I tend to get all "theological" when Sundays come around, and today, a song from Bob Dylan's "Infidels" album has popped into my mind. Below, I am laying out the full lyrics to one of the songs on the album, and here's the verse that made me remember it:
Look out your window, baby, there’s a scene you’d like to catch
The band is playing “Dixie,” a man got his hand outstretched
Could be the Führer
Could be the local priest
You know sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
If you are willing to entertain the idea that there may be a "spiritual" dimension to reality, and to our lives (and thus to our "politics"), Dylan's warning starts making a lot of sense, particularly as our current president seems genuinely to believe that he would be a worthy recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Let's give some kudos to our current president for his efforts to put a damper down on the armed and deadly actions in which Israel has been engaged, and for helping to foster some sense of hope for a better future for Israel, Gaza, Palestine, and the Middle East. Still, to be a genuine "man of peace," peace must permeate one's entire being, and prevail over all temptations to elevate oneself above others. Check out the lives led by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. if you'd like to consider some examples of what a genuine "man of peace" looks like.
You can click the link to the title, if you'd like to hear Dylan sing his song.
oooOOOooo
The band is playing “Dixie,” a man got his hand outstretched
Could be the Führer
Could be the local priest
You know sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
He got a sweet gift of gab, he got a harmonious tongue
He knows every song of love that ever has been sung
Good intentions can be evil
Both hands can be full of grease
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Well, first he’s in the background, then he’s in the front
Both eyes are looking like they’re on a rabbit hunt
Nobody can see through him
No, not even the Chief of Police
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Well, he catch you when you’re hoping for a glimpse of the sun
Catch you when your troubles feel like they weigh a ton
He could be standing next to you
The person that you’d notice least
I hear that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Well, he can be fascinating, he can be dull
He can ride down Niagara Falls in the barrels of your skull
I can smell something cooking
I can tell there’s going to be a feast
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
He’s a great humanitarian, he’s a great philanthropist
He knows just where to touch you, honey, and how you like to be kissed
He’ll put both his arms around you
You can feel the tender touch of the beast
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Well, the howling wolf will howl tonight, the king snake will crawl
Trees that’ve stood for a thousand years suddenly will fall
Wanna get married? Do it now
Tomorrow all activity will cease
You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
Somewhere Mama’s weeping for her blue-eyed boy
She’s holding them little white shoes and that little broken toy
And he’s following a star
The same one them three men followed from the East
I hear that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace
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