HUN Update, February 25, 2007

Hey HUN,

I am twenty years old, and, for the first time since I became a free-thinking human being, my age doesn't end with that loaded syllable: "teen." I've never put much stock in age, but sometimes I can't help but glance backward and wonder: When did I become this person? When did I begin thinking the way I do?

I was talking with Jason (Jean's older son) today, and he was musing about how much he wanted "superpowers." He wanted to fly and be a human torch and be super strong. He finally settled on playing the system--he wanted the power to have any power he wanted. That's Jason; he's the kid who asks the genie for more wishes. Seeing as it wasn't so many years ago that my musings ran along the same lines, you would think I'd be just the person to talk to.

Nope. I said I didn't want any superpowers, but that if I could have anything I wanted, it would probably be a medium pizza. With bacon. Not willing (unfortunately) to indulge my culinary fantasies, Jason asked why I didn't want any superpowers. And then, I said something frighteningly... adult.

In my experience, power is the flashy press agent of a somewhat less glamorous pair: responsibility and limitation. All power implies the responsibility to use that power to cultivate the people or things over which you have power, and further introduces a new set of laws that were usually in the fine print and certainly weren't what you expected when you called the number at the bottom of the ad. The bible says, "to whom much is given, much is required." Spiderman said, "with great power comes great responsibility. I hardly need express how grateful I am that those two are in agreement.

For example. Let's say I'm elected president of the United States by a spontaneous and unanimous vote (I can dream, right?). Some would say I have just become the single most powerful man in the world. But power has a sour taste when it's served with a stack of paperwork every morning, and the bitter addition of futility makes for a singularly unappetizing meal. Because that's what happens when humans with power oppose each other: they arrange the whole system into deadlocks so that if they can't get anything done, at least nobody else can either.

To complicate matters, it seems Mr. President isn't allowed a moment to himself without a couple shady characters with dark sunglasses and expensive suits watching him like hawks. Sure, they nod respectfully and say, "yes, Mr. President, yes," but who is a slave to whom, really? You'll notice that nobody says they "own" power. Because nobody does. They "have" power. Like a horse "has" a rider.

The presidency, of course, is outside of my experience, but something as common as being a parent operates under the same principles. Parents have dictatorial power over their children, but with that power is bundled the responsibility of raising and caring for those children, not to mention a heavily restricted lifestyle.

I have hand-chosen a couple examples, but this model can be applied anywhere. We have power over ourselves; we have power over our environment; at times we are placed in positions of power over other people. Everything that we do, think, and say effects other people, and that is power. It is a universal dynamic in human existence.

What startled me was an implication of my own thinking. I have the power to affect changes in my life. Don't I thereby have a responsibility to do so consistently and in a way that yields positive results? And doesn't that mean I'm limited by maturity to those actions which my principles allow? I suppose I had always considered self-improvement the "correct"option, when in fact it seems it is mandated by my own belief!

Dear friends, family and acquaintances: sometimes philosophy seems like paint; just a colorful veneer that makes the truth more attractive and belies the labor of reality. When have I ever failed to feel unbearably confined? When have I felt unburdened by responsibility? Power is like a mountain side: no matter how high you are, every upward movement is arduous, and downward movement is sudden and dizzyingly rapid.

But there is, if you'll excuse the mixed metaphors, a silver lining to that cloud. Maybe that mountain is steep, but at least I can tell which way is up. How can I improve? I can be more productive at work. I can be more gracious to the people around me. I can manage my time according to my priorities. I can take care of my body. How can I defy gravity (kudos to those who catch the reference)? I can let go of my pet lies--"my time is my own" and "I'm only human" and "I deserve this"--and take responsibility for my actions. I can lay aside personal grievances and forgive and refuse to indulge my childish sense of retribution.

Easier said than done, of course; but it is encouraging to clarify my life's sense of direction, and to grow in my understanding of why I do the things I do. Now, if only I can manage to suspend reality long enough to enjoy another round of "pick the super power."

Haitian Creole Time!
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I was browsing some creole resources online and found a new way to indicate nasal vowels. As you may remember, when "a," "e," "i," or "o" are followed by an "n," the "n" is silent and the vowel is nasal. For instance, the Creole word for "time" is "tan," and the word is pronounced "tah" except with a nasal "a." Henceforth this will be indicated with a capital "N," so the pronunciation for "tan" will look like this: tahN.

Today we'll learn a couple useful phrases to boost vocabulary and get a feel for the language. It's important to recognize that Haitians tend to throw out tenses--the past tense, especially. For instance, a Haitian will not ask, "when were you born?" He or she will ask you, "when are you born?" The past tense when used with the verb "to be born" is pretty much only used for famous dead people.

I haven't spoken with them in a while : M'pa pale avek yo pandan yon bon ti tan. (mm-pah-pah-leh-ahv-ehk-yo-paN

-daN-yoN-boN-tee-taN) The literal translation reads: "I not speak with them in a good little time."

She wants to send her love to her friends at home : Li vlé bay remen'li pou moun-li yo lokay-li. (lee-vleh-bai-ray-meN-poo-moon-lee-yo-lah-kai-lee) The literal translation reads: "She/he/it wants to give love (hers) for people (hers) (plural) house (hers).

Oh good fun. If you're tempted to skip over that bit, remember these important words:

With : Avek (ah-vek)
For : pou (poo)
Them : yo (yo) This can also be added to a noun to indicate a plural.
Speak : pale (pah-lay)

Plenty for today.

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God Bless,

Dan