Perceptions
OK, I did it before. Here’s a joke and a message. First the joke:Three Blondes were all applying for the last available position on the Texas Highway Patrol. The detective conducting the interview looked at the three of them and said, "So y'all want to be cops, huh?"
The blondes all nodded.
The detective got up, opened a file drawer and pulled out a folder. Sitting back down, he opened it and pulled out a picture, and said, "To be a detective, you have to be able to detect. You must be able to notice things such as distinguishing features and oddities such as scars and so forth."
So saying, he stuck the photo in the face of the first blonde and withdrew it after about two seconds. "Now," he said, "did you notice any distinguishing features about this man?"
The blonde immediately said, "Yes, I did. He has only one eye!"
The detective shook his head and said, "Of course he has only one eye in this picture!
It's a profile of his face! You're dismissed!"
The first blonde hung her head and walked out of the office.
The detective then turned to the second blonde, stuck the photo in her face for two seconds, pulled it back and said, "What about you? Notice anything unusual or outstanding about this man?"
"Yes! He only has one ear!"
The detective put his head in his hands and exclaimed, "Didn't you hear what I just told the other lady? This is a profile of the man's face! Of course you can only see one ear!! You're excused too!"
The second blonde sheepishly walked out of the office.
The detective turned his attention to the third and last blonde and said, "This is probably a waste of time, but . . " He flashed the photo in her face for a couple of seconds and withdrew it, saying, "All right, did you notice anything distinguishing or unusual about this man?"
The blonde said, "I sure did. This man wears contact lenses."
The detective frowned, took another look at the picture and began looking at some of the papers in the folder. He looked up at the blonde with a puzzled expression and said, "You're absolutely right! His bio says he wears contacts! How in the world could you tell that by looking at his picture?"
The blonde rolled her eyes and said, "Well, Helloooo! With only one eye and one ear, he certainly can't wear glasses."
So what did we learn little children?
First, there are still some great blond jokes that I haven’t heard yet.
Second, the punch line was about one thing and what I’m going to say is about another.
The punch line was about being so dumb that you don’t see the obvious after being told about it. But there’s more than that. The whole thing is a perfect analogy for the way we tend to live in today’s society – blonds, brunettes, redheads, baldheads. Each segment of society seems to be like the three blonds, already fixed on the outcome regarding of what someone else tells you. The only difference is that the third blond used the information provided by the other two in order to make a conclusion. In the same way our little societal segments converse amongst ourselves and decide what’s right and what’s not. We put no stock in what anyone in authority may say. We already know what the answer is.
Isn’t it time to talk together? As the third blond so aptly put it “Helloooo!” there is a lot that we can learn from one another. How about if we don’t plan on getting a lucky guess for the wrong reason? How about if we look into facts and make decisions from that? There are so many aspects of current culture that fit into this syndrome I don’t know where to begin. You can guess. You can also make a difference. We all can. Once we loose preconceptions that are not based on fact.
Accountable or Vindictive?
It seems that people in the Western world as well as those in the Eastern and Middle-eastern societies are all wanting someone to be accountable for what’s happening. “Someone must take responsibility!” “There is nobody who will accept responsibility for this!” For what? And, more importantly who is “somebody?"
It appears that there is more and more of an emphasis in the world for people to accuse one another of wrong-doing. Sure there’s wrong doing in the world. All you need to do is look around and see it. But what is the wrong doing – the act or the finger pointing afterward?
If we expect others to do things for us or to make things happen, we are missing the story. There are lots of things that need done and few people willing to step up and do them (unless they get a hold harmless clause).
In a few days we may find out whether or not the medicine prescribed to my father resulted in his heart attack or not. But that will only provide knowledge – not ammunition. There is no going back and changing things. There is only moving ahead. So, something went wrong. Do we seek to sue the doctor? The pharmacy? The drug manufacturer? For what? What will it change? Nothing!
I have little control over what happens to me. But I have ultimate control over how I will respond. It is the story of the egg, the carrot and the coffee bean. When things get hot and we feel like we’re “up to here” in hot water, we can respond like the egg and harden our attitudes and responses. Or we can be the carrot that simply weakens and gives in to “whatever will be.” Or we can be the coffee bean and change the hot water into something of benefit through the very character that is us.
It is no coincidence that every paragraph started with the same letter “I” because it is “I” that can start things to happen. I can take responsibility for my actions. I can accept what happens and respond in a way that improves my surroundings rather than demeans it. I can choose to forgive rather than seek vengeance for the smallest slight. People don’t seek to be responsible anymore, they seek to be vindictive.
Is it any wonder we are were we are?
