Okay, you’re probably wondering what sort of wizardry (pun intended) I plan to use in explaining my heading. Because I normally use this blog to write about some aspect of writing, there is a literary—or at least artistic—connection: the cinema.
I’ll begin with Tiger. Doubtless, he’s much less a respected public figure than he was several months ago. Deservedly so. How much time and energy do we put into the near-worship of sports, entertainment, or other public icons? Too much. But, that’s not precisely the link. Even so, it helps to develop my argument, so I’ll run with it. How many television shows, blogs, internet stories, and other, name-that-media sources deal with these individuals? I haven’t done a survey or sampling, but, I’m willing to bet it’s more than we would care to admit. We seem obsessed with the lifestyles and behaviors of these celebrities – hence the seemingly endless supply of programming dedicated to following them.
Now, raise your hands, all of you, who’ve become disaffected with golf because of Tiger’s personal failures. Yes, I thought so. No one. And how many of us have forgiven Robert Downey Jr. his transgressions of the past? There, my friends, is my point. We place movie stars, athletes, and performers of all types up on a pedestal, but we realize in the end that they are people, all the same. They make mistakes, and some more than others. For whatever reason, though, we are drawn to them. We don’t stop going to movies because of a favorite star’s substance abuse any more than we stop going to ball games because a superstar admitted to the use of banned substances. Granted, we may shun that specific individual, but we don’t throw the entire realm of their practice in along with them.
Okay, so how does Eli fit in? Well, I am referring to The Book of Eli, if you were wondering about that. Still, what’s my point? It’s this: I was hit by several of Denzel’s lines about two-thirds through the movie. I can’t quote them verbatim, but I can paraphrase. Denzel's character stated that no one knew what was truly valuable until everything was taken away. Then, people killed each other for things they used to readily discard. While these words resonated enough as it was, he went on, and I found the next statement the most telling. Eli related that, after the cataclysm ended our civilization, people blamed religion for the destruction of the world. They sought out and burned whatever bibles, and other religious texts, I assume, that they could find because they sought to eliminate what they saw as the cause of humankind’s downfall.
Perhaps you’re starting to put together my argument, or maybe I’m still not doing a good enough job at explaining my thought process. Well, I’ll sum everything up with my reference to ‘heirs.’ We are the heirs of our society. We will inherit what is established, maintained, and ultimately valued in our culture. Do we continue to put so much of our time, treasure and talent into the fruitless pursuit of these human icons? Or, do we begin to realize what is really important while we still have time? And, more importantly, should we stand by while a vocal minority denounce any and all organized religion because of the sins of individuals? Whether we speak of the missteps of televangelists, Catholic clergy or Muslims, they are people. It is human nature to make mistakes, to sin . To stray from the path. They may begin to follow human interests rather than their spiritual tenets, unwittingly or not.
Religion, then, is not the cause of the world’s problems, though I hear this more and more often. Putting our faith in mere individuals rather, is the trap, be they secular or spiritual leaders. Believing blindly in literal interpretations leads us away from the intrinsic spirit of any religious text, Christian or other. Surely, if we can separate celebrities and their individual flaws from our interest in and commitment to their activities, we can do the same when it comes to a subject that’s of such crucial importance.
In the end, though, I'm not about to tell you what you should or shouldn't believe in. The choice is up to you. For me, that cornerstone is faith. I choose to stand for a certain someone rather than fall for anyone.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Rubberneck Factor
Why is it that we allow ourselves to hear the rallying cry for the cause of the poor and disadvantaged only in times of emergency? Of course, I’m referring to the recent, devastating earthquake in Haiti. Now, before you call me a monster for being callous, I need to qualify this. I completely agree with the international community coming to the aid of this country in the wake of such a tragic event. My point is this: Haiti was already a nation plagued by poverty and lack of development. Thousands were previously in dire straits, eking out a less-than-meagre existence on a daily basis. And, they were not alone in their suffering.
Why, then, do the prosperous and resource-blessed nations of ‘The West’ require a large-scale, earth-shattering (please don’t mind the pun) incident to focus their attentions and energies? Perhaps it’s because of the increasingly narrow concentration of ownership within the global media scene? Fewer participants among the world’s media providers mean a noticeably more myopic and less diverse focus. In short, there are fewer lenses through which to observe current events. Something has to lose out. Or, maybe we just don’t believe we can make a difference, so why try? There are so many underprivileged and disadvantaged people – both within and outside our borders – what can we do to make the slightest change?
