Peter O'Toole's Oscar Speech

Whattay an eloquent speech. No tears, no thanking the whole world and its aunt. Just plain dignity.  

"... and i am honoured. The magic of movies enraptured me when I was a child. As i totter into antiquity movie magic enraptures me still. Having already bagged this baby, spared uncertainities prior to the opening of an envelope, I am able to think.

I think of our colleagues our old friends, now gone, who played their parts in this earn
I think of the sumptuous talents alive well
I think of the astonishing young, the gifted and able young men and women, of whom i grab energy in handful."

They gave him the Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. He is probably one of the 5 actors who deserved an Oscar for acting, but, alas, never did get it. The other 4 are Barbara Stanwyck (she made it all seem far too easy), Edward G Robinson (a phenomenol powerhouse of acting), Cary Grant (probably because comedy isn't so terribly appreciated by the Academy), Charles Boyer ( it's an unforgivable sin to have denied him one). 

Arsonists

I just don't get it. Why would people start bushfires? Why? No, this is not a tirade. Put aside my complete outrage. This is me completely baffled by the psyche of the arsonists.  To relieve boredom, to bring chaos and excitement, to crave attention and recognition, I am told. Still, that's just too simple to explain away the psychology of someone who would deliberately cause such damage. Plus it's puzzling that Australia has so many skulking pyromaniacs. 

Decency Is Heroic

Gregory Peck was the best Atticus Finch there ever was and there ever will be. For me. And for Harper Lee, at the very least. 'Cos she said, her Atticus Finch was a role that allowed Peck to play himself. Peck. A quiet man. A quiet, decent man. He had to " put everything I had into it – all my feelings and everything I'd learned in 46 years of living, about family life and fathers and children. And my feelings about racial justice and inequality and opportunity". Peck was a decent man. The quietly decent kind. Decency is special. It is such an underrated virtue. Decency is heroic in these trying times. Hollywood, please, no remakes.

A Lethargic Soul

Sitting down to quote oneself is the heights of pomposity. But right now, I cant help recalling what I once said, " A bit o' sun, a gust of wind, a patch of blue skies, a twinkle in the eye and an insouciant soul are good things for the lethargic soul." 

Aye, I said it right. Today I need all of that.  Today is one of those days I am tired in the bones. 

Are You Afraid

My life's motto was compactly summarised in 4 beautiful lines at the base of the Jaipur Column decades ago-

In thought, Faith

In word, Wisdom

In deed, Courage

In life, Service

It is easier to carry them around as words engraved on a medallion everyday than to live them everyday. Especially the line that speaks of deeds of courage. And to find comfort I turn to Auden and he mocks at me from his grave - Pick up a fight, go to war. Leave the hero in the bar. climb a peak, fight a lion, let no one guess you are weak.