{∅, {∅}, {∅, {∅}}} : Rage Against the Meat Grinder

"Sorrow and solitude,
these are the precious things.
And the only words
that are worth remembering."

Holden,

Thank you for sharing these quotes. At first sight Paraguayans, generally speaking, are religious. But the message of Jesus does not change the layers of our human misery. Our religious roots come with the Spanish priests and friars during the Conquest and colonial period. Are they spiritual? Difficult issue. I say religious because every Sunday many people go to Catholic Mass or evangelical temples. A few hours ago I walked past an evangelical temple where they announced their services and one of them got my attention. On Wednesday afternoons and evenings they have Days of Prosperity. I suppose I can go there and take a look if I get something.

But their religiosity does not show in the behavior of the Catholic parishioners. In Holy Week most go to the countryside for tourism. Years ago some people practiced self-crucifixion to make their demands known to the authorities. They did not follow the example of the Galilean to the extreme. Sometimes I would like to see those flagellants of the Middle Ages whipping their flesh in this vale of tears. This is what the churchmen should do instead of making this world a “better” place.

For many the examples of the Catholic Church bosses leave much to be desired. When Pope Francis came to Paraguay in 2015 one of the monsignors, Jorge Livieres Banks, receiving him, almost went to jail for sex abuse. He avoided that because he struck a deal with the victims in 2003. Almost nobody in the mass media said anything about it. The politicians and businessmen, Catholic in name but not in deeds, are getting greedier, more ruthless, stone-hearted, and ambitious. In December in Caacupé (50 km from the capital), the spiritual city of the country, the bishops attacked abortion and corruption. Before that they attacked the Freemasons.

Once in 1986 a member of the Sun Myung Moon invited me to take part in the activities but I never went there and in 1990 I went to a Catholic Church here and I talked to a Salesian priest to become a member. But I did not return there anymore. I suppose I lacked enthusiasm like I do nowadays.   

Yes, this world is a giant crematorium. Most do not know or do not want to know. Before going to the crematorium, we, the human undertakers, every single day, dig our own graves with smiling skulls. The graves have titles such as schools, work, salaries, bank accounts, careers,etc. 

We do not have trains here but we call the buses sardines because most of them go packed to the top. Years ago I almost fell on the street because the bus driver drove too fast. But a train ride takes a lot of guts there and clearly you are a survivor.

Stay safe.