The scene: General Giap’s headquarters somewhere in North Vietnam. War maps on four walls. The General’s in box is full; his out box is empty. Two dozen eyes peer with terrible cunning from beneath epicanthic folds. Abruptly the door opens. A messenger hurries in: He is terrified, perhaps near panic. General Giap takes a telegram from the messenger’s hand. He reads. 1971 convention OF NY EPISCOPAL DIOCESE. STOP. DEMANDS IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF ALL HOSTILITIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. STOP. in other words, stop. stop. General Giap sits slowly. He cradles his head in his arms. “There go all our plans,” he whispers. “A thousand spring flowers blown away.”
Like jakes. The 1971 New York Episcopal Convention made itself (and the religion it only nominally represents) appear ridiculous yet once again. Having no perception of the real world and little or no interest in a world hereafter, the diocese placed itself firmly just where it’s been for the last few years—in limbo.
Comments