RAT Body Politic

[NOMADMONAD@aol.com]

"Maybe it means that you're the evil man, and I'm the righteous man, and Mr. 
Nine Millimeter here is the shepherd, guiding my righteous ass through the 
valley of evil.  Or it might mean that you are the righteous man, and I am 
the shepherd, and the world is the valley of evil.   I'd like that.   But 
that shit ain't the truth.   The truth is, you are the weak, and I am the 
tyranny of evil men; but I'm trying, Ringo, I'm trying real hard...to be the 
shepherd." 
-Samuel L. Jackson _Pulp Fiction_

It's hard for me to treat politics as anything other than metaphor for the 
action and transformation I seek in theatre.  

I've never voted in my life.  Sometimes peers that I normally consider 
intelligent will try to debate me on this.  A momentary lapse into redundant 
stupidity on their part.  They really understand the why-not-to-vote debate 
positions as well as I do.  They are just pretending to represent the 
why-to-vote debate position.

However, I have seriously *campaigned* now and then. (synonyms for campaign 
include battle, warfare, crusade)  

A couple years back as Homeless Elvis I squeegeed car windshields on the 
Manhattan Bridge in support of Ruth Messenger's run against Giuliani.  Of 
course I quite possibly lost Ruth more votes than I gained. That was the 
point if there was one.  If forced to state the *intent* of any campaign:  
"Survive, with a minimum number of casualties." 

Theatre is voodoo or hoodoo not politics.  And the Virus has a discernible 
intelligence.  Riots can be incited.  Likewise disease can be incited in 
one's self and others.  Dis-Ease.  Our bodies (and body politic) are always 
on the line whether we are completely cognizant of it or not. And that's the 
truth, Ruth.  Hunka hunka burning love.

Giuliani is said to be a kinder gentler fascist since the discovery of his 
cancer.  Coincidentally both he and his Top Cop Safir each recently 
discovered they had prostate cancer.  So now they're both basically calling 
it quits to their earlier *campaign*.   When the press asked Giuliani that 
question always asked of those personages/celebrities who in appearance have 
reconciled themselves to such life threatening diseases,  "Do  think you are 
closer to God now?"   Rudy answered, "No, but hopefully He is closer to me."  
 Hunka hunka burning love. 

The Jihad is still possible for other parts of the world but not here.  For 
us to act collectively within a spiritual or ethical realm is a most 
difficult task.  The militant non-violent protest in this country belongs 
more to a political or social realm than a transcendent one. 

We have no infidels to kill only because we have no real shared beliefs for 
which we can live and die.  And even though this is the condition we all know 
is true, we continually try to bullshit ourselves into some higher level of 
communion.  This is a good thing.  Theatre is the great lie that would become 
the great truth.

Overwhelmed by the presence (pronounced "presents") at the recent Iowa Rat 
Conference,  Erik declared simply: "RAT is no longer a scam."   But that shit 
ain't the truth.

--nick