Well, it turns out, probably quite a bit. It all starts with our habits. I wrote an entry a while ago about some ideas concerning the formation of habits. I won’t go into the details here, but I will add that I think most of our behaviours are a matter of habit. In our technologically-driven, Western world, we are so caught up in the rush to go here and the urgency to buy that, we start to treat each other as obstacles instead of people. We won’t slow down to let someone merge in front of us because it will slow us down. We rage against the nerve of someone who enters our traffic lane, only to drive too slowly or pass by too rapidly, in our judgement, because their reasons for doing so couldn’t possibly be of any importance. It is that me-versus-the-world attitude, I believe, that is at the heart of it all: that habitual, oblivious disregard for others.
In the midst of our worries, possessions, and activities, who has time to notice anyone but themselves? We won’t spare a minute to slow down, to give attention to anyone else’s circumstances while we’re on our way. Unless, of course, there’s an accident ahead. We’ll slow our pace for that, and possibly, offer a thought – or even a prayer – for the unfortunate people involved. It’s this ‘rubberneck factor’ that kicks in whether we’re on the highway, or switching on the television. If it’s brought to our attention and we can’t help but notice, we generally become the considerate, empathetic persons we should endeavour to be on a more regular basis.
So, how do we begin to make a difference? We can’t change our behavior – our habits – or the world overnight. But, with each gesture of kindness or consideration, we take away from that seemingly insurmountable deluge of negativity and, in turn, add to the positive side of the equation. The person you let merge into your lane might then go home less likely to shut out the rest of the world for a short time, only to finally notice the envelope from a humanitarian agency that’s been sitting on the counter for days. Choosing to buy an article of clothing because it wasn’t made in a sweatshop rather than because of the brand name is another small, but potent gesture. The more this happens, the more likely that the youth of a developing nation will finally receive a fair wage for their labour. The global community we inhabit poses many challenges, but we are not powerless to affect them. In fact, we created it one individual action at a time. Acting with more conscious regard for others in our local experiences, then, will ultimately impact the global arena. We have but to slow down long enough to consider the everyday aspects of our lives in order to start the process.
Why, then, do the prosperous and resource-blessed nations of ‘The West’ require a large-scale, earth-shattering (please don’t mind the pun) incident to focus their attentions and energies? Perhaps it’s because of the increasingly narrow concentration of ownership within the global media scene? Fewer participants among the world’s media providers mean a noticeably more myopic and less diverse focus. In short, there are fewer lenses through which to observe current events. Something has to lose out. Or, maybe we just don’t believe we can make a difference, so why try? There are so many underprivileged and disadvantaged people – both within and outside our borders – what can we do to make the slightest change?
Well, it turns out, probably quite a bit. It all starts with our habits. I wrote an entry a while ago about some ideas concerning the formation of habits. I won’t go into the details here, but I will add that I think most of our behaviours are a matter of habit. In our technologically-driven, Western world, we are so caught up in the rush to go here and the urgency to buy that, we start to treat each other as obstacles instead of people. We won’t slow down to let someone merge in front of us because it will slow us down. We rage against the nerve of someone who enters our traffic lane, only to drive too slowly or pass by too rapidly, in our judgement, because their reasons for doing so couldn’t possibly be of any importance. It is that me-versus-the-world attitude, I believe, that is at the heart of it all: that habitual, oblivious disregard for others.
In the midst of our worries, possessions, and activities, who has time to notice anyone but themselves? We won’t spare a minute to slow down, to give attention to anyone else’s circumstances while we’re on our way. Unless, of course, there’s an accident ahead. We’ll slow our pace for that, and possibly, offer a thought – or even a prayer – for the unfortunate people involved. It’s this ‘rubberneck factor’ that kicks in whether we’re on the highway, or switching on the television. If it’s brought to our attention and we can’t help but notice, we generally become the considerate, empathetic persons we should endeavour to be on a more regular basis.
