Sadly, few of us are surprised by the lack of fortitude, veracity, and decorum demonstrated in many corners of our American society today.
Our politicians, media, and institutions of higher learning are in a race to the bottom in the display of moral turpitude and a reduced modicum of restraint.
And a lot of us individually have followed suit aided by anonymity and social networking.
In so many facets of our lives, a 24 x 7 deluge of untruths, a focus on vapid issues, and a steady stream of vitriolic verbal sewage deflects our attention, distracts us from the real problems, and divides us.
We cannot even agree that we agree on more things than what we may disagree about.
And we have taken the odd position that taking a side on an issue and disagreeing about one thing becomes a whole human proxy for everything.
Because we disagree or agree on issue A, we have license to make a wholesale decision to like or dislike everything else about that person.
"Catsup is good!"
"You like catsup? I am a mustard person. Liking catsup makes you a horrible human being."
“But, we both like hamburgers, pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes. Can you pass the potato salad?”
“Screw you, catsup lovers must not be tolerated. My tribe says catsup lovers are bad.”
Block them. Mute them. Cancel them.
It has gotten to that level of fragility. (Pronounced stupidity.)
Where does it end?
"Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times." -G. Michael Hopf
(By "men," please read "humans.")
Double-click into this idea, and you get the essence of the Strauss-Howe Generational Theory. (Wiki Link)
This theory says that America has a crisis every 80 to 100 years (a saeculum) followed by a revival/recovery. Strong institutions and a sense of community orientation are hallmarks of the recovery—however, generations weakened by the good times post-recovery forget, soften, and then eventually attack the institutions and the community in the name of autonomy and individualism. And, post the attacks, the cycle restarts with grit and grace until 80-100 years later, it again derails.
Think of it like making a Xerox copy of a Xerox copy of a Xerox copy of a strong country. Eventually, you have to squint to see it, and then you wad it up, toss it, and start all over.
It feels like we are living in the crisis cycle.
Though we have had periodic tough times and cataclysmic events in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and recent times, 1927-1945 was the last significant and prolonged American crisis period. Crazy times, followed by a depression, a world war, and then a rebuild.
Here we are 80-90 years after that crisis, with a whole generation of Americans attacking our institutions, communities, and common sense under the flag of autonomy and individualism.
America is a nation built on autonomy and individualism, wrapped in the sense of a common purpose. A noble purpose. Though imperfect, our nation has been guided by the north star of freedom and individual liberty.
What is happening now feels wrong to so many.
The clarion calls of autonomy and individualism we experience today are false flags people hide behind as they heckle paid speakers at universities, assail families in restaurants, or rally people to violence because they have some positions in which they disagree. This is not a red or a blue state phenomenon; it transcends party, race, religion, and gender. “If you don’t agree with me on this one issue, you are not worthy” is what many think.
This is not what our founders intended.
Autonomy and individualism do not mean avoiding the tough decisions we must debate and execute as a community. And in America, it should not mean toxically shouting down or doxing people with different opinions. We should not give an audience to organizations or institutions that knowingly spout garbage and disinformation (CNN, Fox, NBC…you are all guilty.)
It may be time that “We the People” swing the pendulum back and decide to toughen ourselves and resolve to solve our most significant issues, restore our grit as a nation, and bring grace back into the public forum.
Your kids, my granddaughter, and much of the world count on us.
Grit, gloved in grace.
It is time.
Are you up for it?
Be steadfast, my friends.
Beautifully said. And so true. I recently was at a small gathering here in India where I met someone with a diametrically opposed political position to mine, yet we managed to argue, discuss and agree to disagree completely civilly. I had forgotten how incredibly satisfying true dialogue could be. I learned so much that evening.