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I was thinking, again, about the value of right and wrong in our lives. I think it is less useful than even I had imagined.
There is a woman I know who is pretty remarkable. She doesn't really want to hear it, though. In fact, she will dismiss such statements with a wave of her hand.
There is a fictional woman I know named Sulien ap Gwien. She is the hero of "The King's Peace" and the sequel "The King's Name" by the author Jo Walton.
A moment ago, the two connected. I totally think the real life woman is a more than adequate reflection of the fictional one.
True, the real life woman doesn't ride into battle defending her country. And she probably isn't advising the King at every turn.
The fictional woman is, as fictional characters are, bigger than life. Cut Sulien down to size, though, and the parallels are amazing.
I'll be lending my friend a copy of the books!
What has this to do with right and wrong, you ask? Just this, it doesn't matter if we think another's opinion of us is right or wrong. It is the opinion they have and the one they speak. If enough people hold a similar opinion, theirs will create your reputation. And validity in the physical world or in one's mind isn't worth a damn thing.
So it doesn't matter if my real life friend dismisses what the rest of us say. Her reputation is fixed by our continuing to announce that she is spectacular in what she achieves and amazing at what she tries.
She is only achieving the addition of "Modest" to her reputation.
I may just start referring to her as Sulien. :)
There is a woman I know who is pretty remarkable. She doesn't really want to hear it, though. In fact, she will dismiss such statements with a wave of her hand.
There is a fictional woman I know named Sulien ap Gwien. She is the hero of "The King's Peace" and the sequel "The King's Name" by the author Jo Walton.
A moment ago, the two connected. I totally think the real life woman is a more than adequate reflection of the fictional one.
True, the real life woman doesn't ride into battle defending her country. And she probably isn't advising the King at every turn.
The fictional woman is, as fictional characters are, bigger than life. Cut Sulien down to size, though, and the parallels are amazing.
I'll be lending my friend a copy of the books!
What has this to do with right and wrong, you ask? Just this, it doesn't matter if we think another's opinion of us is right or wrong. It is the opinion they have and the one they speak. If enough people hold a similar opinion, theirs will create your reputation. And validity in the physical world or in one's mind isn't worth a damn thing.
So it doesn't matter if my real life friend dismisses what the rest of us say. Her reputation is fixed by our continuing to announce that she is spectacular in what she achieves and amazing at what she tries.
She is only achieving the addition of "Modest" to her reputation.
I may just start referring to her as Sulien. :)