Anonymous Italian, Venetian: Book IX.5.
Roman consuls are sent under the yoke of Samnites
and are exposed to disgrace {Primae Decadis Liber Nonus p. LXXV}
Series/Book Title: Illustrations from Livy, Decades. Venice, Philipp Pincio, September 27, 1511
(1493)

"Wherever Decency seems endangered, some Disgrace is being denied."

Indecency seems to be somehow related to Disgrace, though I’m uncertain which serves as the chicken and which as the egg. Does indecency follow Disgrace, or does Disgrace trail indecency? I sense that Decency does not know Disgrace intimately, if at all, and that Disgrace often accompanies a fall, again, as either cause or effect, perhaps either. What does it matter? I’m toying with a proposal that indecency often accompanies Disgrace and seems to be frequently employed to attempt to cloak its presence. A fear of Disgrace might frequently justify indecent behavior, such that where indecency thrives, Disgrace appears to be hiding nearby. In this sense, indecency serves as a tell that some potentially embarrassing truth might be lurking. What might seem like run-of-the-mill cruelty, for instance, might distract from some deeper depravity.

Certainly, where indecency seems to thrive, depravity seems to follow right behind, or perhaps it leads. I do not believe indecency necessarily stands on its own as a valid lifestyle. It does not serve as a form of diversity, a choice among many, neither black nor white. Indecency always means something nefarious or notorious. It’s gangster behavior, never proper, always an error. It requires some extreme conditions to encourage its emergence. It tenaciously keeps its secrets, though, and jealously seeks allies. It offers permission for those inclined to complicate their stories. One need not necessarily insist upon straights and narrows to decline its opportunity. Have you noticed how the indecent seem to need to move in packs? Cults are often founded on the need to engage in some indecency and may be only there to distract attention away from an underlying Disgrace.

David Hawkins insisted that shame is the most damaging force in the human arsenal. To “be shamed” might be the most debilitating experience. We fight like Hell to avoid experiencing shame, and will willingly engage in the most indecent behavior to avoid recognizing it or being designated shameful. Those who seem to lack the ability to experience shame might be the most invested in deflecting it. The seemingly shameless seem more likely to be actively misdirecting because no human has ever been immune to shame. We will work hard to avoid acknowledging it, though, and I believe that this must be the underlying source of perhaps all indecent behavior beyond the utterly inadvertent. Those who engage in concerted efforts to polish their appearance must have something to hide. Authenticity never needs make-up to be present.

I’m learning to wonder what Disgrace must underlie an indecency. Our incumbent’s term seems to be almost entirely comprised of misdirection. He labels each fresh truth Fake News. He escalates his indecencies with each revelation, and I easily imagine that he’s feeling shame breathing fire on his heels. The more supposedly shamelessly he behaves, the greater the secreted Disgrace. If the whole truth were known, the MAGA grift would be blown. The arc of history, still bending toward justice, bends exceedingly slowly lest it inadvertently grind up innocents. Injustice can meanwhile grind up innocents every day without apparent recompense. Justice rides the slowest horses while indecency scoots around on motorcycles. Denial might remain the first stage of acceptance, but acceptance seems to take forever to finally settle in. I try to imagine the Disgrace all this cosplay conceals before concluding that it must be considerable. Wherever Decency seems endangered, some Disgrace is being denied.

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Tags: #Decency, #PureSchmaltz