[Dialogue] Primary/Secondary Integrity in the movies

Wed Aug 29 00:09:17 EDT 2007

Rev. Jones -

Are you doing theology again?  Heh, heh, heh!  These are topnotch 
"pedagogical illustrations", though.  And when did this pugilist make that 
bold claim, about not "taking a dive" - in 1952?  Why even brag about not 
taking a dive - What was his problem, anyway?

And your "Professor Hill", did he teach at the "Gary, Indiana Conservatory 
of Music"?  Yeah, you do have a way with cinema as a "tool".  "Of all the 
bars and the gin joints in all the world..." - you have to delve into this 
God-thing right here.

Alright, Primary and Secondary "integrity".  But you know, I still struggle 
with these categories, like Randy and Kroeger, because aside from doing 
development - I was up to my eyeballs in HDP.  And in Sudtonggan, I 
sometimes whirled and twirled just thinking about the many stories being 
told about the many miracles we were performing in that poor, desolate 
village.  The Community Health Clinic is the image that sticks in my mind.  
Because...God only knows how many times we "sold" that Clinic to how many 
donors.  Luckily enough for us - we didn't have to "invent" a well, because 
as far as water was concerned - like Moses... we could literally draw water 
from limestone rock.  No sweat, no kidding.  And the water tasted just like 
spring water.  We knew early on that that was a commodity we couldn't "sell" 
to any prospective donor.

Maybe I set aside that Primary and Secondary stuff as soon as I was in the 
Land of the Incas, to begin working in Azpitia.  Perhaps because I knew I 
didn't have to invent stories, but instead focused on "Veritas".  No, there 
was no need to "create a story" for the Jesuits - they were willing to help 
out and give us a chance.  But perhaps my wonder of wonders at the time was 
(and this is perhaps where that Primary and Secondary thing steps in) - my 
willingness to sit down with the Padres de Opus Dei, the Spaniards who had 
jurisdiction over the parish, Azpitia's church included.  The Jesuits did 
warn me about not having anything to do with Opus Dei, but I thought at that 
point that, at least every once in while - "integrity", ha, ha, ha - could 
be "set aside" by breaking bread with them.  After all, isn't there 
something about "The Unity of Opposites"?  When Left and Right come together 
- a creative force is released.  Opus Dei gave us permission to use the 
church building for meetings and other project-related activities.  The 
other thing Opus Dei gave me permission to do was...officiate at some 
funerals when no priest was available.  It was actually a good feeling, to 
do the "send-out" (and fall back on my Latin every now and then, which the 
more conservative congregation just loved!)  "De profundis clamavi ad te, 
Domine, Domine exaude vocem meam..."

Yes, sometimes we had to make hard decisions, and I can't exactly describe 
the gut-wrenching feeling of having to stand in radical ambiguity.  And feel 
the pain.  And have to go through the Dark Night.  Doubt myself, blame God, 
blame the world.  The Dark Night.  We all have to experience the Dark Night, 
it's part of our humanity.  That the Christ figure would dare demand:  "Take 
this cup away from me..." is proof enough of his humanity.  And the world 
will never be the same.

What a great revelation.

Addi Batica

P.S.  "I'm just shocked, shocked to know that gambling is going on here!"

----Original Message Follows----
From: "W. J." <synergi at yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
To: oe at wedgeblade.net, dialogue at wedgeblade.net
Subject: [Dialogue] Primary/Secondary Integrity in the movies
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:12:27 -0700 (PDT)

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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