As bad as most musicals are, there is one musical that has carved its place in the stone of masculinity. Of course, I'm talking about "The Blues Brothers." And like the Blues Brothers, I've been feeling kind of weird lately. I've been feeling like Jake during that epic scene when James Brown asks him, "Have you seen the light?" and Jake yells back, "The band! The band! The BAND!" All of a sudden, they're "on a mission from God."
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Mike LopezMan at Large |
Once dismissed, they never cross my mind again. Nod, smile and forget. I always rationalized my behavior by thinking that if I gave them any money, they'd just go spend it on booze. Naturally, I don't want that. I'd also think that they should go get a job. Yeah, I'm pretty cold. I'm not proud of it. I'm not proud of a lot of things. Anyway, to get back to the story, this guy asked me for money.
As usual, I nodded and smiled. I kept walking and was just about to forget when, crap, I couldn't. Instead of forgetting about him, I started to feel guilty. I thought to myself, "You are such a lousy punk. Talking about morals, trying to be a good person - and you don't even give a lousy quarter to a poor bum on the street."
I wondered if he had any family. Did he have sisters like me? Maybe he used to be a student here. I felt bad for this poor guy. As I wondered what could have happened to make everyone in his life turn away from him, I kept on walking. I probably had a twenty and a pocket full of change at the time. Even if I didn't, I was on my way to the Burro. I could have at least gotten him some nachos. I did not.
It is amazing how one transgression can lead to many more.
How does this tie in with being "on a mission from God?" Like I said, not two months ago, I wouldn't have given that guy a second thought. I would have continued to exist in my own little world. I would have done some community service, but I wouldn't have cared about those that I helped.
That was my whole problem. I didn't care. Do you care about what has been happening in East Timor, Palestine, Ethiopia, Iraq, Detroit, Ypsilanti and the corner of William and State? I didn't. When you don't see yourself in the eyes of the suffering, it is really easy to forget that they're human.
Like Jake and Elwood, I'm starting to care. I don't plan to smile and nod the next time a transient walks up to me. I don't think it is possible to lead a "good" life by ignoring the plight of the less fortunate. I'm still no saint. I rip on my friends' mothers. I want to choke some of the drivers in this town. I refuse to exercise, but hopefully all of this will slowly change. I'm starting to care. This is the "mission from God."
Look what it did to the Blues Brothers - they went to jail to save the orphanage. They didn't have to. Jake could have gotten back together with Carrie Fisher and Elwood could have hooked up with Twiggy. I'm glad they didn't and I wish more of us were like them. Maybe more of us are.
All I know is that the next time someone asks for a small token or a little favor, I'm going to care. I'm going to appreciate the opportunity to connect with another person and I'll probably take it. Shouldn't we all take those opportunities? The answer to that is a no-brainer. Unfortunately, for the past 24 years, I've had no brain.
- "Man at Large" is about the personal experiences of your average guy at your average, prestigious university. Do you know anyone who walks through life with an aura of peace? (You know
them by the relaxed atmosphere that surrounds them.) Send references to
Mike Lopez: manatlarge@umich.edu. Glow Blue!
10-13-99
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