Elder Advice Thinking Inside the Box- Week 16
The pandemic has me so confused that I mistook last week for Week 14 and forgot yesterday was Saturday. Given I last made an error in the 1970s, I can appreciate you will be alarmed.
The banks of the Humber River are a wonderful venue for observing the human condition and unravelling the confusion that dogs our everyday. I watched last week as other dog owners carried on the ritual of publicly carrying bags of shit. Because no one can do it appropriately without simultaneously walking a dog. Literally any other activity conducted while carrying a bag of shit will result in you being assessed, even by the low standards of COVID times, as at least undesirable … and more likely, certifiable.
Confusion always reigns, but now it pours.
Since the advent of civilization, we have sought to avoid confusion. We have placed enormous faith in the transformative power of speaking and writing – and with good reason. Speaking and writing leads to thoughtful consideration and debate, which leads to well considered action, which results in progress. And confusion is lessened. Even in a time like this, when all truth seems to be deniable, there can be no doubt of that. Or so I imagined.
But the unspoken assumption has always been that there are listeners for every speaker. The unwritten rule was always that there are readers for every writer. And in each case, more than their families, friends and others of like mind. But in the past few years, too many refuse to read anything not written by those with whom they already agree. And avert their ears to anyone not repeating the views they already hold.
And now, in the past weeks, we are increasingly witness to the next stage of our generation’s apparent quest to become the least enlightened since the Enlightenment. Demands that you meekly accept the views of others, however controversial they may be. That you publicly acknowledge your guilt, without question, because to question it is proof of it. Or face the consequences of social media fueled, reputation ending, public abuse. The electronic equivalent of Maoist peoples’ tribunals.
And in response, most have elected the option of silence.
Elder Advice? There can be confusion in Puck mistaking Lysander for Demetrius. But there can be no confusion about this. Participating and supporting media hangings is bad enough; silently tolerating them is intolerable. We are witnessing a frontal assault on foundational liberal democratic principles and it is time for all of us to insist that those principles be respected. Everyone gets to speak freely. Everyone is respectful of the views of others, honestly held. Reliable data is required. Consensus is encouraged. Common sense should prevail. Because nothing we have heard so far comes close to being a substitute for them.
It’s enough to make that vein in my forehead throb even more than usual.