Who is the Radical?

 Tomorrow I shall be discussing Laozi in philosophy and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in an introduction to Art History. 

This tempest tossed day I've spent with Jess at home and at the stimulating, intoxicating atmosphere of Apres Diem. We ran through rivulets of water to get to our outdoor, but covered, table as lightning bolted and downpours poured down. It was a blessed, 73 degree, breezy setting. 

Our four horsemen of conversation, carrying us through brunch and the afternoon, were art, philosophy, flailing democracy, and climate. Jess raised the question in our dialog, who is the radical, the person who will not stop addressing the disasters, or the person who is in radical denial, the calm one who is indifferent to political change and climate horrors? The screamer into the widening abyss, or the person who wills not to see or confront the abyss. You know, the three monkeys on a temple in Japan who cover their ears, eyes, and mouth? Maybe they are the most radical of all, the real monsters. 

Jess and I share not only our world views, but our sense of humor. We laughed through Pâté. We laughed through poached eggs and salmon, waffles and fruit. And our dialog was fruitful indeed. We downed espressos and made a merry time of it. We found our way through the storms of the day.