A wide ranging discussion ensued last night.  On the agenda was the current politico-social conflict over unwanted pregnancy.  You know, the dogma that the state is morally obliged to force a woman to carry a fetus to full term,..  It doesn’t end there.  Is there ever an ending?  Life is inexpressibly complex.  One thing leads to another.

Before we began discussion of our topic mention was made about touring an old castle in England.  Typically a tour begins with the upper more spacious rooms.  The narrowing passageway down, and the dim cramped space of the below-grade dungeon is left for last.  Remark was made about how salutary it would be to begin the tour in the basement torture chamber, where the dregs of society, perceived enemies were kept to suffer at the pleasure of the powerful.  The wealth and expansive freedom of the lords in the state rooms, engaging in convivial repartee is purchased at the expense of the powerless who do the work.

Change means too, that some things remain as they always have been.

Do you yet hear the clink of chains?  I can…

32

The Unfree Man

A. He stands and harks: what does he hear?
What sound is ringing in his ear?
What struck him down? What mortal fear?
B. Who once wore chains, will always think
that he is followed by their clink.

— excerpt The Gay Science. Prelude in Jokes, Cunning and Revenge by Friedrich Nietzsche, pub. 1887, trans. by Walter Kaufmann