Fear and Kindness
As a culture, we seem to be swept ever so often into a state of panic. Whether it be "the financial meltdown," terrorists, new variants of diseases, immigrants, druglords, the new government...The list is endless. Sure they might be a kernel of truth in this sorry state. Where does this come from? IMO ffrom the print and television media (maybe a little in film and web too but not asdisproportionate). Why? The oligarchs, including, Wall Street, large corporations, sectors of the government, like to keep us in a perpetual state of fear, paranoia, and passivity so we buy their products and never question their domination. Think of how many people you see killed in tv and hollywood movies (video games?)most often by poor minorities, and compare that to people you know who have been killed- several thousand in the media probably nobody you know.
There was a line from a sixties rock song: "paranoia strikes deep, it starts
when we are always asleep." Are we always asleep? Generally to the effects of the media we are. Who we like, what we want to own, what we
want to look like...is almost all is a product of media manipulation. Then
how can kindness counteract this. Perhaps first we needs to learn to be kind to ourselves. Develop the faculty to critically evaluate most media
and how they distort reality and control us and manipulate our needs and desires (actually this process can be enlightening and even liberating). it's not generally a question of degree (or comparison) but kind. IMO, all corporate sponsored media is distorting and manipulating the way things are for their own self serving ends. Only after we get all that crap out of our heads, like a computer virus, do we stand any chance of being authentically kind. The feminists of the 70's, and later, called this consciousness raising. What we need now is cultural consciousness raising
on a large scale. With the government and the economy now in shambles it is a perfect time to begin. Because the supposed downturn won't last forever, and even if we have as authentic a president as we can get right now, the forces of fear will step up their campaign with a vengeance. I think of another song of a somewhat bygone era that says: "we've got to be cruel to be kind in the the right measure."
There was a line from a sixties rock song: "paranoia strikes deep, it starts
when we are always asleep." Are we always asleep? Generally to the effects of the media we are. Who we like, what we want to own, what we
want to look like...is almost all is a product of media manipulation. Then
how can kindness counteract this. Perhaps first we needs to learn to be kind to ourselves. Develop the faculty to critically evaluate most media
and how they distort reality and control us and manipulate our needs and desires (actually this process can be enlightening and even liberating). it's not generally a question of degree (or comparison) but kind. IMO, all corporate sponsored media is distorting and manipulating the way things are for their own self serving ends. Only after we get all that crap out of our heads, like a computer virus, do we stand any chance of being authentically kind. The feminists of the 70's, and later, called this consciousness raising. What we need now is cultural consciousness raising
on a large scale. With the government and the economy now in shambles it is a perfect time to begin. Because the supposed downturn won't last forever, and even if we have as authentic a president as we can get right now, the forces of fear will step up their campaign with a vengeance. I think of another song of a somewhat bygone era that says: "we've got to be cruel to be kind in the the right measure."
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CJ Scarlet on -
Thought this would be a good place for this poem, sent in my Abe Knaster:
Let the rain come and wash away
the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds
held and nurtured over generations.
Let the rain wash away the memory
of the hurt, the neglect.
Then let the sun come out and
fill the sky with rainbows.
Let the warmth of the sun heal us
wherever we are broken.
Let it burn away the fog so that
we can see each other clearly.
So that we can see beyond labels,
beyond accents, gender or skin color.
Let the warmth and brightness
of the sun melt our selfishness.
So that we can share the joys and
feel the sorrows of our neighbors.
And let the light of the sun
be so strong that we will see all
people as our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by rain,
bring forth flowers
to surround us with beauty.
And let the mountains teach our hearts
to reach upward to heaven.
Amen.
a prayer for the world - rabbi harold kushner - 2003
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Permalink Reply by Michael Sullivan on -
Scarlett, this is a wonderful poem. I was thinking that my discussion on fear and joy may have sounded a little too negative and general. In spite of the many, many negatives, injustices, inequalities, and fear in the world- and particularly in America.
Kindness often consists, imo, of a small event between one person, or group towards another in spite the fear that seems so all encompassing- particular US. I remember a book I read as an undergraduate by protestant theologian and philosopher Paul Tillich called "The Courage to BE." In this book Tillich defines courage as the ability to be kind, humane, and authentic to confront the scourge of fear and injustice "in spite of" all these negative factors. This insight, IMO, is perhaps more profound and necessary today as then.
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Permalink Reply by CJ Scarlet on
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I believe you are right, Michael, about all of it. There is much fear and negativity in the world, and it is the small kind and positive acts and interactions one person has with another that keep this crazy world from flying apart. And whether or not to live in fear and negativity is strictly a personal decision--has little to do with what's really going on outside in the world. I used to be very fearful and negative, but found a way to transform that into optimism and positivity. 100% based on choice and personal determination. The world being better or worse has little to do with anything--it is our attitudes that create the world in the first place. What do you think? Have a terrific day, CJ
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Permalink Reply by Michael Sullivan on
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I think your approach is very positive and pragmatic After surveying the injustice and destruction,
mostly metaphorically, of his age (post world war 1 England and Europe). British poet T. S. Eliot
states in final stanza of "The Wasteland:" "Shall I at least set my my own lands in order?" I think that line roughly relates to your transformation from fear (in the somewhat abstract world) to kindness.in your existential reality. I can go along with that approach, although personally, although I often have a disconnect from critical thinking head and my progressively empathic heart. However, I''m not sure am ready to cut my head off just yet (a mess proposition indeed). I think many men, at least in the US, have been culturally conditioned to live in their head, and lack emotional intelligence, a process that often accelerates with age. I agree that the sum total of attitudes create the, or at least our, world. My head says this approach is naive and overly idealistic;
my heart doesn't question the good will, kindness and compassion that emanates from it.
Sometimes it's hard being schizoid, but I don't think we should totally abandon the wisdom that sometimes comes from the head. The real challenge is to have the head and heart centers to work in harmony with ourselves and with others. Maybe that approximates a a kindness cure?
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Permalink Reply by CJ Scarlet on
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Wow. Very profound and self-aware, Michael. I love the quote from Eliot; reminds me of a Buddhist imperative: rather than trying to cover the world with leather to protect yourself, simply bind your own feet (protect your own mind). Many people tend to look at all the problems of the world and feel totally overwhemed by all that needs to be done. But the very best thing we can do is to, as Eliot says, get our own lands in order. Only then are we truly prepared to be of benefit to others and make real change in the world.
Thank you for this great discussion. Hugs, CJ
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