Posted by
"Mind and Morals" Michael Coyne on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 10:47:00 PM
I’ve been in something of a funk lately. For a time, I had
lost quite a bit of faith in both people and my own future. However, today
changed that.
You’ll have to pardon me, as this will not be my usual,
thoughtful political commentary. Rather, this will be a more personal story
with a dash of political salt.
I was in a relatively dark place going into my early class
today. I’m sure that I seemed fine to most, but I was a shell of myself. I was,
in my mind, dismissive of most of the world, and fairly convinced that my work
to try to impact just one person at a time was futile. It was one of those situations where it gets very hard to see the big picture.
During that first class, we discussed a writing of a
gentleman who tried to convince us that animals deserved rights and that it is
morally wrong to be “speciesist”—like racist, but prejudiced against
species. During this time, I became very hungry (power of suggestion, I guess), in spite of the six
mini-sausage sandwiches that I had consumed that morning, so I elected to go
buy something with meat on it.
I wound up dining at a small place downtown called the
Griller’s Café. They had an absolutely incredible Italian Beef sandwich. It’s
rare to get an Italian Beef sandwich just right; so many places don’t give you
enough beef, others don’t serve it with hot peppers, and others just plop an
Italian Beef Sausage on there and call it a day. But these guys did it
perfectly, which boosted my spirits almost as much as the beautiful irony of
enjoying this sandwich right after a class that attempted to validate the
boloney (sorry) claims of a rabid vegan. After all, meat is murder… tasty, tasty
murder.
Meanwhile, I went across the street and checked my email,
only to find an absolutely tremendous gesture of gratitude for a service that I
had provided to my former high school. What that sandwich did for the body,
this gesture did for the spirit about a hundredfold.
This evening, there was a lecture to be given at Loyola by
Andrew Card, George W. Bush’s former Chief of Staff. Mr. Card also served under
Presidents Reagan and Bush 41. I was on the fence about going, considering it
was set to begin about 15 minutes after my class ended, and I was on the other
side of town (for those who don’t know, Loyola University is divided into two
campuses—one
by the lake, and one on Michigan Avenue—I was at Michigan Avenue, while Mr. Card
was at Lake Shore campus). My class wound up letting out half an hour early.
I managed to get there with plenty of time to spare. And I’m
glad I did. Mr. Card gave an absolutely engrossing lecture, after which I
managed to step up and introduce myself. I managed to tell Mr. Card that I was
personally grateful for his service and for President George W. Bush. I also
conveyed the fact that my regular readers know very well: that I actually
became a Republican because of President Bush. Mr. Card was gracious and
patient enough to sign my pocket Constitution and to take a picture with me. I
managed to ride my political-geek-high all the way home. I can’t describe how
grateful I am to Loyola’s College Republicans for organizing the event, and, of
course, for the good that this did for my previously sunken heart.
So, today, an Italian Beef Sandwich, a gesture of generous
gratitude, and President Bush’s Chief of Staff all conspired to rebuild the
Michael Coyne that I really am. Tonight, I am whole again. God provides; let it
never be said that He doesn’t.