Wednesday with Avrom – This is absurd….

Shane Smith, the founder of VICE Media, started the company with a mission to expose the “absurdity of the modern condition.” For instance, we have endless traffic jams, yet we continue to build more cars; one might ask, “who is in charge?”

During a visit to Israel in 1980, Avrom and several friends took a side trip to Egypt. Not far from Cairo a tour guide took them to see a temple built during the Fifth Dynasty (3,000-4,000 years ago) for Ra, the ancient Egyptian deity of the sun. It was a magnificent site, with 2 rows of very tall and wide marble pillars in perfect symmetry. The guide explained that there is no marble in the area of the temple, and it had to be transported from serval hundred miles away.

Avrom was amazed as he contemplated how difficult it must have been to move these huge marble pillars hundreds of miles, especially at a time when only primitive wheels and tools were available. He mused to the guide that obviously only many thousands of slaves could have accomplished such a feat. However, the government guide insisted that many farmers who were idle during much of the year in the desert volunteered, out of deep religious conviction, to participate in this phenomenal project. It was fairly evident that the government did not want modern tourist to believe that, even in ancient times, Egypt ever had slavery.

Like Shane, Avrom left Egypt wondering who was in charge. Thousands of years ago, Pharaohs ruled the land and had absolute power. At their personal whim, however ridiculous it may be, vast expenditures and resources were devoted to their chosen projects. With no check on the Pharaoh’s power, people were unable to ask what benefit would come from this project or even simply what its purpose was.?

Modern democracy has seemingly fixed the danger to have an absolute political leader, especially one who convinces people that a higher Divine power guides his actions and sanctions them. We still haven’t resolved for absurdity. It has been over 3,000 years since the temple was built for Ra and it has been deeply researched and studied. Applying our modern eyes, it may seem absurd, but was it at the time??

If we are honest, perhaps we will become aware that we live in the midst of continuous absurdity as well. Shane found, “a lot of what happens in the world is full-on crazy and doesn't get reported on.”?

On an individual level, there may be little we can do about most absurdity, but we can help ourselves. And it just starts with taking a step back to identify the absurdities in our own lives and accepting that we are in charge. Some of them we can change. The others? …. Well, we should just laugh.?

This is part 40 in the Wednesday with Avrom series, please check out more?here.