COHEN'S CONCOCTIONS #1

HAPPINESS IS OKAY, BUT NOT GLOATING?

The problem is the immorality of gloating, which makes the one you gloat against feel bad. My happiness began in November & will continue through Spring at least. I earned the happiness by being a Yankee fan. But my happiness is at the expense of my fellow human beings who care for the Mets. Should I feel guilty in my happiness, so as to spare the Mets' fans' feelings? Do I owe Mets fans some reparation--should I try to destroy my happiness, so as to lower myself to equal their feelings? Should human beings be granted a democracy of emotions, leveled down to conformity? I want to do good to my fellow mankind's--at the cost of denying my Yankee pride? Why can't I just feel good, while I'm still able to, & let Met fans fend for themselves? Guilt is unpleasant, so why can't Met fans be kind enough to let me off the hook?

Am I accusing Met fans of interfering with the happiness that started in November & has enough staying power to last even beyond Spring? If they accuse me of gloating, can't they just look the other way, & forgive my lack of tact?

Tact is superficial compared to morality itself. Now I'm in it deep.

-Marvin Cohen

Marvin Cohen is the author of several books including Baseball The Beautiful (1974) and a former creative writing teacher at the New School. Marvin plays first base for Softball For The Love Of It.