicnce, no matter how uncomfortable the results may be. A more revealing question is not whether a man is an individualist or a conformist but rather whether a man is tine to himself and to the still, small voice within. The self of man is an identity too fast losing emphasis in our society in deference to expediency, rationalization, materialism.How does the self of man gain strength? Through indulgenece in the animal passions or by reason as a governing factor? Who is the greater? The man who attem the greater? The man who attempts to compel others to his point of view by force? Or Hie man who, though he respects the rights of others and abides by the right to maintain his own point of view, ultimately the right of privacy to his own thoughts? ..The true individualist is a man for all seasons. His historical set ting is incidental. King Henry the Eighth stalks across the ages a tryant, murderer, glutton, and fat satyr, indelibly inked in black for men of all time by both historians and playwrights.. Sir Thomas More is rememberd through the ages a profile in courage, a symbol of man's indomitable will reminiscent of William Ernest Henley's lines in "In-victus."It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. The fact that Sir Thomas More was loyal to the Catholic Church is not as important in the eyes of the playwright as the fact that More remained true to his inner self. But what of Henry the VIII? It is a matter of history that when Henry developed a procliv-1 ity for Ann Boleyn, he attempted to obtain a divorce from Catherine, the childless wife Spain had given him for political alliance. The Pope was under Spanish domination at the time and would not grant the divorce. Henry decided to throw off the Pope and Catholicism and appoint a cardinal who would grant the divorce. Thomas Cranmer became that cardinal. The English parliament went along with Henry. The schemer and device Henry chose to ' "persuade" Sir Thomas More to take a public oath in favor of the king's actions was the historically notewoi-th figure Cromwell. In another play, George Bernard Shaw has his protagonist Joan of Arc say that each man gives his life for what he believes in. Playwright Robert Bolt has Sir Thomas More say in his final hour, When a man takes an oath . . . he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water. And if he opens his fingers then He needn't hope to find himself again. . . In matters of conscience, the loyal subject is more bounden o be loyal to his conscience than to andy other thing . . . Can I help my King by giving him lies when he asks for truth? Will you help England by popu-any other thing . . . The King in Parliament cannot bestow the Supremacy of the Church because it is a Spiritual Supremacy! And more to this the immunity of the Church is promised in Magna Carta and the King's own Coronation Oath!... Nevertheless, it is not for the Supremacy that you have sought my blood but because I would not bend to the marriage! MAY UB MOVIES Tuesday, May 11 Four for Texas, starring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, 7 and 9:15 p.m. Monday, May 17 Rome Adventure, starring Troy Donahue. Suzanne Pleshette, Rossano Braz-zi, and Angie Dickinson, 7 and 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, May 25 Merrill's Marauders, starring Jeff Chandler and Ty Hardin, 7 and 9:30 p.m NOTE : A cartoon will be shown with each movie. m m m 3 .ATo-- . rv (4J7 i You'll enjoy the delicious hamburgers at Dowe Dm NOW FOR WEE STATERS :?M:S icv i8! plus a modest set up and local delivery cost Ogden Honda Sales 18th and Wash. Blvd. Phone 394-2175 l . - - ; ' 2 ! ' , -.' v. . , .5 c.; ! ' ...-.-'. ' X For 20th Century Individualists! arved AxtC new .DfE AM- D 1 .'K10ND FJNGS I F)i love's Silk c iinv girl would 3cvpr ven an ofdinaryj ,nd'ni..,ri' -rin $qu3f-lcjking, uninspiring." m her !,Cift. fho hopes !! an vf.irtordimry rsn;; vshich wiflj . coiVipd ih;;- a'i.Tiiraiion oi ' ' ; ArtCar.'d Dfcam'Diampnd Rigs ar 'extraordinary.-Sh'iin-; "nine lhi ccesMvv ninui and ginscbread of' ordinary rmis: tht-v deKehf trie niodern vvo t'ure in iorm. eiogantiy scuip-i ii.ired. ii;:v LiKprchb she lai'.' our time. ; top ?! ,ij h-r Vt.-r,f;;;(i Sep our nf:w itytes a', your; .ArfOntfv iewi-icr hriw;: you' decido Each !rom $150. toe )p;f !iiu,!!Vi;od folcJ'f vVfdt' io MCin.fij. Dc-p!. C, 21 fe fast: 4 'Ph ' S: rent . New Yoik, N. V . i i "H )1 i . I EST'S vp". Registered Jeweled American beni bociety 2429 Wash. Blvd. Phone 394-6351 |