revrty, who the bloody blazes are you to assess what goes against nature and what doesn’t? If you want to believe it yourself, because it says so in a highly subjective, fourth-century Byzantine collection of even earlier patriarchal writings (i.e., “The Bible”), that is your privilege, but a lot of us will thank you to restrain yourself from voiding your hypocritical bathos all over the rest of us who do not believe in the same way.
Wandering in the chaos the battle has left,
We climb up the mountain of human flesh,
To a plateau of green grass, and green trees full of life.
A young figure sits still by a pool,
He’s been stamped “Human Bacon” by some butchery tool.
(He is you)
Social Security took care of this lad.
We watch in reverence, as Narcissus is turned to a flower.
A flower?
Believe as you will. I do not object to your right to believe anything at all, even that the world is flat and that evolution is a myth. However, I do object when people think their own beliefs give them a right to dictate the beliefs or behavior of others, and try to give their own beliefs the force of law.
Read my comment again, bunnyhun. That is not at all what I said. I do not myself concur with his (or her) belief system, but (s)he (and you) remain perfectly free to believe as (s)he wishes, and even to express those beliefs freely in public. My issues begin where people bearing those beliefs try to codify them as law and thus force me, and those who believe like me, to comply with them.
I will also admit to a profound bias against statements such as “contrary to nature,” “mandated by God,” and the like, since such statements and phrases have been used over the centuries to justify many and various crimes against one’s fellow-beings, human and otherwise.
While probably not for the same reason, I agree with revtry’s comment. I see marriage as unnatural, and that is what Narcissus wants here. What is natural is what one would do without preconceptions or indoctrination by any societal influence, whether political or religious. I think Robert E. Howard was who said, and I paraphrase: Barbarism is the natural state of man, Civilization is unnatural and ultimately barbarism shall prevail. Mating is natural, marriage is not…it’s a by product imposed through indoctrination by an unnatural sense of being civilized.
Roger, In this case, considering in the real story of Narcissus, he dies because he can’t turn himself away from his reflection doesn’t bode well for being on nature’s side.
Well it has been quite a day on the MythTickle comment area. So many ideas, thoughts, points, and feelings expressed, it’s really wonderful, thank you to all of you- and I do mean ALL of you.
So what does this poor, non-paid, overthinking cartoonist take from all of these comments? What philosophical, chin-scratching, eye-to-the-sky musing can sum this all up for me today?
The fact that someone called my strip their “favorite comic”.
I may never forget that.
Cheers.
Let’s see…
“The second commandment is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
.
.
So you have to love yourself before you can love your neighbor, so why not marry yourself before marrying anyone else?
“Against nature?” There’s a famous couple of male penguins who have lovingly hatched and raised an abandoned egg. We’re far from being the only species whose behavior includes same-sex sexual activity and bonding. We may be the only narcissists, though.
Justin, nice work!
And you too, Roger.
It’s only in Hollywood that there’s only one way to love another person. In my life, and in most people’s, love includes respect, limits on how we treat one another, caring, and so on. It does not, in nearly every case, involve getting into bed together.
rmcq - I’m familiar with the Narcissus myth, and both of its interpretations… Greek moralist, and Freudian.
We’ve all got a little bit if Narcissus in us, wouldn’t you say?
The.Rifleman, your grammar and spelling are amazingly polished for someone who believes barbarism to be the natural state of mankind. I’m not disagreeing, I just found it an interesting contrast.
m_ortal about 15 years ago
Skipping ahead… Just imagine the divorce. Ouch.
mivins about 15 years ago
Karma as Portia – terrific! And the rainbow bridge is especially apropros for this tale.
revtry about 15 years ago
Ms. Nature will rule against Narcissus because what he wants goes against Nature.
ChiehHsia about 15 years ago
revrty, who the bloody blazes are you to assess what goes against nature and what doesn’t? If you want to believe it yourself, because it says so in a highly subjective, fourth-century Byzantine collection of even earlier patriarchal writings (i.e., “The Bible”), that is your privilege, but a lot of us will thank you to restrain yourself from voiding your hypocritical bathos all over the rest of us who do not believe in the same way.
