A Pan moment

Definitely impish and perverse, the Greek Pan, a horned goat-footed god was at work in Mark Sanford’s, Republican Governor of South Carolina, recent escapade. John Keats called Pan the "dread opener of the mysterious doors leading to universal knowledge," an allusion to wine, women and song as universal trouble spots in flights of emotional fancy. Sanford admits that the "odyssey we’re all on in life is with regard to heart." Of course, Keats, Pan and Sanford deliberately forswear man as a rational animal, most human and most alive when his mind controls his matter. A line from Glenn Beck’s radio show this morning sums up the sex (lust) scandal by referring to Sanford’s "second attempt to refuse the stimulus (which) he failed." Pity Sanford’s 4 sons, named Marshal, London, Bolden and Blake as if they would become men like a manly father whose job has been to set the standard for moral living. Pity the rich, heiress wife who shared multimillions with wealthy Mark but who comes away from Pan’s adventure only knowing the old saw about power ( and money naturally) corrupting and corrupting absolutely. Pan the god of misadventure is alive and well. Isn’t it time for a clean sweep of the Congressional forest?