The “Thing”

“An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.” -Hamilton and Madison, The Federalist Papers

“Hassan,” Tiffany said, “What exactly is the training we are to receive. Eric tells me that Carl said we are to be taught misdirection by a man named, Shiraz.”

“Misdirection is the art of evasion, the art of escaping the power and attention of the Thing. The training you will receive, I have already completed. My reference to the Thing is not original, but comes from a man I regard as great, Fahad Shiraz. He’s Iranian. How do I begin to impress upon your mind the truths I’ve come to accept? I’m an American just as you. So such truths deeply disturb me. In fact, notwithstanding the tragedy which befell my family, it was nevertheless difficult for my thinking to arrive where it is today. It was an intellectual and ethical journey as fraught with terror as the fabled Black Forest, a transition haunted by one’s private dervishes and ghosts. The trek across the veldt of truth affords many exits and detours for the weak or weak-minded. Thus, they are unable to complete it. I suppose that if there were 100 Americans in this room and we asked all those who were weak or weak-minded to stand, fewer than five would. Yet . . . and this is the vital terror to which I refer . . . it is likely that 99 of the 100 fall into this category.”

“I guess I don’t understand the definition you’re applying to the terms,” I said, “because I would contest your numbers on purely statistical grounds.”

“It is not the definition, Eric; It is the Thing that you do not fully comprehend.”

“Why do you call it The Thing?” Tiffany interjected. “It sounds like an attempt at a romantic pejorative. What is the Thing?”

“I think I know what it is,” I said. “It’s about power, that ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ It was that knowledge that led the Founding Fathers to limit the power of government.”

“Correct, Eric. It is about power and yours is a valid approach to understanding it,” He replied, “But it is a hyperbole of a more fundamental law. Perhaps Tiffany has provided the opening for me to enter with her question. May I speak as though you are a school child, even my child whom I desire to be wise? I know that wisdom will expose that child to danger, that as the ancients knew, He who hath great knowledge hath great sorrow, but I desire it for my child still, because as the ancients also said, Wise men store up knowledge. Would you find that approach offensive or condescending?”