And that sums up political and real-life trends of present-day living. Some maintain they know all the answers. Salvation is eminently possible, the only requirement being suspension of common sense and all possible humanitarian impulses. Simple indeed.
Jeb Bush thinks we need to remedy the situation by eliminating toxic politics. Good luck to him, for in fact, the trend is the other way, the more toxic the better. Candidates compete amongst themselves as to extremity and bitterness. Outrageous positions once the property of extremists on all sides of the political spectrum- now are part and parcel of everyday politics and supporting politicians. Raving acidic speeches, demeaning demonization of any and all who oppose the crazed viewpoints are the political currency of the day.
Why is the question of the decades of the 21st century, leaves many scratching their heads. Where and how to remedy the situation leaves many totally, dismally befuddled and discouraged. In my opinion, it began with the egotistical swelled heads of entitled persons espousing the thought that they had it all - and made it all- and deserved it all. Not only that, but that "all" needed to happen NOW! Blocking of that trend, real or otherwise, increased the frenzy of its supporters, the toxicity of their speech and here we are today.
But the question remains, and a satisfactory answer continues to be equally as elusive. Yesterday, while reading an excellent novel by Adriana Trigiani, The Good Left Undone, I came across an interesting bit of advice given by a slowly declining grandmother to a beloved, troubled granddaughter. I thought about it, a lot. Maybe, just maybe, it provides us with both explanation and clue for corrective purpose.
Not a new thought, its wording perhaps struck me powerfully, perhaps because the writing, the timing and setting at that moment, struck deep, within my soul, even evoking tears in its similarity to a time and event in my own life. In any case, it makes sense. Read it. Think about it. Understand its simplicity and wisdom.
"Listen to me. Love yourself. That's the greatest adventure. When you love yourself, you want to find your purpose, something only you can do in the way that only you can do it. Make things. Create."
Think about it. For far too long we have indulged ourselves with selfish "me, me, me" whining plaints. The more we focused on that greedy, never satisfied, forever grasping "me", the less satisfaction we received and the more we disliked ourselves. Failing to achieve those goals, to attain those desires, and the resulting jealousy of those who did, increased the negative feeling and evaluation of your own self and life. What had you done? Achieved? Had you changed the world in any positive, constructive manner? Were you satisfied with your own 'bottom line'
Dislike of oneself, being contemptuous of one's own life and lack of achievement, only and always leads to a bitterness which in turn eats away at society in general. We forget to recognize others as people, see them only as objects to be used, abused, and discarded. Negativity sours it all.
How can there be a kinder, gentler society if there are no, or very few, kinder, gentler, positively satisfied people who know the truth. Like yourself, make yourself proud of your life, its meaning, and proud accomplishments. That joy, that deserved pride, that positivity, will preclude the toxicity of politics as we know it, live it, today. Instead, we will have a society of positive thinkers, people who understand the true necessity to help guide society onto the right paths, humanitarian paths, and the joy enabled by a good pride, a love of oneself and hence, a love of others.
Simple examples. You desperately 'needed' a certain popular toy or game station, brand name clothing. Desperately. If only you could have it, life would be so good. And then you get it. So excited, so happy - for how long? Until you sooooo need the next item. The previous once so desperately desired item is discarded, consigned to a dusty corner or closet or given away. Or, you finally get the game you wanted but realize that it is useless for only one, needing at least two or more to operate and enjoy.
Lesson learned. People do need people to truly live a good life replete with positive accomplishments, shared with and by others. That is what creates a good, positive, always striving society. Not one of corrosiveness we now have, where no one is satisfied, where more, more , more is the motivating impulse.
Merely a restating of the Golden Rule or the words of Rabbi Akiva. "Love others as you love yourself; do unto others that which you would want others to do unto you." Simple and profound. So possible. If only. And when ignored, when humanity is occupied with its own negativity and selfishness? Here is what happens.
Between 1918 and 1921, over a hundred thousand Jews were slaughtered in the former Russian Empire, with the area of Ukraine being one of the bloodiest. This, on top of the Jews killed during WWI as the fighting armies and refugees from the fighting, inflicted their own grievous needs and demands on innocent others, as they indulged their baseless hatred. Selfishness, greed. Ugly. Warned that it portended a worse event, warning of the very real danger to that same population- ignored, a warning spit into the wind and thereupon - the Holocaust.
"In the very midst of civilized Europe at the dawn of a new era for which the world awaits its charter of liberty and justice, the existence of a whole population is threatened. Such crimes dishonor not only the people that commit them, but outrage human reason and conscience." Anatole France, 1919
Truly, if only, if so very sadly, only.
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