The Ultimate Answer to Kings: Merry Christmas, to the extent that you're into that sort of thing...

They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means "The Ultimate Argument of Kings," and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. "We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it's about: You'll do as I say or I'll send my goons to kill you."

I thought about that for a long time. If there's an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I've got bullets - he's got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that's not going to happen. So if there's an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain't bullets.

It finally came to me - and that's when I left the city, abandoned a goodly percentage of my goods, and gave all that was behind me a good, stiff Randian Shrug.

The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas, to the extent that you're into that sort of thing...

5 comments:

LJH said...: I LOVE that video! I love Christmas - the (traditional) music, the lights, the trees. And I'm a Pagan, go figure. :-p

Merry Christmas to you too Uncle Joel, hope it brought you sunshine, AKA, water.; December 25, 2011 at 2:26 PM
The Grey Lady said...: Merry Christmas Joel, may the blessings of the season be upon you and yours.; December 25, 2011 at 8:41 PM
Anonymous said...: I am so glad to have clicked on your archive after reading about water out where the bus don't run.

Made my day, it did.; December 26, 2011 at 7:27 AM
MamaLiberty said...: That is truly beautiful... don't know how they did it, but I loved it. The look on the young people's faces is priceless.

Must have been the ARBY'S next door to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal hall. :) Sounded very much like the recording I have of them singing the "Messiah." ...which I didn't get to play this year because my CD player is dead. sigh; December 27, 2011 at 7:19 AM
Rachel Ailin said...: My favorite holiday flashmob this year was the swing dancers at Denver International airport.; December 28, 2011 at 5:35 AM

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas, to the extent that you're into that sort of thing...

5 comments:

Why the hell did you scroll all the way down here?