The Club

It's not a club you can choose to join.

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A few lines read from an interview have remained in my mind ever since. I thought it was the 1965 Nat Hentoff Playboy interview with Bob Dylan. It wasn’t. I’ve reread that interview on the internet and two more besides. I can’t find the interview I recall. Maybe it was in Rolling Stone, or the New Yorker.

It doesn’t matter. The part of the interview I remember, does.

The interviewer asked Bob if he belonged to any clubs. Bob said just one, it has no membership rolls, but the members recognize each other as soon as they meet.

Bob said what I had been thinking for a long time, but I hadn’t thought it as simply as he said it. The Club Dylan was talking about wasn’t like any other sort of Club. This wasn’t a club of people in cozy agreement. This was a metaphysical club comprised of very independent individuals who recognize their own kind as easily as seeing themselves in a mirror.

It’s not a matter of like-mindedness. Club members don’t necessarily agree on anything, but they do understand each other. They share a hard understanding of what matters in words and actions - and what doesn’t.

Strangers whom we know at first meeting are fellow club members.

Time doesn’t change the impression.

Club members show their colors most clearly when they argue.

Most argument is made futile because those arguing don’t agree on the facts. If facts are not agreed upon, harangue follows, argument is not possible. When Club members argue they start by agreeing on what they’re disagreeing about. There is no time-wasting misunderstandings. One prevails, the other doesn’t. They reach agreement, or they agree to disagree. They may be annoyed. They’re not confused.

This doesn’t happen except between Club members and two other types of arguers: scientists and mathematicians.

I recall such arguments from my time at the Educational Research Council. When writers in the social science department argued, it usually ended in shouting matches. When writers in the science or mathematics department argued, it ended in agreement. One side or the other of a math/science argument would lay out enough provable, measurable evidence to claim victory. The social scientists disputed endlessly. They lacked serious tools for provable, measurable evidence. They had only theories, statistics, and beliefs. Their arguments never ended.

Provable, measurable evidence isn’t possible for most of life’s disagreements. The Club members Dylan speaks of know this. Therefore they respect agreement-to-disagree.

Club members do not respect dogmatic assertions, or commands from feckless leaders. They value honesty, directness, courage and independent action. They honor commitment to cause, even when they do not honor their opponent’s cause.

I read a story somewhere, about a meeting between Richard Coeur-de-lion and Saladin. The story’s probably apocryphal, nonetheless, it illustrates Dylan’s notion of the Club. Richard fought for Christ. Saladin fought for Mohammed. Compromise between either man, or religion, was unlikely to impossible.

They met before battle, anyway.

Their lengthy meeting was cordial. Both leaders connected in their mutual respect and personal interests. They liked each other. Next day they did their best to kill each other.

I’ve seen bloodless, but nearly as intense conflict with CEO’s competing for market share. These executive officers usually know and respect their competition. The cliché Mafia phrase when murdering rivals, “nothin’ personal, just business”, says it all.

Most meetings between members of the Club are affable, often continuing as lifelong friendships when both are interested in the same things. Nearly as often they never meet again. A tip of the hat, a handshake, mutual recognition, and they go their separate ways.

Meetings are rare in any event.

What then, is the point of being a member of the Club?

There isn’t any point to it.

It’s a way of being. You’re born with it or you’re not. It’s not a Club you can choose to join. The Buyer’s Club, The Kiwanis, the Chamber of Commerce all have agendas. Dylan’s Club has no agenda and no membership rolls - but the members recognize each other as soon as they meet.

If you’re not a member, you’ll never meet one.

By K. L. Shipley

Website: https://www.eclecticessays.com