The Secret To Happiness In A World Gone Nuts
The long Fourth of July weekend is getting underway here in the U.S. as Americans head for beaches, barbeques, parades and fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.
Agitator readers North of the border will mark Canada Day tomorrow and in two weeks our French readers will celebrate Bastille Day.
Regardless of where we live it seems to me that this year we all should be devoting some quiet, thoughtful time to thinking about the increasingly complex, interwoven world we now find ourselves in. A seemingly precarious world that finds the clear majority of folks feeling massively insecure.
I remind myself that the Independence Day I’ll mark on the 4th of July is a celebration of revolution and disruption from the status quo. I’m sure that back then most folks were also feeling massively insecure and frightened.
But then was then. Now is now. Once again North America is in an ugly, uncertain turmoil. And we’re not alone. The same feeling of precarious existence is weighing on the UK, in Western Europe, across Asia, the Middle East, and in most of South America and Africa.
Maybe this pandemic of insecurity, anger and rising hatred playing out within societies is because of the instant reality show of tribe against tribe –haves vs. have nots, rich vs. poor, liberals vs. conservatives, right vs. left –plays incessantly on the cable tv in our homes or on the smart phones in our pockets.
I really don’t know exactly why we find ourselves in this emotional pit. What I do know is that too many of us seem to have forgotten this fundamental truth enunciated by Louis Brandeis, the great U.S. Supreme Court Justice:
“Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.”
And so, I ask myself, do I have the courage in these trying times to do my small part to protect and advance freedom, liberty — and happiness.
Frankly, I think I’ll have to change some of my ways and mindsets and change. Of course, even a change in individual mindset takes some courage. And so, this weekend I’m asking myself …
…Will I have the courage to walk in the shoes of those I oppose and understand their fears and anger? Hopefully, I will stop mocking them and spend more time talking to and understanding them.
…Will I have the courage to hold my antagonistic tongue (and keyboard), knee-jerk labelling and calling those whose ideas I oppose ‘racist’ or ‘misogynist’ or worse? Name calling produces disconnection and condescension and both sides on any issue fail to hear and understand where the other is coming from.
…Will I have the courage to warn my own progressive tribe that while I’ll never abandon the ideals and values we share, our righteous, we-know-best rhetoric is contributing to the antagonism poisoning our democracy?
Frankly, I’m frightened. Partly because I don’t fully don’t understand my own discomfort with the world around me. And partly because I fear some of our rhetoric, our condescension toward opponents and the attack and counter attack nature of our tribe’s strategy may actually be making things worse.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“Through violence you may murder the hater but you do not murder hate.
In fact, violence merely increases hate.
“So it goes.
“Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to
a night already devoid of stars.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
“Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Have a good weekend. Tom and I will see you after the 4th of July.
Roger
10 responses to “The Secret To Happiness In A World Gone Nuts”
Behavioral Science Q & A
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Dearest, Roger. What a lovely piece. Thank you. Thank you for reminding me and making me think. Will I have the courage?
Roger, thank you. I couldn’t love this more. And your post mirrors many of the same thoughts I’ve been having this year. I’m not sure resistance is the way to go. Better to move towards love. Towards understanding. Towards the world we want to see.
And when thinking of our nonprofit community, I’ve been reminded often of the words of Robert F. Kennedy:
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Printing this. Beautiful.
That is a lovely thought.
You know, my dad named me Mary and so a rhyme followed me through my childhood… something about being quite contrary.
So at the risk of seeming so, let me also remind myself and all of us that love isn’t the absence of hate and compassion isn’t agreement. Love is a much harder, more active thing.
While we struggle to understand those who would unleash so much harm – mainly directed at the most vulnerable, let’s also recommit to our work and to using our voices to care for those in danger. And our skills to help others join those fights.
Because, to me, that’s the beauty of our work. None of us can do much alone, but together we can change things.
Thank you for this important reminder (anger is easy, compassion sometimes not) and the last hour I spent chewing on it. I suspect that hour will extend much longer.
This is so good — I’d like to post in on Facebook. But non-subscribers to the Agitator won’t be able to access it, right?
Beautifully said Roger. Thank you for always leading the way…..
Brilliant (and courageous). Thank you, Roger!
Changed me.
Thank you, Roger … and Mary … and like Simone, will I have the courage? If saying what you believe to be the truth requires courage (which it shouldn’t in America, as protected free speech), then, yes. I hope. Saying the truth should be the least courageous thing we need to do. “That’s wrong. You’re wrong. This is wrong. How dare you? How can you?”
I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that “the emperor who wore no clothes” was the most profound fairy tale I heard as a child; if that doesn’t make you a critical thinker, I don’t know what will.
Power is its own reward; when ideology, not compassion, rules. The butchers are running the salad bar.
Dead Senator Paul Wellstone and his successor, Al Franken, share a motto: “We all do well when we all do well.” That’s what I’m celebrating this 4th of July.
That, and the fact that no hereditary aristocracy, makes the rules for my life. Oh, damn, wait a minute: we’re back to that, aren’t we? Four words would make America really great again: “Money out of politics.”
Right on brother! Time to take stock and learn once again to walk a mile in the other guy’s (or gal’s) shoes. Even if it’s really, really hard!
Bless you Roger!
BRAVO!