06/02/2026
Have you read about The Puncture?
Deed 3: The Puncture
When Spee came to the United States in the early 2000s, he quickly formed a wide and diverse circle of friends—ranging from street youths to attorneys, doctors, music producers, and many others. He spent time with them traveling and visiting places such as Kings Beach in Tahoe, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma Valley.
After one such period of travel, Spee returned home and sat along Ocean Street in Santa Cruz, overlooking the Boardwalk and the Pacific Ocean. There, he took up his brush and began to paint. He titled the work The Puncture.
When I, Aloysius, asked him what inspired the painting, he explained that it was his insight into American society. He described it as a portrayal of a population burdened by stress—overwhelmed by bills, commitments, and constant anticipation of what the next hour, day, or year might bring. He laughed and said, “It’s just too much.”
He went on to explain that when ordinary people speak about how difficult it is to push forward, they are not alone in this struggle. Even those in white-collar professions—doctors, attorneys, music producers, and others—often describe how fragile and demanding life feels. “You have to stay focused,” he said. “You have to keep pushing.”
Spee observed that the level of stress he encountered in American society felt more intense than what he had experienced in the African communities he came from or had visited and his travels across Europe.
As he continued to observe the country, he began questioning the legal system—watching the news, studying laws, and reflecting on their implications. He laughed again and remarked that the laws were becoming increasingly controversial, filled with loopholes and inconsistencies.
He then made a striking observation:
“When one of these strong young boys growing up decides to take this country into his hands, people will suffer to take it back from him. He will make sure to use the loopholes and controversial laws to his advantage, and people will feel the pressure before they realize they must act. Only then will they move to close the loopholes that exist in the law and in the laws being passed going forward. By then, a valuable lesson will have been learned.”
