Sanctuary! Sanctuary!

 

Here we see Quasimodo, splendidly played by Charles Laughton, crying "Sanctuary!" and claiming the protection of the sacred space of Notre Dame Cathedral for Esmeralda, having first dramatically snatched her away from the noose.  She was to be hung for witchcraft.  I couldn't bring myself to use images from Disney's weird version of Victor Hugo's novel.

"Sanctuary" was originally used to refer to a place sacred to a divinity and so apart from the profane world of men and women.  Gradually, it came to signify a place where human law did not apply.  So, at least in theory, a fugitive from temporal law or power having entered the sacred space could claim sanctuary and be beyond the reach of the temporal authorities; in effect, immune while in that space.  In practice, it seems that this rule was disregarded in some cases.  Sometimes, this immunity became a subject of negotiation.  For example, those having authority over the sanctuary might allow the person claiming protection to be taken into custody if it was promised that person would not be killed.

These sad days, we hear of "sanctuary cities" or jurisdictions.  Those in them aren't immune from the application of all law, however.  Instead, those municipalities refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities, much to the chagrin of conservatives, who now, unlike their predecessors, delight in the relentless enforcement and imposition of federal law, everywhere, local government be damned.

It's unfortunate that sanctuaries don't exist which can be fled to avoid the ever-expanding power of the federal government generally.  If churches, or at least that part of them surrounding the altar, were such sanctuaries how crowded they would be! It's a remarkable thing to see federal troops which were once used to enforce the rights of citizens to education and travel, to vote and assemble, now used largely to intimidate and to quash alleged "emergencies."  Emergencies in our Glorious Union now seem ubiquitous, judging from the peculiar logic of El Presidente and his lackeys.  Anything which can be used as a pretense for the exercise of Executive Authority will do.

O tempora, O mores!  One can almost hear Cicero crying out about the decadence of our times and customs, and the morals or lack of them of our representatives in all branches of government.  He was saddened by the decline of integrity in Republican Rome, soon to become autocratic and imperial.  It seems today that integrity has not merely declined, but has disappeared.  When did our legislators and judges of the high court become so meek, so obliging, so obsequious, so craven, so venal?  Have they (and have we) become willing victims of despotism?

Many of us seem to have Daddy Issues.  I don't refer to those issues which it's claimed by some involve the sexual activities or imagination of certain females.  Instead I refer to what seems to be a kind of creepy insecurity and desire to be led, if not dominated, by a father figure who will tell us what to do.  Presumably, he'll protect us as well.  Various figures in or on the outskirts of politics have voiced their fascination with and desire for a Daddy,  They may want to be spanked, poor creatures, or even better see someone else spanked.  Perhaps most characteristic of this childish desire for a Daddy is the relief that's felt at the fact that responsibility and authority is transferred to someone else.  Daddy will fix it, whatever it is.

Daddy will certainly fix us, in any case, they hope.  But some of us hope to find sanctuary even from Daddy.