View From The Middle Revisited
I began writing this blog more than a dozen years ago. I’m too lazy to actually count the number of posts I’ve written since then, but it’s well over four hundred. And I’ll admit some topics have received more attention than others for reasons I’ve long since forgotten or ignore. But the rationale for writing has remained consistent: to clarify my own thoughts via writing. I have no idea how many of you have read some of them, or perhaps more than that. The paragraph below was the first one in the first post.
“Despite the seemingly obvious reality that life takes place along the continuum between endpoints — a long expanse of grey between the black at one end and white at the other, there are many who insist that those in the middle lack the values and commitment essential to knowing right from wrong, good from bad. From here in the middle, those who make such assertions seem to be lacking both enlightenment and common sense, clinging to their ideologies and dogmas with passion and anger that defy reason. And they are quite willing to use misinformation and disinformation to overcome inconvenient reality.”
I have — both consciously and subconsciously — applied the paragraph above in a multitude of ways regarding an array of topics. My expectation has always been modest regarding this endeavor. If readers find value in comparing some of these topics with their own points of view, I will have accomplished my goal. It should be fairly obvious that my goal is to promote rationality and reason, which are the basis for moderation. Successful societies are the result.
The least successful societies are invariably those furthest to the left and right, mistaking political dogma for wisdom. It is perfectly reasonable for citizens to have a wide range of opinions on pretty much anything and everything. Societal success, as I have regularly noted, comes from compromise and consensus. It is understood that give-and-take are necessary. The greater good is accepted as a long-term goal that will avoid the fate common to societies in which endless political extremism undermines the quality of life for many, if not most.
A relatively modest overview of human history during just the last couple thousand years would justify a famous phrase — it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Overall, the quality of life has never been better for more people than it is now, and this is with the horrors we are aware of every day of every year via the news. We can strive for better both personally and as a society, but realities continue to exceed what we can fix, improve, change.
It is ironic that the species with the most developed intelligence (at least on this planet) also has psychological idiosyncrasies that can conflict with intellectual prowess in many ways. There are endless combinations of the two, resulting in complexities in human behaviors. Among these is extremism. Despite the insistence by those far from the political center that extremism is justified in the name of liberty, extremism is invariably antithetical to democracy.
I’ve been around long enough to recognize that much of what passes for “wisdom” is really misguided ignorance. Moderates and moderation are the only paths to functional democracy and rational, reasonable problem solving. Actual problem solving is about the greater good, not self-serving rhetoric. What “worked” two hundred plus years ago is, realistically, far less likely to do so in today’s vastly changed reality. Reality is invariably a very good starting point.
Writing this blog is good for me — reason enough to keep doing so. I appreciate those who have taken time every so often to read some of my posts. Comments or queries are always welcome. I might do this for another dozen years. :)
