Will Smith’s action lacked an “objective correlative”, an emotional reaction proportional to that which induced it

THERE WAS NO OBJECTIVE CORRELATIVE!

By Professor Gilbert Morris

TS Eliot spoke of an “objective correlative”, an emotional reaction proportional to that which induced it. Eliot thought Hamlet’s response to his situation lacked an objective correlative.

Will Smith’s action lacked the same: the impulse to defend honour implies there is honour to induce its defence.

Mrs. Jada Smith’s behaviour even her recent illness does not imply a defensible honour in the manner of Mr. Smith’s undertaking.

This is especially true when one considers that Mr. Smith knew already that he would have the mike and an adoring global audience and could have humiliated Mr. Rock by mere explaining that Mrs. Smith was in fact unwell!

Rock would have poured on apologies and the vindication would have been proportional.

What would have impelled Rock to joke about Jada? Well, he’s a comedian and everyone is game. Second, he and Will are friends: could he have been intending to defend his friend?

I have no interest in this situation, expect it’s an opportunity to discuss a foundational moral point concerning emotional proportionality in the vortex of human behaviour that justifies it.

Consider: Had 50 Cent or Shaq made that joke, would Will have risen from his seat?

There is an internal calculus when nice boys contemplate violence. It occurs in seconds, a sort of “sizing up”. In Will’s calculus Rock was vulnerable and essentially defenceless.

That is what’s pernicious!

So, what actually drive Mr. Smith?

Well, who knows abundantly?

One surmises that he didn’t defend Mrs. Smith at all: he defended himself and perhaps his children watching with the need to witness an alignment of familial loyalty; which is to say, a defence of their mother by their father.

The hear is strange and estranging. One understands defending a devoted wife, friend and companion, but first she must be a devoted wife friend and companion.

Source/Comment

Jamaica is still a Christian country, so let us be Christian! ...United we stand, divided we fall

Christianity: Save us!


by Richard Ho Lung

WE KNOW it can be done: Christ can save our island.   Christianity can save our island.   We are losing faith, because we are not one, not united.   I am not talking about tolerating one another.   I am talking about loving one another and working together in fulfilment of a vision presented to us by Christ.

What is this vision?   It is set out by Christ: "I have come to preach the good news to the poor; to set the captives free."   Justice and mercy will be exercised when Christ is here.   If we really want to know the presence of Christ today in our world, in Jamaica, it is where the Church is doing the works of justice.   From the times of the Old Testament to the times of Christ, and now in our world and in Jamaica, justice must be done if we want to give witness to the one true living God.

We must agree on certain points, the fundamentals of our faith.   We must not waste time talking and debating whether gay marriages, abortion, euthanasia, this denomination or that, is right or wrong.   All these issues are obviously misguided and can be answered by questioning: Does God want same-sex marriages; a mother to eliminate the child of her womb; old and sick people be euthanised?

We need to work with the poor and rejected ones; we need a Church of the poor.   Even if Churches are wealthy or middle class, churches and schools must form the consciences and carry out activities of justice and mercy that give glory to God.   God will be pleased; God will dispense all the riches of the earth to accomplish His kingdom here on earth, the salient characteristics being justice and mercy.

Powerful Christian faith

I believe the civil state needs us, and I believe our Christian faith is so powerful that it can change the attitudes of everyone, including politicians, if only we as Church really become God's kingdom here on earth.   Psalm 72 verses 2 through 4 says:

"O God, give your judgment to the king ... that he may govern your people with justice, your oppressed with right judgment ... that he may defend the oppressed among the people, save the poor and crush the oppressor."

And Psalm 82 verses 3 and 4 asks God to:

"Defend the lowly and fatherless; render justice to the afflicted and needy; rescue the lowly and poor; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

But first and foremost that fundamental principle must be met: to serve justice and mercy to the poor, not only in word but in deed.

Too much talking, too many words; too many belaboured arguments and permissive foreign ways; too much mediocrity and middle-classness, have led us into a wilderness and confusion that are wrought by the devil himself.

Jamaica is still a Christian country, so let us be Christian!  United we stand, divided we fall.  First of all, we must love one another and work with one another for justice and mercy.  Jamaica is a most unusual country.  The spirits and souls of Jamaicans are strong and serious.   Let us give an example to the world, as we have done in so many other endeavours.

Let us require once and for all a strong moral family life.  Politicians are cowards in requiring marriage and fidelity with a punishment for those who are promiscuous and then themselves bear children out of wedlock.  Men and women must stop living like animals on our streets.  There must be a law that is seriously enacted on those who bear children outside of marriage.   That should be so for all classes of people.

Strong moral Christian values must be taught once again by teachers in the schools regarding personal behaviour, sin and virtue, right and wrong, and an absolute sense of responsibility towards the poor.

There must be a right and wrong, punishment and reward, heaven and hell, justice and mercy, not only taught but exercised in family life and in the schools.

We must become a Church of the Beatitudes.   I believe we are approaching the Age of the Beatitudes, wherein Christianity will be judged worthy and relevant to the life and benefit of modern man on the basis of how effectively she implements the works of mercy and justice among the most needy and marginalised - materially and spiritually - in our world.   Time is running out: the Kingdom of God is at hand! Church, are you ready?

Feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com

December 22, 2011

jamaica-gleaner