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Solving the World's Problems over 2 Dixie Beers at Cooter Brown's Tavern by Keith John Paul Horcasitas
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Rated "G" by the Author.
Memories from Loyola University in New Orleans with the Jesuits, particularly, Fr. Dan Berrigan, SJ, at a local tavern, Cooter Brown's - finding common ground.
Solving the World's Problems over 2 Dixie Beers at Cooter Brown's Tavern
Watering holes can provide a great backdrop for discussion and understanding between people with varying opinions and even over serious matters. Who can forget this from some bar scenes on episodes of Cheers or per encounters at the improvised and manufactured distillery of Hawkeye and Trapper John on Mash. Even President Reagan and House Speaker Tip O'Neill found that an evening cocktail helped in resolving some of their bitter partisan differences.
One memorable experience that I had with this goes back to the summer of 1983 before I got married to Maria, my college sweetheart in New Orleans. Besides working at the Loyola University Bookstore, I would answer phones and do housekeeping on weekends at Thomas Hall, where the Jesuit Priests resided. It was neat to be able to see and help some of my former professors in a different light. The University "Wolfpub" provided students some fun times to swallow down some pizza with beer and attempt to resolve debates with classmates and profs in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Fr. Youree, SJ, a wonderful Philosophy teacher who would always start his classes with a famous quote from someone like Plato that he had written on those 3" X 5" index cards, told me to be careful when I vacuumed his room. It happened that he would make himself reminder notes on index cards, which he purposely put all over the ground. I had to be sure not to dispose of these "To Do" lists when I was cleaning his room.
Fr. Ben, SJ an innovative Eastern Religion teacher, certainly practiced what he preached - keeping very simple quarters like he would use in our Zen I class that had no chairs. After sitting on the floor for classes and doing zazen meditation, we would do kinhin, a walking meditation. Sometimes we had class outside in front of the school meeting at the "Touchdown Jesus" Sacred Heart statue. We would dance Tai Chi to the tune of Pachelbel Canon in D much to the thrill of nearby passerby's on the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar.
Clarence was the Chief Chef at Thomas Hall who made some of the best New Orleans dishes for the priests. As a perk to my job there, I would get to indulge in some of his delicacies! He would tease me about some of my long held college antics and allowed me to sneak some of his unused goodies home so that Maria could taste why I was always bragging about him.
Well also that summer, Fr. Dan, SJ was in New Orleans for an Institute on Peace and Justice. He and his brother, Fr. Philip - a Josephite cleric, were renowned American peace activists called the Berrigan Brothers, whose leftist civil disobedience records included pouring their own blood onto Selective Service records and even hammering US nuclear missiles per their "Plowshares Movement."
So one day, as I was busy handling phone calls at Thomas Hall, I had to relay a message to Fr. Dan. He was very engaging and asked about routine New Orleans tourist spots to check out. When he found out that I had been in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in 1981, he was curious as to if I had been involved in any civil disobedience activities for social justice issues. When he heard that I had participated in some peaceful pro-life activities at abortion clinics, he asked if we could discuss this further over a beer or two to find some common ground.
After work, I took Fr. Dan over to "Cooter Brown's Tavern," a local watering hole in the Uptown area by the Mississippi River where St. Charles and Carrollton Avenues merge. It was a very popular place with live music at times and good greasy food. For our oyster meal, I recommended that he try a Dixie long neck beer, a local tradition.
While Fr. Dan expounded over his views and made points that I could appreciate that tied in well with the Church's historical record of always siding with the marginalized in society, he also recognized the clarity of how that same approach applied to my own defense of the unborn. I was also spell bound when he shared with me some of those first hand civil disobedience experiences he had for his beliefs.
By the time we finished our second Dixie beer, it was clear that we both sought to live out the Gospel message - however divergent in our emphasis and approaches - particularly as it related to the Sermon on the Mount's message - the Beatitudes. While we may have not been fully converted to each others opinions, we certainly better understood our beliefs. Micah 6:8 certainly summarized what we had learned more about from the encounter: "Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God."
A guide and challenge to Christians who want to live a life of true discipleship. It explains why worship is fundamental and how a life of true worship transforms one to Christ-likeness.
The world calls us to improve and promote ourselves. Is this
Solving the World's Problems over 2 Dixie Beers at Cooter Brown's Tavern
