"When once the forms of civility are violated,
there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency."
Samuel Johnson
"As citizens we have to be more thoughtful and more educated and more
informed. I turn on the TV and I see these grown people screaming at each
other, and I think, well, if we don't get our civility back we're in
trouble."
Emmylou Harris
“Civility means a great deal more than just being nice to one another. It is
complex and encompasses learning how to connect successfully and live well
with others, developing thoughtfulness, and fostering effective
self-expression and communication. Civility includes courtesy, politeness,
mutual respect, fairness, good manners...”
Pier Massimo Forni
I recall having cautioned you all that we have entered a period of hysteria
several times. I saw this phase coming years ago. And here we are.
1.Exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement.
2.A psychological disorder whose symptoms include
conversion of psychological stress into physical symptoms, selective amnesia,
susceptibility to autosuggestion.
At other times I have referred to what follows from hysteria as 'the
madness.' That is when hysteria is driven into action, sometimes by those who
would seek to use that madness for their own ends. And as you recall I often
say, 'the madness serves none but itself.'
I have read some things today on the web from fellow bloggers that were
utterly 'over the top.' I am not talking about those sites that seek to whip
up hysteria in order to provide them a following and 'clicks' for pay because
that is to foolishly expect the unexpected, that is, civility from sites that
serve their own ends, often political but always commercial.
There are professional people who make a living doing this on
television. Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh come to mind. Most
of the others are legitimate shock comedians and their humour is dark, but
sometimes rather funny. But these others are just vile people
pandering to what is most ugly in the human condition.
The bloggers I follow are people from whom I would expect better, because I
can tell from their writing that they are informed, most often sincere
and intelligent. And I am disappointed.
I think that saying to one of the mothers of a child that was killed at
Newtown that they are an "incompetent and defective sack of meat -- your
son is dead because you are unfit to be parents" because they have
spoken out in favor of gun control laws to be completely over the top and
inexcusable, even by today's remarkably low
standards.
And although it ought not to matter, I happen to be a long time gun owner,
and have participated in regional matches, albeit in my younger years.
And my son carries on in this. I don't speak of this much because
it is not relevant to what I do intend to talk about. And I am in favor
of background checks and licenses for things that can pose a danger to other
people in their use, like airplanes, automobiles, and firearms.
And although I know that markets are made up of differences of opinion,
remarking on the fairly heavy handed bear raid on the precious metals sector
by saying "Where the fuck is your Gold Messiah now?" is a bit
much. I mean, really. This is analysis?
I can look at the record and see how and where the selling came from as well
as these others. And the rest of what follows is about as insubstantial and
based on mere opinion rather than anything approaching analysis. I found the
sneering takedown of those who are following a long term strategy to be
particularly obtuse. Are we all not supposed to be day traders now?
I think the system as we knew it is changing. And the lack of reform in the
financial markets is going to break the confidence of the public. And
those who make their living off the markets may give some mind to speaking
out for reform, or learn a useful trade doing something else. Not everyone
remembers what the 1970s were like for trading, but some do.
I won't even respond further, because I only do so with public figures
speaking out in favor of policy. And sometimes I do use humour and satire.
That is what I do. That is what it is called when the weaker party like myself takes on the more powerful. When the more powerful
figure takes on the weak the same way, it is just bad manners and bullying.
This is why I get so incensed sometimes at the way in which powerful figures
beat up the little guys, even while they are taking advantage of them.
I am even breaking a long standing tradition by commenting
directly on what other bloggers say. Things are tough enough without
those who are operating outside the mainstream fighting amonst themselves,
and I probably won't do it again. That is how formidable I think things
are going to be.
I know that people who speak out for and against some thing get abused
sometimes by those who hold the other side of the opinion. I get it. And
since I happen to be a center progressive I get it a lot, and sometimes from
both sides at the same time! For me that is why spam filters exist, and why I
do not take the time to monitor comments on my site, preferring to take them
privately instead and use what is factual and ignore what is not. Lashing out
at those who attack you with ridicule and viciousness merely takes you
down to their level where they will beat you with the energy of
excessiveness.
I think there is a lot of fear and uncertainty out there. And it is going to
get worse. And in such a time it is even more important to stick to the
facts, maintain your composure, keep a cap on the rhetorical flourishes and
excesses, and remember that if you do not know what will happen, that the
other guy might be right as well. Age has taught me that those who see things
in pure black and white are often just color blind and nearsighted.
It is those who can proceed calmly and with serenity who
will pass through this period relatively well, and even if they do suffer
some unavoidable misfortune, they can do so without regret.
"So let us begin anew, remembering on both
sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always
subject to proof."
John F.
Kennedy
And if you wish you can aspire to something even higher,
probably not fully achievable as a goal based on my own experience,
but worthy of an attempt as a way of life.
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good
anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best
anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was
never between you and them anyway.”
Mother Teresa
