The Three Christs of Ypsilanti - Milton Rokeach [79]
“False identity!” Joseph exclaimed. “It’s a waste of time. They’re making fools out of themselves, those fellows in that paper. What it says in the paper is plain enough. That’s a truthful report right there.”
At this point, Leon got up from his chair and left, saying that he had to go to the toilet.
“The doctor is not crazy by any means,” Joseph continued. “The patients who are claiming they are Jesus Christ are wasting their time. I’m sure that a man who has faith in himself doesn’t claim to be Jesus Christ; he wants to be himself. If there are such hospital cases as stated in this article I think he would do better for himself if he would think or claim a different manner for himself in the hospital. I’m pretty sure he would have a better chance of being freed from his insanity.” Joseph read the article again to himself. “It’s not a thing to be worrying about.”
I asked Clyde if he wished to say anything and when he did not respond to my query, addressed myself to Joseph.
—Who are they talking about in this article?—
“They’re talking about three mental patients claiming to be Jesus Christ who don’t know any better, but one recognizes himself, recognizes his identity as it were, so he’s better than the other two. He says they’re crazy.”
—Do you know who they are?—
“No, I don’t.”
—Do you have any idea?—
“No, their names aren’t in the article.”
—What about the one who’s better?—
“He’s not wasting his time to try to be Jesus Christ.”
—Why is it a waste of time?—
“Why should a man try to be s-somebody else,” Joseph stammered, “when he’s not even himself? Why can’t he be himself?”
—You mean, if a person thinks he’s Jesus Christ, he might be sick?—
“Why not?”
—What if a patient thinks he’s God?—
“Pure insanity, that’s all.”
—Should he be changed?—
“Why, certainly!”
—And give up that belief?—
“That’s right. He should be sent to a hospital—not to be gotten out, not to be dismissed until he has gotten well.”
—How do you know when he’s well?—
“When he claims he’s not Jesus Christ any more.”
—When he claims his name is?—
“His real name.”
—Which is what? What is his real name?—
“I don’t know his name.”
—Will he be well when he claims he’s not God?—
“That’s right. The doctor recognized the point that he got to such an understanding that he knows what he is. Now this man is not crazy, I would say.”
—If he still claims he’s God, does that mean he’s still crazy?—
“Sure!”
—Do you know anyone who’s done this?—
“I don’t know anyone.”
—Is it possible that any person who thinks he’s God could be right?—
“No, that’s the same thing as Jesus Christ.”
—Clyde, do you want to say anything?—
Clyde raised himself from his stupor long enough to say: “Not very much,” and then retreated back into it. I then sent Joseph after Leon, who was still in the toilet.
When Leon returned he was agitated and openly hostile. “Sir,” he shouted, “from that clipping, if you gave them that information you deplored your intelligence. As far as I’m concerned you’re not a professor, nor a doctor at all.”
—I think the reporter garbled the whole story. I didn’t say these things.—
“I don’t see where he could have gotten the information if …”
—I gave the lecture, but he didn’t quote me correctly.—
“Still and all, from the very first meeting I recall you deplored my personality. A person who is supposed to be a doctor or a professor is supposed to lift up, build up, guide, direct, inspire!”
—I think R. I.’s point is well taken. All I can say in my defense, R. I., is that I tried to do the best that I could. Maybe I made a mistake, maybe not, but it was not my intention to make a mistake.—
“I believe I could give a better lecture than some people who went to college twelve years.”
—It’s quite possible.—
“I know I can with the help of the good Lord.”
—You seem very angry.—
“I’m angry at the evil ideal, not at you people. I feel sorry for you.”
—It’s human to feel angry.—
“I’m angry at the evil ideal that has made a foolish-sounding person out of you. I sensed it in the first meeting—deploring!