NINETY-FIVE
On p. 95 of GR, Sarah continues her discussion of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Governor Frank Murkowski appointed Randy Ruedrich along with Sarah to the AOGCC. She writes, "It was Murkowski's third eyebrow-raising appointment in his short tenure. But this one was especially troublesome because Ruedrich was the state Republican Party chairman and would remain so during his tenure. He was also a member of the Republican National Committee.
"Ruedrich was jovial …"
I would like to focus my reflections this morning on this little word "jovial."
SARAH THE JOYFUL; RUEDRICH THE JOVIAL
What does "jovial" mean; what are its connotations; what is its etymology?
I think that this word is one of those that, while it does not have a univocally and unambiguously negative signification, is nevertheless tinged and tainted with bad and unsavory connotations.
In terms of its roots, it is derived from the Roman god Jupiter/JOVE, the equivalent of the Greek Zeus, the king of the pagan gods. I will return to its derivation shortly.
When I think of joviality, I think of a manner that is somewhat false, that is assumed as a mask to hide something. It is like someone who "bluffs" by being "bluff" and hearty in manner.
I think we may contrast the word and concept forcefully and pointedly with the word JOYFUL.
Joviality does not come at a price.
Joy, by contrast, veritable joy, the true steel of joy and happiness is forged only on the adamantine anvil of pain and suffering. It comes only under the dolorous but delivering blows of the hammer of fate and circumstances that the good Lord sends our way. It is the fruit and harvest of the tears that we sow when we elect, in spite of all inconvenience, all difficulties, all dangers to ourselves, when we elect the True and the Good.
Joviality, by contrast, has no roots; has no lofty heights of exultation, has no valleys and depths of dolors and sorrows.
At its root, it is often a LIE, not necessarily an assumed affectation (though it can be this), but rather SELF-DECEPTION. What is that old line from a song, "I could conjure up a constant state of happiness." I think that we human beings often do this: Conjure and contrive false "joy" for ourselves.
Joviality is like the iron pyrite, the Fool's Gold that poor souls often forge and fictitiously contrive and purchase for themselves when they cannot achieve the golden guerdon of genuine and real joy.
This royal JOY, on the other hand, is born and grows to marvelous maturity in the palaces of our hearts when, in spite of any grievous outward circumstances, we are at peace with the two Great Commandments, Love of God and Love of Neighbor.
I noted above that "jovial" is derived from the god Jove (Jupiter/Zeus), king of the Olympian gods.
A characteristic of these "gods" is that, in contrast to the "vale of tears" in which MORTAL MEN AND WOMEN dwell and pass away their limited hours, days, and years, they are FREE FROM TEARS. The existence of the "happy gods" is freed from all the ennobling but painful constraints and pains and sorrows to which mortal flesh is subject.
The "gods" are not subject to DEATH.
MEN and WOMEN ARE subject to DEATH.
The Olympian gods cannot be deemed "joyful" in the sense that was defined above.
We, on the contrary, can achieve the paradoxical and majestic heights of joy in the very midst and depths of the most exquisite sufferings … IF we are suffering for the sake of the Lord, for the sake of our neighbor, for the sake of Justice and Freedom!!
Hence, an individual who assumes the mask of joviality is often trying to ESCAPE from the grim but glorious earthly struggle for our souls that is our fate, and that will be our eternal glory or our eternal ruination.
This brings me back to Sarah Palin and Randy Ruedrich.
The "jovial" Ruedrich, the compromised Ruedrich, the corrupt Ruedrich could not even begin to move and stir the hearts and the spirits of tens of millions of American patriots the way that the Governor has, ever since our first golden glimpse of her on the deathless Sarah Palin Day, 29 August, 2008--THE JOYFUL SARAH, THE JOY-FULL SARAH; THE JOY-FILLED SARAH!!!
Why?
I think that joviality is essentially a dead and lifeless entity, one that cannot generate spiritual "offspring."
On the contrary, JOY is a living and vital and effulgent presence and puissance that communicates itself rapidly and …JOYFULLY …from heart to heart to heart, and lifts us up to the Heavens in veritable happiness … to the "Heavens" of the TRUE NORTH STAR, to the "Heavens" of our loftiest and noblest and highest aspirations!!!
In this decisive hour of peril and of opportunity for the Res Publica Americana, it is not jovial frauds like Randy Ruedrich that America, blessed America, the American Eagle cries out for.
NO, NO, NO!!!
The EAGLE IS CALLING, CALLING , CALLING for the BRAVE AND NOBLE WARRIOR OF THE NORTH …
IT IS CALLING AND CRYING FOR HER WHO IS WREATHED ABOUT, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE,WITH THAT GOLDEN AND ETHEREAL AND ETERNAL JOY THAT HAS BEEN PURCAHSED AND WON ON THE GRIM BUT GLORIOUS BATTLEFIELDS OF HER SOUL!!!!
