The "collective unconscious" concept sums up this thoughtful essay for me. A brilliant mind once said basically, (that man's confront of evil is the lowest common denominator among man).
Lawrence, thanks as always for reading and commenting. There is certainly evil in this world, and evil doers. Then there are those who do not know or understand. (There seem many reasons for the latter, and they are the worse problem, to my way if thinking, because they are so easily used by the former. Do you agree?
You "speak" to thoughtful people who don't focus on their (vast) fortune. Our President "needs to fuel bigotry." (quoting Robert Reich) "His Straight White Male Christian Nationalism requires prejudice against anyone who's not." The malaise you so thoughtfully examine, imho, is grounded in a very real challenge to any impact from our individual actions. Repeatedly being knocked back into its mire has a cumulative effect. America certainly IS better than what we're living...as an ideal. We can strive for our own ideal selves; the problem is making it collective. How do we do that?
Thank you, Marlene. My offhand answer to your question is: to educate, a word that comes from the Latin verb, ēducāre, which combines the stem of dūcere, meaning to lead, with ē,meaning away from. The implication is that educating is the act of leading us away from something … I would answer “not knowing,” which is to say ignorance. Of course, one of the first things attacked when a malaise arises is education, reading, ideas, learning, questioning, etc. If I am fixated on a certain idea, say, any threat to that idea becomes quickly personal. I can feel it in my body, as if it were an existential threat to my well-being. Therefore, I must resist or, better yet, attack. To my way of thinking, this is what happens when the malaise rises from its temporary burial in the collective unconscious. Education overwhelms ignorance until someone ruses to exploit ignorance, releasing its pent up energy until that energy is defeated. Does this make sense?
Sure… but the obvious question then bumps into the adage —can’t fight city hall— upgraded now to change city hall to: the billionaires’ interests and influence. Btw don’t think I sink into passivity; just more frustration than malaise. Keep up your always thoughtful process!
I so agree with the reoccurring theme of Malaise. We see it repeated over and over throughout history. My question is: How long do we try to see the "other person" and try to come to common ground when so many many people are suffering? That was the question prior to all the wars in the last century, it is the same question today. How long must we try to utilize the force of a better argument before we turn our focus on the force of help and assistance to those who are oppressed and suffering?
Great question, Alice. Yes, over and over, every generation must struggle against the malaise in the form it takes. Ignorance must always be opposed. And sometimes opposing it with understanding and compassion alone are insufficient. When we are attacked, we must defend. Ultimately, evil must not only be opposed, it must be defeated. Then we high-minded people, yes us, the ones who do not want to be pulled down into the gritty world of the opposites, find ourselves there unwillingly. I have never been put in a life-or-death situation where I must defend or die. So, I will not allow myself to “talk bravely” here. The question I ask myself now is, Could I fight with a heart of goodness? I can only hope so. I believe in the human spirit. I believe that many have fought and died and somehow maintained that good spirit. Else it could not have been handed down to us.
Oops … hit the wrong button. As i was saying, I should have tried to define that, if I even could. Perhaps we think of it when we speak of “black and white thinking,” recognizing that reality, especially human behavior, of course, is more complex than right-wrong, good-evil, … reasoning can wholly account for.
I agree with your 3 points, Tim. Demonizing makes us feel in the right through simplifying the demon into being all wrong. Finding common ground may be hard and uncomfortable, but worth the effort, and will certainly be surprising and rewarding.
Thank you, Carol. You are so right about demonizing and how it makes me feel when I’ve done it. Although I’ve never been “mad” like the Salem witches may have been, I think I know what it feels like to point at someone and say, “There goes the devil!” I know that feeling, oh yes. I felt that way toward my biological father because I was told he was “Satan.” And he was bad, very bad. To be taught to be holier than someone, though, must be unlearned. And I know that it comes from the feeling of superiority, that I am somehow better and righteous. In fact, I later met my father and realized that, yes, he did very bad things, but he was a very, very undeveloped person. And twisted. No one had ever taken him on to educate him otherwise — if that even would’ve been possible. I had a better fortune.
We all fear what we don't believe. We recoil from ideas that question our beliefs. If you don't believe what I believe, you are wong. It seems today these issues are more prevelent that ever before. Instead of respecting others, we have divided ourselves.
Yes, I agree. I have heard it said that 20% of people are suppressive, but 2 and1/2% are truly dangerous.
The "collective unconscious" concept sums up this thoughtful essay for me. A brilliant mind once said basically, (that man's confront of evil is the lowest common denominator among man).
