The Ultimate Answer to Kings: Mother and Son, a portrait.

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.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Mother and Son, a portrait.

6 comments:

MamaLiberty said...: That's beautiful. Sometimes adoptive parents can be the best. :); January 12, 2012 at 11:15 AM
DonkeyBuster said...: Awww...

You are sooo seriously outmaneuvered, intellectually, tactically, strategically, fashionably & cuddle-ably. They only keep you for the opposable thumbs.

Be gentle w/him, you two.

From a fellow lackey... =0)
Jay; January 12, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Joel said...: You're right about being outnumbered, outvoted outmaneuvered and sometimes outthought by two of the three, DB. But you're leaving out, in your list of my assets, my unexplained, apparently mystical access to cheese.; January 12, 2012 at 1:23 PM
Tahn said...: What a wonderful photo Joel. Thanks for sharing.; January 12, 2012 at 5:26 PM
DonkeyBuster said...: Cheeeeeeeeese!
I was wondering what those mind-meld looks were for... Bring the cheeeeeeese, hairless one.
LOL; January 12, 2012 at 9:46 PM
LJH said...: Priceless shot!

Has she told him yet ... that he's adopted?; January 13, 2012 at 8:44 AM