I’ve haven’t posted for two days because I’ve been pole axed by the enormity of what I’ve set out to do – become a truth finder? Become a better media and political consumer? Couldn’t I just write a blog about my dog?
I did have a coherent idea last night on this subject, while walking the dog (hey, I got the dog in there), which was: why do we hide from the truth? In my personal life, I hide from the truth because something is painful and I don’t want to face it. To face it mean feeling uncomfortable, perhaps intense feelings and then being moved to change something, which takes effort and creates more uncomfortable, intense feelings. The same thing is true when it comes to our shared political lives. It is really, really uncomfortable to see that most of the people who died in New Orleans were poor and black. We live in the richest nation on earth and we can’t get people out of the way of a storm?
Contemplate:
What are you afraid of learning the truth about, when it comes to politics or the media?
What are you afraid of learning more about, because you might have to change something about your way of life or your relationship to someone you love or even the way you see yourself?
How high a price might you be paying for being blind or resigned?
When Clinton was in office, I didn’t follow his downfall. I didn’t read the papers. I didn’t want to truly face that someone I had admired for his mind (but never his morals) had been so stupid and banal as to bald face lie to the nation. Why? It tarnished my idea of who I thought I was: smart, politically informed, able to pick a better President than my parents. So I hid my head in the sand.
We all hide our heads in the sand, from time to time. I am NOT suggesting that we take on every political or media issue. BURN OUT! The first rule has to be CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. But if we don’t also face where we are hiding from, there is no chance of getting nearer to some version of the truth.
The political is personal.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Michelle Ensminger Sep 16, 2005
I so appreciate your words. They’re not easy for me to read but they are exactly what I need to hear. I’ve always stood on the sidelines when it came to politics. When I was able to vote for the first time I was so excited. Naively I shared my voting choices with my family. I thought they would support me. Wrong! I received a shaming I’ll never forget. This past election was the first one I’ve voted in since then. It was a part of my life I wanted to reclaim. I let myself be robbed of that part of myself, that right and priviledge, all those years ago and I made a conscious decision to reclaim my voice and power. Standing in the voting booth, pencil in had, was so cathartic and emotional. I cried. Since then I’ve been taking baby steps and choosing my battles. It’s difficult for me to get involved with political talk and issues because I feel so naive, powerless, disconnected, guilty, and yes, that old shame. But I know that is exactly where I need to be. It’s my growing edge. So I try to stand in the fire, in the insecurity, and learn and grow. I try to not back down in fear. This is what I need.
2 Jorge Sep 16, 2005
We all hide from that which is unpleasant, and more importantly, that, which if recognized, would force us to act. Sitting on a tack is better than having a good idea. At least it forces you to get up and od something about it. Thanks for a well written piece.
3 Karen Sep 19, 2005
Jennifer: I am so glad to have stumbled on your blog. I thought I was the only one who felt this way — that people must wake up and see the truth of what is happening around them, or the entire world will end up as a place in which none of us would want to live. The politicians — largely rich, white men — do rule the roost, and they seem to have forgotten that they represent all of us: black, white, rich, poor, educated or not, those at the fringes and those who live next door to them.
At the bottom of my emails I have this quote from a book by Carolyn Heilbrun: “Power consists to a large extent in deciding what stories will be told.” The government is going to make every attempt to tell particular stories and spin those stories. We certainly saw that in New Orleans. This makes it imperative that we have a responsible, truth-seeking and truth-telling media, and people who are willing to pay attention.
Thank you for saying it like it is.