Out On A Limb

Caught sight of a news item this morning, something about a person’s being positive in outlook and attitude being the result of genes and DNA. I state this because many people probably think of me as critical and constantly working on ideas and opinions. It is probable that many of these folks think of me as negative.

I think they would be wrong to think of me that way. My manner of critique is my way of searching for understanding and truth. I know truth is fleeting at times because it is the result of facts and static moments in time; so much changes so quickly that our frame of reference is challenged constantly; truth is found in those moments but then the present moves on to the future a split second away!

Anyway, seeking understanding is my big thing. That alone, I think, is a positive thing. If we seek more information to better understand something it also is a statement we do not know it all at this moment. Not knowing it all. That is the positive beat in the tempo of searching for understanding.

Having said that, I’d like to press ahead with a few quotes on current events and social discussions that have plagued our national culture for quite some time. Perhaps there is a solution available we ought to try? I’ll share that near the end of this piece.

The iconic Mark Twain had this to say:

“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it.”

We laugh at these words. Mostly we laugh because they are true and uncomfortable. They are also accurate as to human nature. We know there are smart people among us. We often count ourselves as such! But we know nonsense is rampant in our midst and we wonder how to stop it, or even if that is our task to do.

Well, I think it is our task to do! That’s why I’m of critical nature. I want the good to succeed. I want the brilliant idea to spring forth from someone at sometime so it can do its magic and help countless millions of people live a good and happy life. I think we have that power in us. Each of us. And it springs from not just a good intention, but also good thoughts creatively forming in our talented minds to share with others. I firmly believe our minds are under used. I think the human race is capable of thinking its way out of most of our problems and challenges.

Why we don’t do that regularly I’m not sure. Probably we do not perform at our highest capability because we are afraid we might be wrong? We don’t want others to laugh at us?  Phooey! 

Think about the 73 year old former Ku Klux Klan leader from Missouri who is accused of the heinous slayings of three innocents last weekend – three people going about their daily lives. This kook comes along and kills them randomly only because they are at or on the property of Jewish community centers. In America in the year 2014. Long after the Holocaust. Long after years of education and enlightenment. Long after public sensibilities have expanded to accept people who are different from each other because it enriches us all. We all have something to add to the fabric of civilization. Differentness brings us the spice we so dearly need to live full lives.

Resistance to otherness often leads to hate. And hate leads to violence that is senseless, hideous, heinous. Killed was a woman of worth walking in the parking lot of a local Jewish social center. Also killed was a retired physician in the company of his 14 year old grandson, already an Eagle Scout at that tender age. A young man who loved high school, theater, music and sports and mixed well with kids of his own age, and went on to excel in scouting at the same time. Such future and promise removed from our society. Such loss of elder accomplishments as well. At a time their lives should be celebrated especially, they are taken from us.

By hate. By ignorance. By twisted thinking.

Even more tragic, the killer perceived the victims to be Jewish. But they were not!

We still have much to do to eliminate this scourge from our social consciousness I think.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has this to say of current civics:

            “Where enough money calls the tune, the general public will not be heard.”

He was one of the dissenting voices in the court case in which corporations were allowed citizenship in matters of election campaign finance. A corporation has an opinion. It has the right to contribute to political campaigns and propaganda campaigns. It has the right to donate large dollar amounts because it has such available, and can purchase political results it wants for its own success. It can affect political outcomes in our democracy. Just like an individual citizen, but wait! It is not just like a citizen. It has clout, money, influence and lots of employees to do its will. Yet the Supreme Court feels otherwise and allowed this travesty to infect our body politic.

Shame on them.

Often we feel education would help our society be all it can be. We support public education efforts to inform society and make it more logical and clear headed in its decision making in our democracy. Yet education is not always available to each of us. Education is not equal throughout our land. Education is not truly free to those who need it.

Noam Chomsky stated:

“Students who acquire large debts putting themselves through school are unlikely to think about changing society. When you trap people in a system of debt, they can’t afford the time to think.”

And thus the benefits of that educational dream for our society is spoiled right off the bat. Not everyone gets the education they are capable of, not everyone is allowed to participate in the full educational process, nor is the educated public a reality in the end. It is a part time thing. It is a partial success. It is a hampered and crippled element in our social being. An element we don’t see as such a handicapped thing.

When I think of the young scout in Kansas being shot to death by a KKK crazy, I think of the possibilities that young man could have provided our nation; now not to be. Now a cipher. Nothing to come of his bright life; well, we have the memory of his promise cut down by idiocy and ignorance. And incomplete education for the KKK guy who wanted to spend his life hating, destroying.

Maybe it’s time that all education be free for everyone, everywhere at all times. If a person is capable of advancing his/her understanding and education, then support that. Let the individual soar to unlimited heights of possibility. For his and her own dreams as well as the usefulness they bring to the rest of us.

Universal free education. At all levels. Through graduate school and post doctoral degrees and advanced studies and symposia ad infinitum.

This would fuel enormous advances in all areas of intellectual pursuit. Such a positive idea. Such a probable fuel for human advancement for all people on this planet to enjoy and benefit from.

Expensive? You bet. But a good industry, like Defense and Medical industries. We think nothing of paying for those. Why not then all of education? Perhaps the education dollars would help eliminate the need for so many dollars invested in defense and medical pursuits. Who knows? Who could possibly say?

But isn't it worth our thinking about it? Considering it?

I suggest we pursue this thought found anonymously on the internet the other day:

“Sometimes, you just need a break. In a beautiful place. Alone. To figure everything out.”

Surely we have beautiful places available? And the time to spend alone? And the freedom to think on complex matters that need to be sorted out? Surely we can afford this investment?

Perhaps we need to do this to seek the rightness of investing in education all the way.

One can hope!

April 16, 2014