Only a hero returns with the truth, Perseus told himself. How the hell was he to go about cutting off the head of Medusa?–Medusa who defended herself by instantly transforming into stone all who set eyes upon her. On her head, hideous snakes darted in every direction, flashing venomous fangs, daring anyone to come closer. Perseus set up his mirrored shield, a gift from Athena, and conceived a plan. He would consummate the beheading by looking at Medusa’s reflection in the mirror!
In front of his men, Perseus appeared sturdy and confident, but he was unsure about which plan to use. His other plan was to fight blindfolded, as he’d practiced in basic training, with his long sword in one hand and short sword in the other. Medusa’s approximate position would be revealed by the hissing of her snakes.
Perseus said a prayer to Aries, god of war. For a moment, a vision of Aries appeared and pointed to the shield, not to the blindfold that lay next to it.
What happened next is the stuff of legend. Looking in the mirror, Perseus beheld the vulnerable neck of Medusa, then saw his sword arm holding his long sword. Whoosh, whoosh. Two clean cuts. Green blood gushed from Medusa’s neck, hissing snakes fell silent, Medusa’s head thudded onto the parched earth. Perseus reached his gloved hand, and grasped his prize, the head of Medusa. He gagged at the stench of quantities of green blood.
The humble truth was that he couldn’t have amazed the world with this heroic deed without assistance from the gods, Athena, who had gifted him the mirrored shield, and Aries, who had blessed his plan.
Another hero was Joan of Arc, whose God spoke to her in voices of divine guidance during The Hundred Years War. The French Army followed the peasant girl Joan, who sustained injuries multiple times and led her men to victories at Orleans, Jargeau, Meung-sur-Loire, and Patay. The English captured her and martyred her by burning her at the stake. An elemental truth is that every creature’s body breaks down into carbon, potassium, hydrogen, oxygen and other elements. The animating spirit lives forever.
Fast forward to the second day of the Teacher’s Strike. The heroes are the students who turn out four-fold compared to yesterday. They carry homemade signs. “We stand with our teachers.” “Our sines will luk like dis without our teechers.” “We’ll run amok if we’re not in school.” “If you can read this, it’s because a teacher taught you how to read!”
We walk, we chant, play makeshift drums, ring cowbells. “Say it loud, say it clear–Immigrants are welcome here!” “We can’t wait.” Call and response: “What do we want? Fair contract! When do we want it? Now!” “Two, four, six, eight. Who do we appreciate? Students!” We cheer when truck drivers, bus drivers, passing motorists punctuate the air– beep-beep-beep-beep.
Our Truth is that surely justice and mercy shall follow us all of our days as long as students, parents, security workers, counselors, school nurses, teachers, cafeteria workers, Principals, business owners, school librarians and workers from other unions come out to join our one big union.