On the Other Hand
In an interview with the Palestinian Authority, Omar Abul Razeq, a former professor of finance and now finance minister of the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority (PA) says that “[The G-4] want to see a weak Palestinian government that would budge to Israeli dictates and American pressure.” When questioned about whether or not the PA would denounce violence and recognize Israel and the deals previously made he replied, “I challenge you to tell me where Israel's borders lie. Or do you want to sell me fish in the sea?
Let me think about that . . . .
OK, I’m done thinking. Sell fish whether you like.
Seriously though, the reply was by that of a practiced and hardened politician (you thought I was going to say something different?) As the old joke goes – you can tell if a politician is lying because his lips are moving. In this case you can tell because Razeq performed one of the oldest tricks in the book – redirect. There was no answer in the reply. His response was one to elicit emotion and not to settle the question tendered. Don’t take my word for it, here’s a link to the Aljazeera news web site were the interview is recorded. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/523624F2-0AB6-4BE9-A197-4D180CB78610
The web site also has information about the Iranian letter from their president to President Bush. Although I have not been able to find a posted copy of the letter, it appears to be a futile attempt by the Iranian president in the same fashion that President Regan made when he sent Iran a cake after the American hostages were taken in the Iranian Revolution. To which I can only reply, “What were they thinking?” Both attempts failed because the two sides knew nothing of the others social and (most importantly) religious perceptions. Regan thought he could return to the Sheik days and offer gifts in exchange for favors. Hello! This is the 21st Century. And Iranian President Ahmadinejad sends a letter that appears to chastise Bush for his inability to properly apply Christian principles to his administration. While that topic is an entirely different one, what is important is that you do not win support or seek an understanding by chastening and rebuking your opponent. Does this make any sense to anyone else out there? Dialogue means “two talking together.” A letter in the mail which slaps you in the face is hardly dialogue. There have been no refutes from Iran so we can only assume that what little we’re hearing is correct.
So, here are the players: The US and EU; mighty, big with 21st Century ideals but with 10 centuries of western baggage. To the rest of the world they appear as bullies for forcing their ideas on others and taking control of everything they can, regardless of local beliefs. And in the other corner, the much smaller third world countries – in this case we’ll limit them to Islamic influenced countries. They have a common history too in many ways and rail against outsiders telling them what to do. They also fail to recognize western style dialogue. What we have here is a failure to communicate. We also have leaders who stand up for their beliefs, avoid the tough questions and seek to emotionally energize their base support.
Gee, maybe they’re not so different after all!
On Community
Who are we? Are we individual entities or are we vital components of a larger community? I suppose the answer depends on whom you ask and what is the reason for the question. Try to ask your self the question and come up with a “tentative” answer. First let’s discuss individualism and community.
Individualism is the essence of identity. If you are familiar with the Star Trek series you know about the Borg. The Borg epitomizes the antithesis of individualism. In all the stories the dichotomy between individual and group is portrayed. The individual thinks for itself. It does not seek to be a part of a group. It knows who it is because it is self-aware. It knows about itself and the world around it and it can contemplate its own existence. We are like this individual entity in many ways. The advantages are many. There is the self. The individual need only consider its own needs and that which will support its existence. The downside is that it does not work to the best advantage of the continuation of the species.
The Borg. The community. In many ways we see communism at its basest elements in the Borg. Is the single unit an individual or simply a cog in the wheel (catchy, isn’t it. Maybe a song is in the mix. . . .). but what is the community? Even in the Borg’s concern, the effort is the continuation of the community; the perpetuation of the species; and at the expense of the individual if necessary. The advantage is that the species will likely continue; and far into the future. The disadvantage is that the individual lacks fulfillment except as a part of the community.
So, where do you lie? Where can we live? Communism at its basest elements is community (hence the essence of the word “communism” – duh!). Individualism at its basest is anarchy. Where do we want to live? In typical American fashion, the answer is usually “I want both.” Well, you can’t have it both ways without effort and considerable compromise. One example is the United States; in which I live. Another is the Church; in which I live (capital “C” for a reason). I will continue the faith based discussion in another blog. “Stay tuned.” However, the point is this – we are individual entities which must fit into a community to bring meaning to the individual. Hence it is not a question of either/or; it is a question of how and why. For a community of people and ants it is a question of survival. Together we are stronger and can fight attacks better than individually. For a community of “Believers” it is because God designed us that way – to be best fitted when we are a part of something greater than we are.
