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People are very tired, very frustrated; they're worn out from struggling against a power that seems absolutely untouchable and they need time to recoup and to recover themselves. You can't keep up this level of energy indefinitely, organizing against a blank wall. So, I'm not seriously disturbed if people are in a momentary hiatus, gathering and thinking things over and looking into their heads and lives. I hope that's taking place. In other words, I hope that people haven't just given up.
—Daniel Berrigan
After seventeen months in prison, the prophet-political radical-agent-provocateur tries to get his bearing
People are very tired, very frustrated; they're worn out from struggling against a power that seems absolutely untouchable and they need time to recoup and to recover themselves. You can't keep up this level of energy indefinitely, organizing against a blank wall. So, I'm not seriously disturbed if people are in a momentary hiatus, gathering and thinking things over and looking into their heads and lives. I hope that's taking place. In other words, I hope that people haven't just given up.
—Daniel Berrigan
After seventeen months in prison, the prophet-political radical-agent-provocateur tries to get his bearings and psyche out the present state of affairs. In a very informative series of conversations with Lee Lockwood (who worked with him on the documentary film "The Holy Outlaw"), Berrigan recounts the experience of imprisonment and the absurd incident which almost brought about his death (an injection of a painkiller induced a massive allergic shock). He delineates the "Dead Sea level of existence at Danbury" and the "terrible, enforced, useless labor" which was a daily dose of dehumanization.
Here too is the masterful poet describing the Cornell escape schemes and the insights he gathered on the road. He speaks sadly about the Harrisburg Trial of his brother Phillip. But most important, Berrigan senses a mood of "slackness" in the country. He confesses that "we can't speak of anything but small contributions these days." One senses in these comments the mark that pain and suffering and despondency has left upon Berrigan's spirit. It's hard to keep a good man down but the times are such that the only heroism left is that of quiet, persevering protest. The prophet's words are hard but true:
The spiritual dismantling of the American empire is going to consume at least our lifetime, and perhaps the lifetime of the next generation.
Ye watchers and ye holy ones — keep the faith!
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Manufacturer: Random House
Release date: 21 May 1972
ISBN-10 : 039448228X |
ISBN-13: 9780394482286
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