Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Statement of Intent

Oh, great, you're saying, another blog.

Once again, your pretentious friend has gone and decided that his particular thoughts are too precious to keep to himself.

Bear with me; this isn't quite that.

I went to the half-price bookstore on Shattuck and picked up The Book of Five Rings, by Musashi Miyamoto. As a martial artist, I've long meant to read this. It begins very succinctly.

My name is Musashi Miyamoto. I fought my first duel at thirteen. I won. I have now fought sixty duels. I have never lost.

I understand the science of martial arts, and now I must write what I know. It's October 10, 1643, at 4:00 a.m. I sit on the mountain.
I think Musashi-san understood something then. This was a moment in history, and he felt the need to make a record. To say, "I was here, and this is what I've learned."

I think we may be looking at a moment in history right now. We are on the cusp of the Vice Presidential debate. Sarah Palin is under fire. Obama is winning by a landslide. Yet I've the sense that Sarah Palin is a mere distraction, and something more is about to unfold. Today is September 30, 2008. I was here, and this is what I've learned.