heptad of sins

The Alberton Papers, Vol III, # 7
By Dick Darne 12-11-06
"The unexamined life is not worth living" Socrates.
To examine life one may start with all the things one should do and must do, but first let’s examine things one shouldn’t do or better not do. We can start with the Seven Deadly Sins. Nice and handy, and already listed. Not complete, but a starting point.
The first of the heptad is Lust. Since little children may read this, I will refer the reader to the daytime soaps or most modern sit-coms or other drivel that passes for entertainment. Still a no-no unless it is lust for tools, which has been proven to be harmless.
Next is Gluttony, which I have always figured to be when someone else does it, when I do it it is "a hearty appetite". Could also apply to tools. It must be a rather low ranking sin, some French chef appealed to the Pope to have it removed from the list.
Greed and Avarice. To quote Shakespeare: " See, sons, what things you are, How quickly nature falls into revolt When gold becomes her object". We have been in the "Age of Greed" for quite a few years now, lots of corrupt politicians, who besides grabbing all the boodle they can, have worked tirelessly to make it legal. Our business schools and law schools are in it up to their eyeballs. Diogenes is still looking for someone to hold his lamp.
Sloth. Now what’s wrong with an afternoon nap, or fishing, or just sitting around B.S.ing? Or after 40 years of 40 hrs a week, doing whatever you want to? Or for that matter is it your business who does what as long as you don’t have to support him? But there is a time when Sloth is bad. When everybody does it, to quote Thomas Pynchon: " Sloth is the failure of Public Will, allowing the introduction of evil policies and the rise of evil regimes". In recent memory: Fascists of the 20's & 30's, Vietnam, Reagan- Bush, the Neo-Cons and the boy king of today.
Envy, (jealousy & malice) Nothing wrong with being a little jealous of those of us who have nice tools, but buying up at all the yard sales and outbidding at auctions may be going a little too far. Also "ratting" your buddy out for trying to sneak a tool home is the ultimate no-no.
Wrath. (Anger, hatred, prejudice, discrimination). These things can get you in a lot of trouble. Maybe a ride on the lightning express. Really bad in the wrong hands. Best to keep a short list and just imagine them boiling in oil, or something like that. Does wonders for your relationships with people not on the list. Just the threat of being put on the list keeps ‘em in line.
Pride/Hubris (vanity, narcissism) . Really, really bad in the wrong hands. Custer got his comeuppance, but at least he didn’t have his finger on the "nuklar- trigger". Not so today. "Mission Accomplished", "Bring-em-on", "Axis of Evil". Our reputation shot. Treasury emptied. Children and grandchildren in hock forever. Nice work. Should earn the whole bunch a ride on the "Big Lightning Express".
As one can see, most of the really bad stuff can be prevented if we can eliminate Slothfulness of the Public. Think! Question! Learn! dd