Most of this book seemed rather negative and critical to me, and although the ending falls along the same lines I think it's actually kind of a happy resolution. Not in a happily ever after way, but in a real way.
I love the Deacons reaction when he enters the barn.
"The Deacon bowed his scarred grey head to his hands, and the men of Wapiti community, Metis and Mennonite, standing in an old barn, heard the sobs of a great strong man, suddenly bereft, and broken. They heard, terrified."
This seems like a sad moment but I think it's really beautiful. Block has finally admitted his defeat, and given up control. He publicly acknowledges his brokenness, which must be very humbling for him. According to 18th century Mennonite writer John Brenneman humility is the way we build a relationship with Christ. Part of accepting forgiveness is acknowledging our weakness as human beings. Block tried to create a perfect little world by hiding his imperfections and the evil of the world from the community, but eventually the bubble popped. The lies ended and now the healing can begin.
It's also a humbling moment for Thom when he loses control and hits Herb. After being so critical of everything throughout the whole book, he finally fails himself, bringing the cycle of hypocrisy full circle. This is just part of being human. Thom's recognition of failure in himself allows him to forgive others for their misgivings.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Menno Pause, Peace Shall Destroy Many, and the act of shunning.
I sympathize with both sides of the Gadfly conflict. What happened to the 4 students was certainly unfair and unwarranted. It would have been easy for Paul Mininger to tell the students, stop printing this paper or I'm going to kick you out. But Mininger didn't do that, he just got rid of them.
In Peace Shall Destroy Many Deacon Block acts in a similar way when he forces Louis Moosomin to leave Wapiti. He says "he did not care, in his numbness, that he had, by every standard he ever believed, damned his own soul eternally. Wapiti was clean for his son."
I'm guessing this was how Mininger thought of these students, like in order to protect the minds of the rest of the student body, he needed to make an example. Other students might have thought, it looks like those 4 are having fun and they got away with it, so why can't I. Mininger pruned the metaphorical plant of Goshen, but the leaves are not leaves, they're human beings.
You could even compare this model to men who perpetrate violent military action. They're just trying to protect their families.
So Mininger did what he had to do to protect the college.
I wish Mininger would have acted less harshly. After reading the Hess article I'm guessing Mininger felt the same way. I'm glad reconciliation was made between him and Jim Wenger, but I would like to see more reconciliation between Mennonites and the LGBTQ community.
In Peace Shall Destroy Many Deacon Block acts in a similar way when he forces Louis Moosomin to leave Wapiti. He says "he did not care, in his numbness, that he had, by every standard he ever believed, damned his own soul eternally. Wapiti was clean for his son."
I'm guessing this was how Mininger thought of these students, like in order to protect the minds of the rest of the student body, he needed to make an example. Other students might have thought, it looks like those 4 are having fun and they got away with it, so why can't I. Mininger pruned the metaphorical plant of Goshen, but the leaves are not leaves, they're human beings.
You could even compare this model to men who perpetrate violent military action. They're just trying to protect their families.
So Mininger did what he had to do to protect the college.
I wish Mininger would have acted less harshly. After reading the Hess article I'm guessing Mininger felt the same way. I'm glad reconciliation was made between him and Jim Wenger, but I would like to see more reconciliation between Mennonites and the LGBTQ community.
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