In my little world, ideas are constantly swirling. I have a good grasp on some of them, but am not afraid to say that I need help taking others from uncoordinated thought to verbalized coherence. The best way to get to that point is to constantly talk to people, and willingly accept their input. No matter what side of the fence you are on, I don't get all of these political programs now that claim to accept other views on their show, but never allow their "guest" to get a word in before shouting over them the point that they wanted to get across in the first place. To think that one person, or one view, contains complete correctness is not only arrogant, but stupid. I have had two conversations this week that have had my head beautifully spinning.
The first was the origin of all revolutions. Mass movement always tends to come from one source: disconnection. This is broad, but can be configured to support every historically significant era. "Just feed them cake" says the French queen as a solution to the widespread starvation issues; "No taxation without representation"; "Liberty at all costs over the tyranny of someone that doesn't understand the peoples needs" (masters & slaves, dictatorships, separate but equal); and peace rallies versus wars our youth was previously drafted into without a clear explanation for the necessity of their presence.
Food for thought; we are said to be in an age where our societies are the most connected ever, but are we really? Have we lost the ability to communicate efficiently? Has tv taken over dinner talk? Does anyone else see the impersonal behavior of a text over an actual conversation? How many of your facebook "friends" are really friends? How much of our youth (supposed future leaders) care more about the idiots in the specific regions of the east and west shores of New Jersey and Laguna than global affairs? Similarly, how many can tell the difference between reality tv, and actual reality; the truth in news and spewed sensationalism? Does anyone else see the need to reconnect realistically? Just wondering.
Second, there are only several ways of describing, "going against the grain", "non-conforming", "different strokes for different folks", etc. without sounding redundant and outdated, but I have struggled for a long time to put into words trying something different, and only just heard it expressed really well. We have certain thought processes (good & bad), and ways of doing things without thinking anything of it because it is just "the way" it has always been done; TRADITIONS. It was pretty cool to hear that concept challenged in the misconceptions that tradition means repetition, but in fact tradition is something that is done for the sake of being passed down from generations without changing. To elaborate: tradition has lost progressive purpose in a solitary mindset that will never allow for advancement. Some traditions are fun, and harmless, but how many of those are hindering us from advancement? What do you think? Are we disconnected, and stuck in a traditional trap? Is it time for a revolution of the mind...
"To think that one person, or one view, contains complete correctness is not only arrogant, but stupid." - it is also indicative of insecurity and fear. if a politician, for example, were actually certain in the unshakability of his beliefs, then he would gladly invite meaningful opposition and engagement, because the strongest claims are those which have stood up to the harshest criticism. this is why mills was such a proponent of the market place of ideas as a model for democratic governance/civil society - because so few if any problems can ever be solved by knowing less. or better, because so many problems are created and exacerbated by believing there is nothing left to know.
ReplyDeletewhat you call "disconnection" marx called "alienation", and it is hard to imagine a better term for the modern subject. alienated from others - as technology quickly eliminates the need to be personal - alienated from their labor - as prices and value have increasingly less to do with the actual value of a good, service, or idea and, hell, even alienated from their own beliefs. how many people ardently subscribe to a given political ideology or party without knowing what the content of that belief is? how many "straight-ticket" voters endorse labels instead of leaders?
..i could go on forever, but i'll stop rambling for now.