The best people can do nothing to continue their thinking without followers. Ann Rand wrote three incredible books; the most well known is “The Fountainhead” – roughly modeled on Frank Lloyd Wright. The essence of the idea in her philosophy is that of integrity to oneself and the pursuit of self-fulfillment, without the expense of others. Ideally, there is nothing wrong with this thinking. In reality it denies the fact that children need assistance and that there are those members of society that cannot exist without assistance. She would have allowed those entities to survive or die. Well, she’s dead. She left no children and her idealism is dying as well.
Community means that we pick what works for all with the least detriment to all. (For a faith based discussion on this see my other blog.) We cannot exist as individuals and expect a continuity of existence. Within a generation we will begin to see a reduction of the ranks and the beginnings of compromise. Each so called “independent society” has suffered as similar fate. If you think about it, in this context “independent society” is an oxymoron since society cannot be composed of independent entities by definition.
The truth is that we are both – individual AND community. Without both we, as a species, do not exist. We need each other to support and supplement one another. I cannot be all things to all people – and (really) I can’t even be enough for myself. I need someone who can fix my car, generate the power for my lights, and mill the lumber for my home. Oh, individuals can still exist, and do. The best of them, however, inspire the rest of us to perform works of wonder and deeds of compassion. Compassion requires that “others” exist. Hey! That sounds like community! Me! In a community! Now I get it!
The hub-bub of yesterday’s “Day without Immigrants” started me thinking; and thinking; and thinking. There were three separate things that popped up – not necessarily related to one another.
First, there’s the idea that Immigrants are either good or bad. One of the Hispanic leaders of the march in California said that “they took California away from Mexico and now we’re taking it back.” Great! An uncivil war of words. Fire the first shot! Let’s get things started! Doesn’t anybody ever learn that you can’t right wrongs with more wrongs?
And, how far back do you want to go? If we want no immigrants, then most of us wouldn’t be here. The Mandan and the Sioux would have their lands back and the rest of us “light and dark folk” would be relegated to other places. Whether we came here of our own volition or not, we’re still immigrants. From the slave on board the ship from Africa to the indentured servants from Ireland and Scotland to the German militia left here by their country after the American Revolution, we all got here from somewhere else. But wait, let’s go back further and we’ll leave the landscape to the plants and animals because, after all, humans immigrated here from Asia all those millennia ago.
So let’s just “get over it” and move on. The real question is what to do to allow people to work here who may have been born in another country but who can provide service and meaning to the American way of life while at the same time keep controls on our borders to limit the prospects that dangerous people are entering into the states. Dangerous means not just terrorists but criminals of all sorts who seek their own benefit at the expense of others. (Come to think of it, there are more than a few who were born here that fit that description.) The point is, let’s figure it out – not scream and shout.
Second, there’s the International Labor recognition day. This great country recognizes those who labor in September. It’s a sort of “the harvest is over and now you can relax” sort of day. The rest of the world recognizes may 1 as the day to remember those who perform labor of all sorts. The irony is that the date is picked to remember those who died in Chicago attempting to fight for labor reforms in the late Nineteenth Century (http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/timeline/haymarket.html ). The Haymarket riots sparked the whole union effort but in order to suppress the union influence, the government chose another day to remember laborers.
Nonetheless, the rest of the world remembers laborers (and the Haymarket riots) on May 1. Since we no longer dance around the maypole, maybe the United States should show its solidarity with the rest of humanity and join the international community, recognizing May 1 as the date for labor support. Do you suppose that there it’s coincidence that the Immigration marches chose that date? I think not.
Third, I think about my dad. He’s here with a Green card. In an unforgivable turn of events, he is forever barred from being a United States citizen because he placed family above war; having spent the previous decade living in Germany as a youth during the war. There is no love of death and destruction in him. Remarkably, the antithesis of what nearly cost him and his family their lives now cost him citizenship. So, he’s an alien (and no, he does not have a cone shaped head). He’s an immigrant. He came to America after the war because it was, as it still is, a place where people can get ahead if they try. He is living proof of that. He is also living proof that no matter what a government tells you, you can still do what’s right. He did that in Germany during the war and he continues to do that in this country now.
Doing right means supporting your family and practicing tolerance and respect for others. Doing right means holding yourself accountable for your own actions as they affect others. And most of all, doing right means practicing your faith in peace with your fellow man every day – not just once a week. He represents the essence of what a good immigrant is. He represents a model for citizenship (if it could ever be granted). He presents hope for all who chose a place to live based on what it offers rather on who it keeps out.
So, as the day is now over I continue to think on these things and wonder what next year will bring. Will the United States be under siege? Will we be open to people looking for a better way of life like it’s written on the Statue of Liberty? Or, will be close our borders and our minds to the reality of the fact that “people” – not dirt with borders make a country.
