Ori

Dead Men's Path

Chinua Achebe - 1953

"Mr. Obi listened with a satisfied smile on his face. 'The whole purpose of our school,' he said finally, 'is to eradicate just such beliefs as that. Dead men do not require footpaths. The whole idea is just fantastic. Our duty is to teach your children to laugh at such ideas.'" - page 2

Like Julian in "Everything that Rises Must Converge", Ori is under the premise that his education has given him some right above others.  While I applaud education and the eradication of narrow-minded feelings, both of these characters go about it maliciously, their education making them not only confident but pretentious.  It is not Ori's beliefs that make him wrong, but the childish sense of vengeance he wishes to bring upon those who don't have his upbringing.  

However, the difference between Julian and Ori is their justification for such beliefs.  Julian's mother beliefs are fundamentally flawed, and although he doesn't work against them in a positive manner, his actions are somewhat justified.  Ori, who has not been wronged by the villagers in any way, still seeks to prove to them his omnipotence over them.  Ori wholly ignores the priest, ignorantly dismissing their set traditions in a spiteful way.  

Religious and cultural tolerance is about respect.  Ori may not necessarily agree with the villagers sense of tradition but that does not justify his purposeful disrespect of it.  I do not believe in god, but do not make it my personal goal to tear down religious institution (unless provoked...I admit).  Regardless of what the priest or villagers may believe they are not inherently stupid, or even wrong.  For the most part, age does incite maturity, something which Ori (and his wife especially) are lacking.  The village priest is courteous, and does not attempt to degrade Ori.  If anything, his only emotion is disappointment at Ori's blatant disregard for their people. 

I admit that I sometimes succumb to Ori's fallacy.  When you know (or truly believe) that you're right, it is easy to judge others as ignorant because hey, sometimes they just are.  However, should Ori attempt to dismantle the religious tradition of a people it should be done so carefully and respectfully, not with childish spite.