Lawrence, thanks as always for reading and commenting. There is certainly evil in this world, and evil doers. Then there are those who do not know or understand. (There seem many reasons for the latter, and they are the worse problem, to my way if thinking, because they are so easily used by the former. Do you agree?
You "speak" to thoughtful people who don't focus on their (vast) fortune. Our President "needs to fuel bigotry." (quoting Robert Reich) "His Straight White Male Christian Nationalism requires prejudice against anyone who's not." The malaise you so thoughtfully examine, imho, is grounded in a very real challenge to any impact from our individual actions. Repeatedly being knocked back into its mire has a cumulative effect. America certainly IS better than what we're living...as an ideal. We can strive for our own ideal selves; the problem is making it collective. How do we do that?
Thank you, Marlene. My offhand answer to your question is: to educate, a word that comes from the Latin verb, ēducāre, which combines the stem of dūcere, meaning to lead, with ē,meaning away from. The implication is that educating is the act of leading us away from something … I would answer “not knowing,” which is to say ignorance. Of course, one of the first things attacked when a malaise arises is education, reading, ideas, learning, questioning, etc. If I am fixated on a certain idea, say, any threat to that idea becomes quickly personal. I can feel it in my body, as if it were an existential threat to my well-being. Therefore, I must resist or, better yet, attack. To my way of thinking, this is what happens when the malaise rises from its temporary burial in the collective unconscious. Education overwhelms ignorance until someone ruses to exploit ignorance, releasing its pent up energy until that energy is defeated. Does this make sense?
Sure… but the obvious question then bumps into the adage —can’t fight city hall— upgraded now to change city hall to: the billionaires’ interests and influence. Btw don’t think I sink into passivity; just more frustration than malaise. Keep up your always thoughtful process!
I so agree with the reoccurring theme of Malaise. We see it repeated over and over throughout history. My question is: How long do we try to see the "other person" and try to come to common ground when so many many people are suffering? That was the question prior to all the wars in the last century, it is the same question today. How long must we try to utilize the force of a better argument before we turn our focus on the force of help and assistance to those who are oppressed and suffering?
Great question, Alice. Yes, over and over, every generation must struggle against the malaise in the form it takes. Ignorance must always be opposed. And sometimes opposing it with understanding and compassion alone are insufficient. When we are attacked, we must defend. Ultimately, evil must not only be opposed, it must be defeated. Then we high-minded people, yes us, the ones who do not want to be pulled down into the gritty world of the opposites, find ourselves there unwillingly. I have never been put in a life-or-death situation where I must defend or die. So, I will not allow myself to “talk bravely” here. The question I ask myself now is, Could I fight with a heart of goodness? I can only hope so. I believe in the human spirit. I believe that many have fought and died and somehow maintained that good spirit. Else it could not have been handed down to us.
Great reflection, Tim. But I don't know what the law of opposites is. No doubt I should.
Hi Marick. I should have tried to define that, if I could. Perhaps we think of it when we speak of “black and white thinking,” recognizing that
Oops … hit the wrong button. As i was saying, I should have tried to define that, if I even could. Perhaps we think of it when we speak of “black and white thinking,” recognizing that reality, especially human behavior, of course, is more complex than right-wrong, good-evil, … reasoning can wholly account for.
I agree with your 3 points, Tim. Demonizing makes us feel in the right through simplifying the demon into being all wrong. Finding common ground may be hard and uncomfortable, but worth the effort, and will certainly be surprising and rewarding.
Thank you, Carol. You are so right about demonizing and how it makes me feel when I’ve done it. Although I’ve never been “mad” like the Salem witches may have been, I think I know what it feels like to point at someone and say, “There goes the devil!” I know that feeling, oh yes. I felt that way toward my biological father because I was told he was “Satan.” And he was bad, very bad. To be taught to be holier than someone, though, must be unlearned. And I know that it comes from the feeling of superiority, that I am somehow better and righteous. In fact, I later met my father and realized that, yes, he did very bad things, but he was a very, very undeveloped person. And twisted. No one had ever taken him on to educate him otherwise — if that even would’ve been possible. I had a better fortune.
Thank you greatly for commenting, Carol. Finding common ground should become mire common, shouldn’t it?
We all fear what we don't believe. We recoil from ideas that question our beliefs. If you don't believe what I believe, you are wong. It seems today these issues are more prevelent that ever before. Instead of respecting others, we have divided ourselves.
It is true, Geri. Now we can create something new in our nature. Thank you for reading and commenting.