My previous post spoke to three figures that demonstrated tough love. The character of Lord Jim in “The 2nd Raid on Harpers Ferry” represents this archetype. He leads The Kindred with a stern hand. Operational security is a necessary evil in order for the mission of the group to succeed. A lot of responsibility rests on his shoulders. Even though most readers despise him right behind Urizen, I think he is the real hero of the book. He doesn’t care what people think of him as long as they follow his orders. Naturally, free thinking people (with egos) resist this in the real world, whether it is a son disregarding the advice of his father, a parishioner following the teachings of a Sunday sermon or an acned faced 14 year old trying to cut corners in a metal shop. Lord Jim has the big plan, he knows the consequences of its failure and he sacrifices his own soldiers to conduct the raid. I am not saying the ends justify the means but that someone has to be the adult. Life is full of things we don’t want to do. Freedom is not free but has to be earned. In the pre-history of Europe, the clan chief lived for the good of his people. He was the embodiment of his people. Pagan societies are notorious for human sacrifice rituals. In reality, many of these people volunteered (as they do today) to serve their community in the most selfless of acts. Chieftains were expected to die if their people and land did not prosper. Imagine if we had that level of leadership today from our politicians. Much later in history, political leaders became parasites upon the people. The revolution of 1776 attempted to set things right with a government that limited power and once again put the people at the forefront. Occasionally, someone like John Brown pokes the hornets nest and causes an uproar. He was duly sacrificed. He was not listened to by the people of the village. His blood, in turn, was not enough to cleanse the soil.
