Printed today in the local paper under the newspaper headline, "Searching Honesty in a land of distrust" (My headline, "Which democracy are you talking about?":
When I was a kid, there were moms who
would use soap to wash out the mouths of offspring who were daring enough or
foolish enough to use a cuss word around the house. My mom wasn't one of them,
but I experimented and can report that soap really tasted like ... well, I
don't want my mouth washed out with soap.
I thought of this home-schooling the
other day when, not for the first time, I wondered whatever had happened to the
once-praised virtue of moderated language. And that made me realize that since
I am in no position to moderate the blabber-mouth tactics of the president of
the United States combined with the feeling that national
events have simply gotten too messy for me to keep up with, the best I can
expect, perhaps, is to pay closer attention to my own posturings.
Aside from anything else, if I could rein
in my own tendency to fling virtues and philosophies around without a second
thought, I might be able to claim to have learned a good lesson from a man
whose every pronouncement seems to require an explanation from pundits and
apologists that begins, "Well, that's not exactly what he meant...."
That sort of lifestyle may be OK for a real estate blowhard, but it is not OK
with me. So....
As a small beginning in my desire to be a
more thoughtful broker, I have decided to steer clear of using or listening too
carefully to the use of the word "democracy." As far as I can gather
from the outraged and the delighted, "democracy" means whatever the
current user wants it to mean. Until "democracy" is clearly defined
in a discussion, well, it is just a goodie-two-shoes lash that means I get to
say what I want and you have to listen. Or vice-versa. When the word
"democracy" passes its gas, somehow everyone is expected to
genuflect. But what exactly is being praised and who benefits?
For example, what does
"democracy" mean when the flying of the Confederate battle flag is the issue? What does it mean
when a commencement speaker does not meet with the expectations of the
prospective audience? What does "democracy" mean in a country where
healthcare is widely regarded as a right and making money is simultaneously an
ingrown imperative? Specifically -- which democracy are we talking about?
And "democracy" is not the only
political football I have decided to put aside ... or anyway try to. Remember
Bernie Sanders and the edgy sniggers that surrounded his "socialist"
agenda? How many have looked up "socialism" and considered the
practical and metaphorical meanings that can go into that word? From one
standpoint, for example, both Christianity and Communism might be labeled
"socialist." But it's so much easier to wink-wink-nod-nod and let the
word go, whether as an insult or a bit of sanity.
It's all too much like Donald Trump for
my liking. It's all too much like the idiotic traveler in a foreign land who is
so convinced by his or her own beliefs that s/he imagines speaking louder will
convey the one true meaning. Yes, it's earnest. But volume and a couple of
bucks will get you a bus ride.
Anyway, the current state of confusion
and the current lack of trust across the land has left this aging onlooker
exhausted. I need someone who's honest -- or actually, someone I can credit as
honest -- and I honestly no longer know where to look. At 77, I'm crabby: Why
should I have to look? Why should a leader be so palpably thin on facts and
thinner still on the nation and its needs? As promise after promise is followed
by "well, that's not exactly what he meant," my sense of terra firma
is weakened. I don't like the feeling, but it is time I made some lemonade out
of the lemons that have been delivered.
As a dwindling news junkie -- someone who
reads four or five news wires a day and watches the evening TV news -- I have
found some recent relief in the recognition that I don't really need to credit
those who cannot define their terms. I will do what I can to be sure of my own
terms.
Hey, you can trust me! I'm honest! You just have to take my stupid along with it. lol
ReplyDeleteNice piece. Congrats on getting it into print. You've touch on the tip of the iceberg.
ReplyDeleteSome important points about "democracy." For example,from its beginnings in Ancient Athens, Greece, "democracy" was the not the idealist democracy that exist only in propaganda. In Ancient Athens only certain men (yep, no women), were able to vote. Also Slavery existed in Athens. Slaves didn't vote.
The notion we have of democracy in the 21st century, is great; but for the most part it's idealistic to the extreme. It ignores much about human nature. It doesn't intrinsically address much less provide mechanisms to fight greed for power. It assumes everyone wants to share wealth and power.
Think the USA is a good model for Practical Democracy?
Check this out on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index?wprov=sfsi1
See the chart:
https://infographics.economist.com/2017/DemocracyIndex/
The United States ranking in the Democratic Index has been lowered recently. On the scale of 1 to 10, the US is below 8. I suspect that this country's 2017 rating may change one way or another due to the current highly dishonest and unstable president. Right before Trump took over the US received a 7.98 rating. By comparison Austrialia, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden are in the 9's. China's rating is 3.14, Russia's rating is 3.24. Saudia Arabia's is 1.93, Iran is 2.34, Israel's is 7.85 (and I think that might be too high based on conversations I've had with those far more knowledgeable than I with both the Israeli government and the on the ground situation (e.g. I didn't know that Palestinians can not use the same roads as "Israelis.")
Consider: peace and justice activism has been increasing since Mr. Trump won the electoral college vote (Note that the electoral college is am extremely undemocratic mechanism inserted into the US Constitution). But even in the 120 or so days in office, Trump and his Oligarch Cronies (including US, Russians and Saudis) are doing much to suppress voter participation, reduce health care, reduce education, ignore & reduce science, etc.
PS
ReplyDeleteGiven how overwhelming the current political situation is, it might be useful to learn, or review and renew techniques to help the development of a calm, clear and stable mind.
Exercise. Tai Chi. Chi Gung. Yoga Asana and Breath Practices. Meditation Practices like breath counting and awareness (e.g. Search Anapanasati, & introductory Zen Meditation.)
A good diet tends to help as well.