So, how do we begin to make a difference? We can’t change our behavior – our habits – or the world overnight. But, with each gesture of kindness or consideration, we take away from that seemingly insurmountable deluge of negativity and, in turn, add to the positive side of the equation. The person you let merge into your lane might then go home less likely to shut out the rest of the world for a short time, only to finally notice the envelope from a humanitarian agency that’s been sitting on the counter for days. Choosing to buy an article of clothing because it wasn’t made in a sweatshop rather than because of the brand name is another small, but potent gesture. The more this happens, the more likely that the youth of a developing nation will finally receive a fair wage for their labour. The global community we inhabit poses many challenges, but we are not powerless to affect them. In fact, we created it one individual action at a time. Acting with more conscious regard for others in our local experiences, then, will ultimately impact the global arena. We have but to slow down long enough to consider the everyday aspects of our lives in order to start the process.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Old Aquaintance...
What’s your resolution? To get in shape? To call Mom more often? Have you pledged to quit a particular vice? My resolution is simple. I’m not going to make one.
That doesn’t mean I don’t want to improve myself or my lifestyle. It simply means that I’m not about to make a once-a-year promise that will be broken in a few weeks. If it takes that long. We’ve all seen the routine before. The gym will be packed until mid-January. By March, you’ll be able to throw a dumbbell across the place without fear of hitting more than a couple of others. The February air will chill smokers as they crowd the exits and open-air escapes at the office once again. And soon, you’ll delete a message from your mother – for the third or fourth time – and promise yourself you’ll call her on the weekend.
Why do we do it? Why do we seem to make the same resolutions year after year but still fail to keep them?
I think it’s because we’re looking at the symptoms rather than the cause of whatever is ailing us. We ignore the imbalances in our lives. If we keep up the same habits and make the usual choices, except for that one little thing, then how can we not be doomed to failure? Putting a bandage on a cut won’t solve the long-term problem unless we stop playing with sharp objects. I believe our resolutions boil down to the same thing. A family member posted the following words of Einstein on the internet recently: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” We tend to perpetuate our circumstances by concentrating most of our effort and emphasis into familiarities, throwing off our inner equilibrium.
No one besides you can tell you what your underlying ‘ailment’ is, or how deep you need to go to find it. But, if you don’t take the time to really investigate the matter, anything you do will likely be a fruitless exercise.
2009 was a year of highs and lows for me. I have made some major changes over the last few months and I am looking forward with great anticipation to 2010, but it’s not just a resolution. The fact that these moves coincide with the new year is not the point. I won’t get into the fine details here, but what is important, is that I’ve decided my happiness, and my family’s, is beyond price. The adjustments I’ve made will, I believe, help to improve and maintain the balance that happiness depends upon.
So, instead of making a fleeting resolution, I hope that I’ve taken steps toward a positive evolution – one that fosters greater balance.
That doesn’t mean I don’t want to improve myself or my lifestyle. It simply means that I’m not about to make a once-a-year promise that will be broken in a few weeks. If it takes that long. We’ve all seen the routine before. The gym will be packed until mid-January. By March, you’ll be able to throw a dumbbell across the place without fear of hitting more than a couple of others. The February air will chill smokers as they crowd the exits and open-air escapes at the office once again. And soon, you’ll delete a message from your mother – for the third or fourth time – and promise yourself you’ll call her on the weekend.
Why do we do it? Why do we seem to make the same resolutions year after year but still fail to keep them?
I think it’s because we’re looking at the symptoms rather than the cause of whatever is ailing us. We ignore the imbalances in our lives. If we keep up the same habits and make the usual choices, except for that one little thing, then how can we not be doomed to failure? Putting a bandage on a cut won’t solve the long-term problem unless we stop playing with sharp objects. I believe our resolutions boil down to the same thing. A family member posted the following words of Einstein on the internet recently: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” We tend to perpetuate our circumstances by concentrating most of our effort and emphasis into familiarities, throwing off our inner equilibrium.
No one besides you can tell you what your underlying ‘ailment’ is, or how deep you need to go to find it. But, if you don’t take the time to really investigate the matter, anything you do will likely be a fruitless exercise.
2009 was a year of highs and lows for me. I have made some major changes over the last few months and I am looking forward with great anticipation to 2010, but it’s not just a resolution. The fact that these moves coincide with the new year is not the point. I won’t get into the fine details here, but what is important, is that I’ve decided my happiness, and my family’s, is beyond price. The adjustments I’ve made will, I believe, help to improve and maintain the balance that happiness depends upon.
So, instead of making a fleeting resolution, I hope that I’ve taken steps toward a positive evolution – one that fosters greater balance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
