COMMONALITY

 Defined as "the state of sharing features or attributes". It is generally taken as a positive point, as something to be proud of, to bask in its sharing. A commonality, or better yet, commonalities, bring people together as they share, partake of and in these commonalities.

Last night, as I sat in the theater of the Clubhouse, listening to four young men backed by four superb musicians, there was a commonality. It was a commonalty that reminded us of that once upon a time, not so long ago, when we were a nation with commonalties, positive ones, rather than the negative ones we share today. Yes, I know there were negative ones as well, always will be, but they were not flaunted, as they are today.

Were we purposely blind to the negatives of life? Perhaps. But what was so bad about that? Is it any better when the shamelessness of supposed "influencers" or, G-d help us, role models is flaunted, with people begging, striving to emulate them? What was so bad about an entire nation sharing the same songs, the same desires, the same push towards a better life for themselves and for their children? Yes, there were things wrong with society, again, always will be, but there was also a movement forward, too slow at times, but there it was.

Should we have moved faster in correcting the wrongs? Of course, but history, change, moves slowly. It needs to be digested, kept on course, for when it veers off course, the positive commonalties tend to fall by the wayside. Rather negative ones rise to a scummy surface. In the confusion of the people, the bad, the evilly intentioned, are enabled to take over, to usurp power, to throw black bags over the eyes of society, stun the brain and thinking capacities of a nation. We move sideways, and worse, downwards, backwards, abandoning too many positive commonalties, leaving them behind. Too often it then takes the equivalent of a war, too many times, to restore the positive commonalties to a badly battered nation, to a world sunk in despair and even ruin.

Why must it be so? Why do people sink into such a state of disrepair, of despair, of giving way to hatred as a shared commonality, rather than a positive one of not loving all, but recognizing that we are all the same, essentially, with shared goals and dreams, aspirations that shared progress for all, rather than hoarding it within the 1% or whatever percent, that fails in their responsibility to society.

 It used to be that the adage, "From those to whom much has been given, much is demanded". It was considered an honor to enter public service. The privileged, yes, privileged, not a dirty term, returned to society, gave back, in time, duty, responsibility, to society. We saw and boasted of a nation sharing commonalities, allowed upwards movement in society, for better lives, for our children to have better lives, to take all along with them. Shared commonalties. A better society, ever seeking to fix that which was wrong, rather than sinking into its mire, boasting of violent plans, idolizing the worst of a nation. Leaving behind that which was beautiful, worthy of a world's admiration. And what was so wrong about that? 

Yes, we had to move forward. We needed to change wrong attitudes towards those who did not necessarily tread "approved" paths through life. But change it did. It is better, though in the past half decade or more, unfortunately, we have fallen into the negative, with those who are "different", as we define different, are becoming targets of sharp words, of hideous hatred. This is a commonality we should long ago have left abandoned by the wayside. The wounds are large, deep, inimical to a positive society, and what the hell are we doing?

Why can we not return to a time when we shared similar thoughts, enjoyment of music, so much so, that last night we returned to that time and sang along, even moved along, with creaky voices, creaky bodies, but the commonality was there. The smiles were there. The simmering hatred that seems to be covered over with a very thin, failing veneer, was trod upon. Neglected and forgotten in the moment. We forgot our ever growing and emphasized vicious differences, our lack of tolerance for otherwise thinking. 

 Society began to sing of a changing world, of changing commonalities, shattered ones. "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?'" and answered it ourselves. "Joltin' Joe has left and gone away, hey, hey, hey." No, Pollyanna thinking has no place here. We cannot avoid the knowledge that we also shared commonalties of negativity and worse. The difference? We acknowledged those errors rather than embracing them. We allowed, made room, for changing society, for better commonalties, for those which lifted rather than destroyed. Today, we boast of evil, teach kids to hate, emphasize the differences, and subsume G-d into the equation by shouting that this is what He wants. Most manifestly not so. The truth is, that evil is a human attribute, a commonality we do indeed share, a commonality which must be reformed.

As we exited, after joyously shouting "Sweet Caroline", with the last echoes fading away, I wondered. Why can we not bottle this good will, these smiles, these memories? I wish we could. I do so wish that with all my heart and soul. Yes, I know we should not, cannot, return to the past. That is a negative movement. However, why can we not move forward, to a better future, to positive, shared commonalities, leaving behind that which destroys us. Allow it to fall by the wayside, to wither away, unfed by hate, untouched by blood lust, ignored by an improving, progressive, positive society.  

As the song goes, "Me and you, you and me, together...". We need to respond to the question, "How is the weather?" with a profoundly wished for, yearned for, GREAT!!!

If only we had some of that fairy dust sprinkled so liberally in the fairy tales of yore. If only we had enough among us to clap hard, to believe in fairies and our ability to create magic and fix the world.

If only......(sigh)