© 2023, The Institute for Applied Common Sense™
Many of us
find ourselves complaining about the role of new media and social networking
platforms in our lives, particularly that of kids. Seattle recently sued Big Tech companies for a purported detrimental influence on the mental health of kids, which implicitly acknowledges the futility of parental involvement / responsibility.
While I
appreciate the value of formal education in my life, it was not nearly
as eye opening as two recent periods on internet platforms: (a) blogging since
2008 on Google’s Blogger platform; and (b) engaging folks on the Facebook group
page I started, “Black Baby Boomers Who Seek a Better Future for All.” The page was
prompted by my desire to better understand Donald Trump and the huge segment of the population, including
Christian Evangelicals, who considered him akin to the Second Coming.
Consideration
of and being open to widely varying, different views and positions, followed by
revisiting our own, can't be anything but a good thing in my silly but pragmatic
world. And here it was I thought that dementia was going to spoil the fun. One
of our group page members has often forced me to use the phrase, "While I
agree, I have a slightly different take...."
People on the platforms (and even friends throughout life), have always complained about the
absence of hard and fast positions on my part regarding much in life. I quickly disabuse them of that notion by
informing them that I know the position that I would take should both Jessica
Alba and Halle Berry pay me a visit, alone, and naked, should they be so
inclined.
I was just saying yesterday that many of us in the late 1960s - early 1970s espoused anti-establishment views. We campaigned against tradition and the old rules and values. Now, many of us appreciate how important they were in our lives and wish that we could bring them back, many of which cannot be rescued.
The real institutions of value, I suspect, have changed with the times in some respects, but have continued to embrace the same fundamental rules and principles which existed long ago. Consider, for example, the Seven Deadly Sins.
During my teenage years, I was the least experienced, least sophisticated, clueless creature on the planet, still trying to make sense of things. It was a constantly changing landscape during those days, as it arguably should be with young adults.
In my dedicated effort to derive some modicum of benefit from my experience over the past 71 years, plus have forward thinking dominate my remaining years, history suggests that black folks have no choice but to at least intellectually segregate ourselves, take care of our own, build our own businesses and thus create our own jobs, with the ultimate goal of improving our communities as components of a civilized and evolved society.
I argue on a
daily basis that while I consider it important to "appreciate” history,
there is a danger associated with being consumed by the past, its wrongs, and
wishful thinking. Interestingly, most protest and ask why I wish to deny our
history; in response to which I ask, "Has humankind solved the racism issue?"
Black Baby
Boomers are the last significant group with segregation, in all of its various forms,
appearing prominently on our resumes. That's why duty requires us to seek a
better future for all. We, as societal
members, ought to get the best out of that “learning opportunity,” as mucked up
as it may have been.
In my view, every
country and society, throughout history, has been built on gaslighting segments
of the populace, beating them into submission, or instilling fear to suppress
their interests. One of my partners used to refer to management as "herding
cats," and the governance of citizens is most certainly not any easier.
Our challenge here in America is one of expectations in that our documents set a high
standard. Reading the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address might make one stare up in the sky as if they were
handed down by Providence. I often use the term "aspirational" to describe them.
The stark,
pragmatic reality is that humans will never live up to the ideals outlined. That
doesn't mean that we shouldn't keep trying, and yet we should always keep in
mind the inherent limitations of humankind. My favorite Clint Eastwood /"Dirty Harry" line is, "A man has got to know his limitations...."
So, the most significant difference
between being 17 and 71 is simply more experience under our belts and thus the
ability to reduce the number of stupid things we do. But we still have to at least keep trying to engage
others and keep taking peeps down potential rabbit holes.
Simply put, rigidity is counterproductive.
P.S. As I put the finishing touches on this piece, PBS was featuring a revival of the Youngbloods singing “Get Together.”
