I Am Solomon

The set of "The Physicists", Howard Auditorium, Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, OK. 2008.

Nine years ago, I directed my first play at ORU Theatre, "The Physicists" by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. This is a play about three men living in an insane asylum who believe themselves to be physicists. We discover that one of these men is merely choosing to be mad in order to protect the world from what he knows about nuclear possibilities. This week, Mikhail Gorbachev writes, "Politicians and military leaders sound increasingly belligerent and defense doctrines more dangerous. Commentators and TV personalities are joining the bellicose chorus. It all looks as if the world is preparing for war."

What happened? How did we find ourselves in motion towards this place?

In the "The Physicists", Möbius, the real physicist in-hiding at the asylum, closes the play by saying: "I am Solomon. I am poor King Solomon. Once I was immeasurably rich, wise, and God-fearing. The mighty trembled at my word. I was a prince of peace, a prince of justice. But my wisdom destroyed the fear of God, and when I no longer feared God my wisdom destroyed my wealth. Now the cities over which I rule are dead, the kingdom that was given unto my keeping is deserted: only a blue shimmering wilderness. And somewhere round a small, yellow, nameless star there circles, pointlessly, everlastingly, the radioactive earth. I am Solomon. I am Solomon. I am Solomon. I am poor King Solomon." 

President Trump has not been in office one week. Although this must remain a sign, that it takes no more than 6 days time for our civilization and the principles and beliefs we value to be placed into legitimate danger, we must also not ignore the simmering of discontent among those who despise the vote of every person, who are afraid of an open society that values diversity, and who fight to make justice under the law unequal. The current of distrust for those mechanisms in our world that have protected us is flowing strong among those who see them as a threat.

Mikhail Gorbachev's piece can be found here.