Such was part of the advice given by Falstaff to his son Laertes. It is interesting that this statement and much of the rest of the advice given has gone down through the ages as bits of wise advice for those stepping out into the world, taking on the task of living the right way. Strange it was, and strange it is, for this wise advice is dispensed by one of Shakespeare's characters who come across as a fool. Perhaps it is to remind us that we should never spurn right off the bat words and statements of those who appeared to play the fool's role in life but in actuality are not as foolish as one might think. The saying is along the lines of an old piece of advice from within the Jewish people. Basically, it cautions us, warning us, not to judge people by their outside but by what makes up their inside.
However, it appears to be that there are times when to thine old self be true is a task impossible to fulfill. The principle cannot be followed for several reasons. One is at such a time when to follow that line in life is to put oneself in the crosshairs of those who vehemently oppose, even hate, those principles. To the point where one's life is actually threatened.
Another cause might be that the life of the times makes it impossible to be firm on one's principles, to stand united with oneself and other like thinkers. This comes around when society itself is fractured. broken to the point where one is hard put to remain whole in belief, whole in maintaining that belief. It is when important beliefs meshing well with your own are held by others whose other opinions and rules in life are glaringly different than one's own.
In fact, these times, our times are such a time. Once divisions of opinion, particularly in America, were able to be voiced. Be it in quiet voice or vehemently. In slow steps or giant strides. But never have political opinions and values in life been so diametrically opposed that any sort of compromise, any sort of cross discussion, is off the table. Never even allowed to approach.
I hear the voices of protest. There have indeed been such times. Due to their rarity, it is easier to look back and understand how such situations arose. When this nation fought for its independence from England, there were two distinct groups of thoughts and violence between the two erupted. However, when we became independent, we became Americans. A mixing bowl, a melting pot, whatever worked, until it did no longer. The issues became so critical, so emotional, so demanding of prompt attention and we had a Civil War of disastrous consequences.
That does not mean that there was no disagreement within the citizens of this nation. There were many. but none of them rose to the feverish point where this country needed to split once again. Even vehement disagreements between philosophy and laws did not reach that point of violence. Yes, there remained points of tempers risen to an extreme, but for the most part sensibility prevailed. The country remained as one nation. Yes, there have been groups of extremity which pulled away and declared their own government. But these sects are few and far between, certainly not of the mainstream. When push came to shove, they were required and continued to be required to adhere to the laws of this nation. If not. the consequences of the law await them.
Today this nation, though, is at crisis point. The political parties within refuse to hear each other. Refuse to talk with each other. They talk at, they yell at. They turn a deaf ear to any and all who differ from their supposed platforms. The leaders they have chosen are more and more antithetical to the principles of this nation as set forth by our Founding Fathers, by the Declaration and the Constitution, the Amendments and the laws of state and local levels passed to keep forward in the movement necessary to keep us on a moral and even keel.
But now it has come to a sudden stop. We have met rogue waves harmful to our ship of state. The vehicles of the nation have come to sudden sharp stops restricting forward movement. Circumstances amenable and lending themselves to correcting these situations are scarce, growing scarcer, and are ignored by those with the power and influence to restart the engines of America the way they should be running.
We are so at odds with each other, even with ourselves and frankly, it grows more despairing every day. We are tying knots tighter and more complicated with heavier ropes and there is no one apparently ready and willing and able to take the first steps toward ameliorating the situation. We need to remind ourselves of the words of the Pledge: "one nation, under G-d, with liberty and justice for all". We have lost the meaning and the truth of those words.
How to solve it? Where to find the energy to quick start the engines, smoothly and on target and state to the world in word and action that we are back. Will keep coming back and will heal ourselves as the word goes - "forthwith". How to do this exactly beats me, but for sure somewhere within the thousands of people with brilliant minds there can be found at least one or two or three able to influence the nation, inform the world of our return and determination to take the right turns, to endeavor to make and take the proper paths, with beneficial decisions.
Would it be possible somehow to halt this nation's frantic weaving back and forth, achieving nothing but aggravation and more dissension? If we could put this nation into a state of stasis, take time to breathe, to think and rethink and understand, comprehend deeply how we have reached this point, then perhaps we can actually begin to solve and resolve it. But to freeze a nation is impossible. To do so with force is treason. January 6th was such a day. But if we could somehow gather that energy and aim it in the proper direction, without violence, without the ugliness evidenced on that day, drowning in bloodlust and mob mentality, we could turn this nation and this world around. In a positive way. In an American way.
Could we indeed call a halt to the madness now enveloping our government and its process of governing, remind us to reset our valuation of the guiding principles of this very nation, this wounded and bedraggled country of ours? Do we have enough statesmen remaining in office to call a halt, even unspoken, to the mad passing and not passing the same laws, going nowhere other than ever faster on the treadmills we have created.
That is a revolutionary thought and could we trust ourselves to indeed call a halt to the madness and sit down together, to talk with, not at. To understand the points of view that are legitimate and dump by the wayside all that stands in the way of a reunited and properly functioning nation. No one person to indulge his/herself, toy with the nation, gather the reins of government into the hands of the One who will then dictate to all his desires, his plans, his attacks on the very fabric of this nation, down to the very last stich holding it together?
Can we find within ourselves the energy, the understanding and determination to walk this nation into a cool down process? During that time members of these now opposing forces rather than competing political parties, will also cool down. They will seek and hopefully find new leaders who will talk sense, compromise, and discussion. Who will put away the knives with which we are rending this nation, and we will have peace in the nation, a good and justified and justifiable peace. When we can resume our task in life - to create and make opportunities for all, to lead the world properly and never to return to the overheated situation we have allow to fester to the point of burning this nation along with the rest of the world. To be American in every positive sense of the word and history. Being American again.
Is this even possible? I have not a clue. Nor do I have any kind of a glimmer of a plan as to how to make this possible. How to do this reset without involving power hungry individuals, people who do not want America back. However, for sure, if we do not cure ourselves of this rampant infection within the body politic, within the body American, we are doomed. This nation will join the ranks of those ancient empires of the past and even those of today which trembled and failed and fell. When governments forget or disregard and/or trash the principles of responsibility to the nation and its people, then that government has lost its legitimacy and the failure, and its fall is on the way.
All I know or feel is that we are at a point of no return. If we do not shake ourselves and wake ourselves up, become aware of the "Dragons" awaiting us, then this nation and the world, are in ever quicker pace leading us into a point where the road ends. Leading us and the world into destructive war and enmity impossible to ameliorate. To scars and scabs and wounds which never heal.
Where we will be then? What will be then? Only the good Lord Above knows, and I'm not sure even He can figure us out.
Why can we not, do we not, take the value of the lessons of yesterday, merge them with the abilities and comprehension of today, and make possible good tomorrows for us all.
Why? Why not? You must find someone way higher than I am to totally figure this out, lead properly, and tend to the business of keeping this planet, this tiny orb in space, and the people living upon its surface, intact, healed, and safely on the correct path of life. A pipe dream? Perhaps. But we had better do something, in the right way and manner, if we are to continue to have a future rife with possibilities of goodness rather than war and more war, within and without the nations of the world.
Not a pretty thought. Certainly not a life to seek.
But it takes all of us to work to create the life we desire.
All on us.
Always and forever on us.
More tomorrow.
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