Summary

The text discusses the idealized notion of Camelot as a symbol of a perfect society, contrasting its fleeting appearances in history and legend with the harshness of reality, and advocates for striving to improve the world rather than merely dreaming of an unattainable utopia.

Abstract

The article reflects on the myth of Camelot, a place of perfection and harmony, often romanticized in literature and history. It highlights the transient nature of such ideal societies, noting their inevitable decline, as seen in the fall of King Arthur's Camelot and the brief period of optimism during JFK's presidency. The author argues that while the dream of Camelot is beautiful and alluring, it is a fallacy to wait for its return. Instead, the piece calls for individuals to actively work towards changing their reality, suggesting that the effort to create a better world, though challenging and sometimes dangerous, is a shared responsibility. The text encourages readers to abandon the passive hope for a perfect world and to engage in collective action to build a reality that, while imperfect, is more equitable and sustainable for all.

Opinions

The author believes that the perfection of Camelot is an illusion, a temporary state that cannot withstand the tests of time and reality.
There is a critical view of the human tendency to romanticize the past and idealize utopian societies, which can lead to disengagement from the real work needed to improve the present.
The piece expresses a sense of disillusionment with the recurring cycles of hope and disappointment, as exemplified by the assassination of JFK and the subsequent shattering of the "Camelot" myth during his presidency.
The author emphasizes personal and collective responsibility in effecting change, suggesting that waiting for a perfect world to emerge is futile.
A strong opinion is voiced that the hard work of altering reality is often avoided because it is difficult and risky, but it is necessary for progress.
The text conveys a hopeful message that with cooperation and determination, people can create a world they can be proud of, even if it falls short of the idealized Camelot.

The Fallacy Of Dreaming For Camelot

When fantasy and reality collide

Camelot, the fantastical creation of all that’s right and wonderous in the world. Brought to us in twelfth-century romances and eventually touted as the magical and mysterious capital of King Arthur’s just rule.

Everything went right in Camelot. Things were beautiful and harmonious in Camelot. Camelot represented an example of perfectionism from the righteous jurisprudence of the Knights of the Round Table, to the peasants walking the grounds of the castle. Everyone was entitled to live a perfect life, free from blights, starvation, persecution, and oppression.

Camelot was perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

The stories of Camelot are as varied as the minds which create them, but legend has it that everything beautiful in Camelot fell prey to the horrors of war and derision. The adulterous tryst between Lancelot and Queen Guinevere. The Knights who had graced the table of the righteous chose sides and fought against each other.

Blood was shed within and without the castle walls as evil king Mark of Cornwall attacked and razed Logres after killing King Arthur at the battle of Camlann.

And as quickly as Camelot had appeared and held preeminence, the lights of Camelot were snuffed, and the cold harshness of reality once again reigned supreme.

Camelot would not reappear for many years. Centuries, in fact. Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in a 1963 Life interview, referenced a line from a well known musical of the day to describe the wonders of JFK’s presidency, cut short by an assassin’s bullets.

“Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot.”

Again fantasy would collide with reality and shatter something beautiful and pure, and as the funeral procession of JFK reminded us, unfortunately unsustainable.

All of us dream of peace. We dream of an end to starvation, and greed, and avarice. We wish to see Camelot again, an entire world free of pestilence, with equality of gender and race. We long to have a Camelot world where everyone gets along, and no one castigates someone for their sexual preferences or the color of their skin.

We so want and need Camelot to reappear and take hold.

But the fallacy of it all is dreaming for a Camelot to come along. If it does, as we’ve seen so many times before, it will only be a temporary condition. A brief shining moment, an illusionary image that will ultimately collide with reality and disappear.

Fantastical worlds often do. But it’s so damned beautiful, isn’t it? None of us need to change Camelot when it happens, because it’s well, it’s perfect.

And we’re smart enough to know Camalot won’t stick around very long, so if we’re looking to change something, it’s reality that needs changing. That’s where this life shit gets really tough. I firmly believe many of us wish for Camelot every day because the work required to alter reality is just too damn hard.

And most times, dangerous.

Just this morning, after my dose of gloom and doom from the networks, I so wanted to be able to snap my fingers and change it all. I so wished for a Camelot, and then sadly, I realized that Camelot may come, but it sure as hell won’t stay. Reality will just smack it around a couple of times and send Camelot packing.

So what do I have to do? I have to change. I have to start changing my own reality, and then I have to start working on helping other people change theirs. It’s not going to be easy.

It never is.

But I’ve got to believe there are a lot of like-minded people on this planet who’ve stopped wishing for a Camelot. People just like me who are slowly trying to turn this current reality of ours into something more palatable for all of us to live with.

If you’ve stopped wishing for a Camelot and are frustrated and about to throw in the towel, don’t toss that sucker just yet, folks. Together, we can move mountains. We know we won’t ever create another Camelot because we understand that existence is nothing but a house of cards. When fantasy collides with reality, reality usually wins.

Let’s build a reality we can all be proud of, a reality where yes dammit, we all can hold hands and sing Kumbayah.

We can do this, folks.

Thank you so much for reading. You didn’t have to, but I’m certainly glad you did.

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