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Are You A Good Ambassador of Your Art?

It is always instructive to look at the world through the eyes of others, but sometimes that's not a pleasant view. However, because "knowing your audience" is always the best policy, we take a look here at two essays critical of juggling and jugglers.

The first is an editorial that appeared in a January 30 edition of the English newspaper, The Guardian, written by Chris Surrat :

There was a time when the juggling classes were confined to the circus ring where they belonged. If - God forbid - you wanted to witness the yawnsome spectacle of some spangly-panted bohemian type throwing balls, clubs or other objects in the air, and - wow! catching them, you paid your money, sat down in your seat and damn well grinned and bore it. But sadly no more.

These days the juggling fraternity has eased its way into every nook and cranny of society, inviting themselves and their circusy grins on to the public high- and by-ways of the nation.

"Look at us," they say in juggling semaphore. "We have come to brighten up your lives. Juggling is fun. Juggling is wacky. Juggling is entertaining. All hail the New Circus where skills are demystified and everyone can have a go. All hail the long-haired and bearded juggler in the sky."

Like people who thrust leaflets under your nose about off-the-wall new religions, like the sadeyed chunky-jumper

wearing Christians who ask ever so nicely if you fancy getting closer to God, the new age Nineties juggler is a

human being possessed, always on the lookout for wideeyed and gullible converts...

Like the committed God Squadder spurned or the Living Marxism street seller who's just been told, "No, I'm not interested in politics," you can expect to provoke sincere feelings of pity. Why pity? Because you are a poor, misguided and unappreciative sort who really doesn't know what is best for you.

The result of such pity is what jugglers call entertainment, and people with more than two brain cells to rub together call torture: a charitable rendition of their latest tricks accompanied by that "you know you want to learn how, really" grin.

Avoiding jugglers is getting harder by the day. The imminent spring thaw will bring them out in droves and their annoying ability to cross age and class barriers makes very few places totally safe from their infiltration. But avoid them we must. If the rough and ready seediness of the traditional circus to be replaced by anything, let's make sure it is not the geeky liberalism and pretend subversiveness of the awful teach-the-world-to-juggle brigade.

The second example is a real-life tale told by Cadet Sgt. Sean Pritchard at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point:

For Christmas, my fiancée bought me a set of Infinite Illusions torches (happy happy day!). Late one Sunday night, my partner, Graeme Parnell, and I decided to put on a show in the area between the barracks. So we went out, lit our torches, and began juggling.

The cheering was very spirited from the several hundred people whose windows faced us. We were about to start our passing routine, when out of the shadows emerged a figure.

The figure told us to quench the flames. "Say what?" said I. He then introduced himself as a Captain and ordered us to douse the flames. He escorted us to central guard room and charged us with "error in judgment with major effect"- one of the more severe administrative charges at West Point. We recognized the charge as a "catchall" which actually meant: "Though no rule covers this situation, I don't like what you're doing so I will charge you with this."

Luckily they forgot to confiscate our torches (which are now safely in Indianapolis!

For several days, we debated and negotiated, offering the facts of the case, talking to our commanding officer, tactical officer, tactical NCO, first sergeant and platoon leader. I built a beautiful case for the safety of the torches. Several people didn't know that professionally made torches were available; they thought I had made them.

I pointed out that we were in the middle of an expanse of concrete measuring 100 yards on each side surrounded by immense granite structures (not particularly flammable). I mentioned my 10 years of juggling experience. I pointed out that we had chosen a time and place away from pedestrians who might mindlessly walk into our torches (in fact, the only other person outside the barracks was the fellow who busted us).

When we asked for specifics on the lack of judgment and the major effects, we were told that we set a bad example for our subordinates. A cadet private might have seen us (cadet sergeants) juggling the fire and attempted to imitate us. My over-active imagination fantasized that someone might have rolled up newspapers, lit them, and attempted to juggle them in the barracks, thus burning the barracks to the ground. And this would have been our fault.

Our beautiful arguments (pronounced "begging") worked to a degree. Our charge was dropped from major to minor effect, but they maintained that it was inappropriate behavior for a cadet.

In the end, common sense saved the day. My punishment was reduced to two hours of tours (sort of like the guard walking back and forth with the rifle in old movies). Graeme got five hours because he was also storing the fuel in the barracks. He had already had his fuel confiscated from him on another occasion. Overall the outcome was not bad, because we could have received 40-80 hours.

Though the initial reaction to our show surprised us, hindsight revealed a different perspective. The fact that juggling fire is not prohibited does not mean that it is accepted. The perception that we were doing something dangerous is what caused us this trouble. We felt juggling was harmless entertainment and expected others to share that view. We now know differently.

The two-man, West Point area juggling club, "Torches at Taps" will continue to juggle but with a wider awareness. We now realize that our antics may offend. We will, however, remain true to our motto: "Veni, Vidi, Joculi." I came, I saw, I juggled.

Editors note: the opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Military Academy or the U.S. Army.