Simon_Jester about 15 years ago
Wandering in the chaos the battle has left, We climb up the mountain of human flesh, To a plateau of green grass, and green trees full of life. A young figure sits still by a pool, He’s been stamped “Human Bacon” by some butchery tool. (He is you) Social Security took care of this lad. We watch in reverence, as Narcissus is turned to a flower. A flower?
Excerpt from Supper’s Ready by Genesis
( How Dare I Be So Beautiful? )
cathyhosler about 15 years ago
Roger, some of us agree with revtry.
ChiehHsia about 15 years ago
Believe as you will. I do not object to your right to believe anything at all, even that the world is flat and that evolution is a myth. However, I do object when people think their own beliefs give them a right to dictate the beliefs or behavior of others, and try to give their own beliefs the force of law.
marty about 15 years ago
Roger, it kind of sounds like you’re trying to impose your beliefs on revtry
ChiehHsia about 15 years ago
Read my comment again, bunnyhun. That is not at all what I said. I do not myself concur with his (or her) belief system, but (s)he (and you) remain perfectly free to believe as (s)he wishes, and even to express those beliefs freely in public. My issues begin where people bearing those beliefs try to codify them as law and thus force me, and those who believe like me, to comply with them.
I will also admit to a profound bias against statements such as “contrary to nature,” “mandated by God,” and the like, since such statements and phrases have been used over the centuries to justify many and various crimes against one’s fellow-beings, human and otherwise.
The.Rifleman about 15 years ago
While probably not for the same reason, I agree with revtry’s comment. I see marriage as unnatural, and that is what Narcissus wants here. What is natural is what one would do without preconceptions or indoctrination by any societal influence, whether political or religious. I think Robert E. Howard was who said, and I paraphrase: Barbarism is the natural state of man, Civilization is unnatural and ultimately barbarism shall prevail. Mating is natural, marriage is not…it’s a by product imposed through indoctrination by an unnatural sense of being civilized.
Simon_Jester about 15 years ago
Q: What did Narcissus say to Dick Cheney
A: “Don’t think I haven’t tried!”
rmcq about 15 years ago
Roger, In this case, considering in the real story of Narcissus, he dies because he can’t turn himself away from his reflection doesn’t bode well for being on nature’s side.
Justjoust Premium Member about 15 years ago
Well it has been quite a day on the MythTickle comment area. So many ideas, thoughts, points, and feelings expressed, it’s really wonderful, thank you to all of you- and I do mean ALL of you. So what does this poor, non-paid, overthinking cartoonist take from all of these comments? What philosophical, chin-scratching, eye-to-the-sky musing can sum this all up for me today? The fact that someone called my strip their “favorite comic”. I may never forget that. Cheers.
Nebulous Premium Member about 15 years ago
Let’s see… “The second commandment is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” . . So you have to love yourself before you can love your neighbor, so why not marry yourself before marrying anyone else?
mivins about 15 years ago
“Against nature?” There’s a famous couple of male penguins who have lovingly hatched and raised an abandoned egg. We’re far from being the only species whose behavior includes same-sex sexual activity and bonding. We may be the only narcissists, though. Justin, nice work! And you too, Roger.
owlsly about 15 years ago
all of us…Just enjoy the fact we are all different and enjoy the cartoon
bmonk about 15 years ago
It’s only in Hollywood that there’s only one way to love another person. In my life, and in most people’s, love includes respect, limits on how we treat one another, caring, and so on. It does not, in nearly every case, involve getting into bed together.
Durak Premium Member about 15 years ago
Make that two Justin. Probably alot more than that, if we can just keep them from arguing with each other.
Radical-Knight about 15 years ago
Well said Roger, you too Bmonk. Good to hear from you Justin. Me too Burgundy. Revtry, does it really go against nature, or just the taboos society?
3hourtour Premium Member about 15 years ago
…I self love when I read ‘Lila’
Simon_Jester about 15 years ago
Bill Cosby: I Luv Myself Better Than I Luv Myself
( Hands down, the best James Brown parody ever. )
ChiehHsia about 15 years ago
rmcq - I’m familiar with the Narcissus myth, and both of its interpretations… Greek moralist, and Freudian.
We’ve all got a little bit if Narcissus in us, wouldn’t you say?
The.Rifleman, your grammar and spelling are amazingly polished for someone who believes barbarism to be the natural state of mankind. I’m not disagreeing, I just found it an interesting contrast.