Though Worlds Apart - Bast to You

I would suggest the following addendum to the Advocate Condell’s and Centre Club’s pathetically inaccurate Mission Statement.

Creed/Mission of Bad Medicine at the Libertyville Centre Club

“We strive to be disingenuous, judgmental, underhanded and hypocritical to our mission that pathetically invokes the name of Christ as our guide.”

I believe that promising and unifying thoughts of man, as well as heroic, even exemplary, acts are best not forgotten, but shared for generation after generation. Stories or pictures that depict the good of man for generations undoubtedly serve all. Of course, the repeated telling of cautionary tales, involving the perverse thoughts and destructive acts of people also has great merit.

I had just finished lunch at a weekly summer event in Libertyville: Lunch in the Park. Each Friday numerous restaurants set up stands and the town fills with people (and dogs) of all ages and sizes – to eat lunch and listen to live music in a grassy setting.

As I was about to return home, I saw a can of coke drop next to a woman who was carrying several lunches; she continued to walk towards her intended destination – unaware that the can had dropped. It was at this moment, through my thought and action, that I was to determine my own placement in the world. Up, I stood – grabbed the can- and outpaced the woman until able to touch her shoulder and tell her that she had dropped a can of coke. She smiled and thanked me.

It is direct words and acts, not conjecture, that depicts another path – a darker path. An instructor at The Libertyville Centre Club waxed on about the vast difference between her asking me to give her something that I had not offered her vs. my offering to give her something – that could readily be refused. I remembered a time years ago that I walked about 25 feet out of my way to say hello to her (because I foolishly thought that’s what decent people do) as I walked by her – coincidentally at the same location as lunch in the park. She hesitantly said hello, but the next day made it a point to let me know that she thought I acted rude and that she certainly would not have broken her path just because she saw someone that she knew. She said that without invitation by her, it was wrong to do anything but walk on by. Perhaps some issues with power/control?

In this woman’s world I leave the coke on the ground without concern or care, because I wasn’t asked (granted permission) to do it. In this woman’s world my effort/action is cause of great concern and scorn – how dare I intrude – what would her husband think – or do – if he found out such a thing?

I am unhappy and angry to the core that the dark world of this woman and the administration of the Libertyville Centre Club tainted my life. I am quite committed and resolved to tirelessly tell the story – the story of their absurd injustice towards me - for the sake of cautionary tale; for the sake of, not justice, unfortunately (justice delayed is justice denied), but truth and directly addressing wrongdoing in action.

On the other hand, I feel good about the world that I live in- and glad that I am not condemned to the darkness and shame of theirs.