Hunter S. Thompson on Letterman, 11/25/88

I'M GON TELL GOD HOW YOU TREATED MY CHILDREN

Rejoice: A Review of “The Welcome Table” by Alice Walker

Maka K. Taylor

Ashford University

Prairie Markussen

ENG125/Intro to Literature

February 14, 2013

Abstract

Using Ashford University’s Discovery Series textbook, Journey into Literature (R. Wayne Clugston-2010); I have read and reviewed a short story by Pulitzer prize winning activist and author; Alice Walker.

                        Keywords: suffer, welcome table, activist,Alice Walker, #BlackLivesMatter, #ToHellw/Dying #redemption

The short story I will review in this paper is “The Welcome Table” written by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and peace activist; Alice Walker. The theme of the story is triumph despite tribulation. In the preface of the story Walker says I’m going to tell him how you treated me.  The statement is insinuative of comeuppance and successful retreat. The story tells of an “old woman” who enters somewhere she does not belong. The story depicted “the old woman” as “dusty” and unkempt; from the reading I deduce that she entered a church where the “good” people decided she did not belong amongst them. The church people took action; ultimately throwing the woman out of the church. Upon her removal she sees “Jesus” and they begin walking together and she receives her place at the table to tell him of how they treated her. The theme of the text illustrates the disregard of the human self by humans. In further review I sense allegory in this story; I think the old lady is symbolic of lowest rung on the human hierarchy and the good church people represent the cream of the crop of society. The reaction of the good church people to the old woman is reticent of the invisible—all noticing eye of upper crust society. Ultimately the story represents the paradox of the human dynamic, its’ incumbent response to that which it deems unfit, and the text, as a by- product; hints to the scripture “the meek will inherit the earth”.

I enjoyed reading this story, in the story it is stated that the old lady looked, to know suffering. I think this text is key in setting the tone for the story. In a word I was transmuted into the story; the physicality of her character, illustrated “suffering” and I was at that church door with her. I have been acquainted with suffering; this is the tone of the story; in my humble assertion. I felt the anticipation of opening the door of the church; her entrance and procession to the pew. I was thrown out of the church with her and my eyes lit up at the reading of” I would know him anywhere”. Through the tone of the story I found myself empathizing with the old woman and celebrating her opportunity to “tell God how you treat me”. I reveled in her right to exercise herself and walk with her power to conclude her days.

I would also like to expound on the paradox conveyed via the omniscient voice the story was delivered. The setting of this story was a church. As previously referenced the church members aggressively remove this feeble and elderly woman-----whom the pastor addressed as “Auntie” upon reminding her that this was not the church she belonged to. I recount the church peoples’ reception of the elder woman…”Some of them there at the church saw the age, the dotage, the missing buttons down the front of her mildewed black dress. Others saw cooks, chauffeurs, maids, mistresses, children denied or smothered in the deferential way she held her cheek to the side, toward the ground. Many of them saw jungle orgies in an evil place, while others were reminded of riotous anarchists looting and raping in the streets. Those who knew the hesitant creeping up on them of the law, saw the beginning of the end of the sanctuary of Christian worship, saw the desecration of Holy Church, and saw an invasion of privacy, which they struggled to believe they still kept.”

In a house of worship, the house of God; the exact people(souls) who are supposed to assist and be kind----ultimately fail when the opportunity presents itself.  This woman was not good enough to worship with the good Christian folk----she was such an aberration that she was required to be immediately and violently removed from the church.

The church should; in theory; be a place of resource for the less fortunate. The church should offer love and salvation to those in need; but; allegorically; the story is relating to irony in doctrine, life application and visible values.

I have stated throughout the paper that I was really taken into this story. I will also reiterate that I am bias for the motif of this story. Although the triumph is subjective in nature, again, I am biased; the fact that she gets her moment to tell the biggest protector of them all how they “treated” her; I find solace in that thought.          

This is the beauty of the art of the pen; I am very passionate about words and the various combinations and conclusions that can be created from them. The narrative elements I spoke about in this story; in this paper, are text tangible mechanisms that cause a story to come to life. The purpose of literature; of taking the time to delve into a story is to connect; in some manner to the story. I seek to find various aspects of self in searching through the libraries of life; the library is far to vast to absorb in a single lifetime----so we are blessed to have the writings of the ages and the “creative’s” find modern myriad media to share one side of a two headed coin. The narrative elements evoke the human emotion epitomal to espousing the story intrinsically and initially.

