Shirley Maclaine's book

[Felipe Sanchez]

Once again at the risk of inviting opprobrious epithets into the sanctity of
my psyche, I reiterate some rather unpopular views anent the ongoing
discussion of SM and corollary considerations.  I have extracted some quotes
from Goccamino and Santiagobis as nexus for discussion.

>>I admired her doing the Camino
> >from beginning to end and staying in the refugios despite her notoriety.
During May and June of 2001 I carried my rucksack from SJPP to Santiago.
Having read CAMINO by SM before departing and being blessed with some scant
ability in Spanish, I queried the hospitaleros along the route as to the
passing of the luminary.  In the Village of Acebo I piqued the temper of the
functionary at the Refugio and he insisted that SM had spent seven (7) days
meditating there.  He also averred that he had done the Camino twenty-two
(22) times!  Now, in her book she claims to have traversed the entire route
in thirty (30) days.  If she spent seven (7) in Acebo.....?  Furthermore, in
at least three other towns and refugios the Caretakers described her as
having an extremely small backpack, as being well dressed not trail worn,
and as having stayed not in the "hospitales" but at hotels after obtaining
the "sello" in her Pilgrim Passport.  If the allegations and conclusions
emanating from my experience are correct I asseverate two basic principles
of personal doctrine:  1.  I do not enjoy being the object of mendacity;  2.
To take credit for a feat not accomplished appears patently unfair to those
who by dint of inner strength have endured and conquered completely and
fairly.  I realize that many take succor from SM's so-called lucubrations
into other dimensions of time and space.  Concerning this credulous
acceptance of superstition I make no comment.  But I must condemn as
outrageous any attempt to elevate this ersatz luminary to the status of
"Inspirational Oracle" based upon what appear to be fraudulent claims of
Camino completion.  Ayn Rand, my intellectual mentor, succinctly and
accurately states "Reality is real" and "Emotions are not sources of
cognition."  Caveat:  For obvious reasons I have expressed myself
circumspectly.  And, just in case anyone is curious, I am several years SM's
senior.

>> I have just started Shirley Maclaine's book on her Camino.  It's
fabulous!
>> Has anyone else read it
Yes, I agree!  "Fabulous" as in "confabulation."


> I agree. It still seems that in 2002 that people want to argue about who
or what is >"right". We
> *must* always give consideration to the views of others. There is no
*right* >religion!
One of the little discussed obligations of an advocate of liberty is the
acceptance of a certain amount of diversity.  Nevertheless, such acceptance
does not liberate a sound mind from actively considering the pros and cons
of judgments pertaining to "good" and "bad."  Presently pending before the
courts in the US is the case of two parents who for religious reasons are
permitting their hidden child to die.  Right or wrong?  More extremely the
attitude expressed above would endorse the supposed "religious" acts of
September 11.  Fine!  As an adjunct of freedom let us give "consideration"
to the views of others.  But never are we as moral, ethical entities
relieved of the responsibility of judgment and decision.  The progenitor of
the citation under discussion has unwittingly made a value judgment of right
and wrong even as he denies complicity in such activity. In fine I
paraphrase a cliché which seems apt:  "In order for evil to triumph it needs
only that good men do nothing."

These, then, are but a few of the concepts about which I pondered and
reflected while traversing the Camino.  I was able to join Thoreau in
"forcing life into a corner so that I might contemplate it" and Alan Watts
in "shutting out the chatter of modern life" so as to hear myself think.  As
such my journey was a transforming one and I intend to repeat the deed next
time on Via de la Plata.  And whereas I intend to take voluminous notes and
produce a diary from them, perhaps in the future some of those who read this
will be able to comment on my experiences.  I welcome rebuttals, ripostes,
replies, retorts, rejoinders, and revel in the euphoria of repartee.
Gracias por su atencion tan amable.  Servidor, Felipe Sanchez