Sitting at the beautiful wooden bar of Hennessy’s Irish pub in Mérida Yucatán, Sean Toland, Irishman from Donegal, philologist, philosopher, globetrotter, and atheist -except for that one time, many years ago, when he listened to “Requiem: Lacrimosa” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart after the passing of his mother – looked wistfully at his ‘New York sour,’ made this time with silky Tennessee whiskey and said to Emilio, Yucatecan journalist, broadcaster, great thinker and his usual drinking companion, who was waiting for his Guinness to settle after pouring himself.
—Have you ever reflected on the last moments of a man stripped of illusions? I recently re-read the Marquis de Sade’s «Dialogue between a Priest and a Dying Man» and found it disturbingly topical.—
—At some point, I have pondered about it, and I well remember the «dying man» who rejects the advice of the priest, who could well be an avatar of the disillusionment of our time. In a world where faith in institutions -be they religious, political, or economic- is crumbling, many have adopted the mantle of the «dying man» discarding entrenched beliefs as relics of a bygone era. —Emilio answered, as he took a long, generous swig of his beer.
Sean Toland looked briefly at the floor and raised his eyes to his friend. —It’s modern cynicism, don’t you think? People reject the old doctrines and question everything from morality to the existence of truth itself. It reminds me of the «dying man’s» hedonism. Its insistence on pleasure as the only proper purpose of life resonates with today’s relentless pursuit of self-fulfillment, often at the expense of values.—
Emilio agreed. —What strikes me most about Sade’s writing is the critique of social hypocrisy. It is as current in 2024 as in 1782 when it was written. De Sade’s condemnation of religious institutions then echoes this “here and now” and reflects our growing awareness of the rottenness of institutions. The scandals and moral failures of our politicians only remind us a little more of the fallacies of the priests. Yet, in this age of information overload, are we not all the “dying man“? bombarded by contradictory truths, and left to carve out our meaning. Perhaps de Sade was right in one respect: the old certainties are fading, and, in their place, we find ourselves alone, tasked with finding purpose in a world that offers none.—
They both fell silent. The music from the pub occupied that space of silence. Toland took another drink and said —The tragedy is that in discarding the old, we have not found something better. We are adrift, skeptical of any narrative, but desperate to find something to believe in. The «dying man» had his hedonism, but what do we humans have today? Mostly: loneliness, anxiety, depression. A stinging sense that, without beliefs, we might be as lost as the priest desperately clinging to his. The “dying man’s” challenge could have been a cry for freedom, but today, it seems more like a lament for a world in which faith -as imperfect as it was – offered a semblance of order in the chaos.—
Emilio raised his glass of Guinness and said in a deep voice to his friend: —Let’s drink to our doubts and ask ourselves if the real tragedy is not that we no longer believe but that we no longer care. Here’s to our time, Sean. A time when dialogue continues, but the answers seem further away than ever.—
They both nodded, clinked glasses, and took a long drink. They exited the bar to sit outside and smoke their Partagás Línea Maestra cigars.
For Times Media México / The Yucatan Times
José E. Urioste
Merida Yucatan
August 28, 2024
—
José E. Urioste is an accomplished Yucatecan businessman and a seasoned professional in Business Intelligence, amassing over 25 years of experience, which has led him to serve on several boards of directors. In addition to his business acumen, Mr. Urioste’s writings are engaging and critical. Unafraid to tackle controversial topics and challenge prevailing norms with a clear and often unyielding perspective. He has significantly contributed to the media landscape, sharing his insights through articles and hosting radio shows that provide in-depth business, financial, and political analysis. His influence extends beyond the media, as he is a published author.