I would also be remiss if I did not use the word rejoice in review of this story. It seems there were varied accounts of her whereabouts; but the voice said---“she would know him anywhere”. Be it literal, metaphoric or delusional; the fact that this woman found her reprieve after what seemed to have been a life of constant suffering; is food for my soul. -----“The Welcome Table—Alice Walker”

   

References

Journey into Literature-R. Wayne Clugston/2010

The Welcome Table-Alice Walker

MORAL MINIMA; Ethics in a Society Lost

                 Using “Some Moral Minima” (Len E. Goodman/2010) as a reference; my intention with this paper is to peer into my own psyche and show perspective that universal moral conduct is a vital component in maintaining societal peace and prosperity. Mr. Goodman outlines a minima of global issues including but not excluded to; polygamy, human trafficking, genital mutilation and military child recruitment. Being asked to assume a position on the acts in relation to culture or society and choose whether the act is wrong or right. I would be remiss if I did not emphatically state that these acts should be considered reprehensible, wrong.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                   I am delighted to have the opportunity to take a written position on right and wrong, I personally live by a four word foundation for my life and I practice using the words as an active conduit between myself and humane treatment of all I come into contact with. I know that what I share may not be academic in its’ content, it is however equally as pertinent in the notion of right and wrong.

                     My four word foundation for life is” Willingness, Accountability, Sacrifice  and Negotiation”,  Consider it my spiritual black card if you will; 

1. Willingness- An individual ability to proactively seek out purpose in any and all interactions----the action of being 100% present wherever I AM. 
2. Accountability-My individual ability to maturely account for my actions ---100% truth. 
3. Sacrifice-I AM always willing to discuss the terms of an agreement. I AM willing to compromise in the name of what is best for the whole.
4. Negotiation-I AM always willing to work through objectives to meet the needs of the whole. (7 Steps to Kill My nigga; Bahtyah B. Israel-2011) 

                    I insert this relatively in response to moral code of conduct, taking for granted that this process is instituted in a righteous manner, it leaves open the ultimate possibility for win-win outcomes and power sharing in opposition to power mongering. However, as stated in “Some Moral Minima-Len. E. Goodman-2010)”; “Matilal’s aim was consensus, which often carries blandness as its price—if not compromise of principle. Yet compromise is the stuff of politics.”

                   Let us; for the sake premise define “politics”. Politics as defined by Mirriam Webster online (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politics) is a set of definitions; listed are those most relevant to the position I am taking. “Politics- : the art or science of government  b : the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy  c : the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government 2: political actions, practices, or policies 3 a : political affairs or business; especially : competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government) b : political life especially as a principal activity or profession c : political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices 4: the political opinions or sympathies of a person 5a : the total complex of relations between people living in society.” Politics, by definition, is ambiguous at best. There is an innate concept of trickery involved in politics because politics is relevant to the politician and individual agenda, needs and/or wants. As a byline of the definition it would seem plausible that “sympathies” could be feigned and false alliances created that have a relative hand in the day to day activities of civilians. Politicization of the issue creates never ending banter between politicians, and politics easily usurps human need. If we continue to fail to look at actions from a paradigm of right and wrong, we, as a society will continue to fail at humanity.

                  One must beg the question who really benefits from the mass destruction, violent and terroristic descent upon nations and human trafficking----we have to ask is there an omnipotent power system that holds these ties together?  Has there ever been a society that lived via application of ideologies of right and wrong?  How do you really feel about the politics and politicization of human need?  I find this line of inquiry to be base for bridge building from the political practice we currently exist; into a flourishing humane commune of health, wealth and prosperity.

                 In closing, just for the sake of reference and history; I would like to identify an ancient civilization whose lifestyle utilized right and wrong as a conduit for qualitative and quantative life. I cite the Ancient Egyptians and the practiced doctrine of the time; Ma’at. “Ma’at is a comprehensive construct that existed throughout ancient Egyptian civilization. Cosmologically, maat is the principle of order that informs the creation of the universe. Religiously, Ma'at is a goddess or neter representing order or balance. Last, philosophically, Ma;at is a moral and ethical principle that all Egyptians were expected to embody in their daily actions toward family, community, nation, environment, and god. This work extends maat beyond the boundaries of ancient Egyptian culture and tests its conceptual elasticity by developing it into an catalytic tool for studying classical African cosmological knowledge and how it relates to cultural expression. It focuses on the conceptualization of Ma'at as the foundation of the universe and then uses the manner in which Ma'at appears in ancient Egyptian culture as a basis for distinguishing patterns within classical African knowledge. This pattern contains 10 characteristics or dimensions: sacred, symbolic, visual, functional, moral, oral, communal, rhythmic, multidimensional, and holistic.”( Ma'at and Order in African Cosmology A Conceptual Tool for Understanding Indigenous Knowledge Denise Martin-Journal of Black Studies-2008)

                The information shared in this paper is my personal position. I have interpreted, hypothesized, and now I shall conclude. In my humble opinion and based on the information I have presented in this paper; I am confident that there are certain behaviors, acts and motives that are wrong. I cannot come up with a rational argument for that. Now, should the question transform itself to is there a right in a wrong situation? That is a different paper. In my conclusion I will apply my best self to always securely discern right from wrong and veer myself towards a community that works toward the healing of a hurt people to recreate environments to reflect the true beauty that resides within each human being.