[Dialogue] Primary/Secondary Integrity in the movies

[W. J.]

Just to stir the pot a little bit more (y'know it's hard to resist!):
   
  There are two movie characters that come to mind in trying to understand Primary and Secondary Integrity.
   
  One uttered the famous line: "One hundred eleven fights and never took a dive!" That for me is a good example of Primary Integrity that, in the context/situation of the film, gets transformed. Ten points if you can guess the film title.
   
  The other guy is Professor Harold Hill. Seventy-six extra points if you can name the title.  Hint: he's a major scam artist. Second hint: it's a musical!
   
  Basically Harold just wants to get laid, get paid, and hop the last freight train outa town before he's tarred and feathered. (I know, it's coming, let me think a sec!)
   
  But here's what's amazing about the movie. Despite all his bad intentions, the town gets permanently transformed, and Harold gets caught up in a brand new reality (for him) and blows his exit.
   
  So what's really going on here? You could say the whole town was imprisoned by their xenophobia (google it) and gossip ("Pick pick pick, talk a lot, pick a little more!").
   
  And along comes this seductive, nasty guy whose only ethic is to prey on the town's vulnerability (fear of "the telltale signs of corruption" and appetite for a larger vision of something), screw 'em financially, and leave 'em lying in their dust and disappointment.
   
  But he believes in something, however impossible, reduced, or perverted ("I always think there's a band, kid.") And something finally moves him to tell little Winthrop (Ron Howard) the truth: yes, he's a liar, and no, he can't read music (a very BIG hint!).
   
  So what's this got to do with US? With Town Meetings all over Iowa (hint!) and our global Band of Human Development Projects?
   
  Well, we did borrow from this movie a song for the Gibson HDP, a rewrite of 'Lyda Rose' (HUGE hint!). And when the school board stopped squabbling, learned to harmonize, and sang 'Lyda Rose'...sheer Spirit began to break loose and transform everything.
   
  So you could say that miracles happened despite Professor Hill's very shady version of Secondary Integrity.
   
  Roman Catholic theology has a very interesting view of this. Even the Pope understands that he doesn't have to be a "good guy" to be the Pope--that is, to be an effective mediator of divine grace. A "bad" priest--a pederast, for example--is just as effective as a saint in bringing people into communion with the divine in the Mass.
   
  OK, so I'm not lettin' anybody off the hook here. Pederasts in the O:E included.
   
  But when we critique our crumminess, shortcomings, ethical lapses, and shady integrity, let's not forget that Professor Harold Hill got used by the Mystery, despite all his bad intentions.
   
  And in that sense, you could put on your theological glasses and see in him a Christ figure. Go figure.
   
  Marshall Jones
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
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