It was once said to Socrates, reported the Carmelite Friar, that he is the humblest of all men. To which Socrates replied- then there are no humble men.
Which might be the epitomy of humility. God hates pride-was the sermon, one that a few Cardinals might note.
Without the snark allow me to cite to someone I believe one of the humblest of men, and thus greatest of men I have met in my lifetime.
---Roland Celette.
Who is he really, this guy feted now by the Washington Post and socialites from here to New York with portfolios to rank Soros? (they wish) He has been a discrete Washington fixture for a decade. And now, just as he is leaving everyone is taking sad notice and begging him to stay in some fashion or capacity. I expect someone to just give him a penthouse in New York just to have him around soon.
Roland is a guy who you might think 'ordinary' to look at- like Jesus was reported to be. He was a classical scholar and professor in Paris, from a humble simple family in Clermont, France, a rather rural agrarian part of the country which he calls the "Pittsburgh of France." It has what we might call 'midwestern charm' and aversion to open displays of oppulence.
And here Roland, the classical scholar found himself in Washington, DC, catering to the desires of four French Ambassadors fighting the anti-francophone vibe that flung from Midland Texas like a cow patty tossing carnival to 'in your face' poor Chirac who was all along totally correct. Iraq was a fiasco. A dumb nightmare that we are still paying for in treasure and limbs.
Roland is an educator who taught Peace through culture. More than that he taught kindness, acceptance, love and grace- of a kind that is uniquely french. I truly believe it is uniquely French. I attribute it to the fact that the Blessed Mother must have lived there or at least really and truly Mary Magdalene whose love of Jesus the saints know better than the scripture.
Roland for a decade made the French Embassy in Washington as sort of oasis of special tender peace and kindness. After movies he treated to wine and cheese receptions. He kissed both cheeks with a hearty 'thank you so much for coming' as if you were Royalty or at least the Secretary of State (or something far more deserving of his double cheeked kissing than a little Washington lawyer.)
He loves kids- and created a EuroKids festival - something that is the highlight of the year for a lot of people now in DC. He brought us French movies before most French people saw them with their Directors and cast.
I can't say enough how much Roland enriched the lives of Washingtonians.
I am just a "tres petite avocate"- and he treated me to events at the Embassy residence with their embroidered tapestried walls and golden orchestra chairs as if I was Madame La President de La Republic.
The man who so humbles himself and treats every soul he sees as Royalty is a great humble man. A sincere Prince of a man. A giant of a man not just because he towers over 6 feet. Roland is French Royalty- a Treasure. And much of Washington is crying over their Chardonnay to see him go.
I hope and trust he is not long for our shores again and wish him godspeed in his journey to visit with his parents and for the next chapter which I hope somehow includes his "tres petite avocate."
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