This morning I watched on Fareed Zakaria, (truly one of my favourite programs), as David Brooks essentially discussed the subject of this article. He framed his discussion by suggesting that there are essentially two opposing positions, that also frame how ethics and morality are viewed by each group.
He suggested that institutionalists see the world in a completely different way than those who are anti-institutionalists. According to Brooks, anti-institutionalists want to tear down the system that has for many, failed to lead to their inclusion, achievement or financial success. They believe in change.
They also obviously believe that the ends justify the means.
And the ends, are apparently all about power.
Where I fail to understand, is in how they fail to see that societal norms, long held as necessary in order to maintain order, and standards of behaviour that can be trusted, have no value. These anti-institutionalists ignore ‘changes that are detrimental’ both societally and personally, such as eschewing science, truth, empathy, acceptance of others and respect for knowledge and its application.
How do lies become truth? How does perversity become normative?
And how, in any way, does this ‘change’, – constitute improvement? To make changes, normally results in a movement towards an objective truth, – something deemed to be better. But where is that improvement in America? Chaos, hate and denigration of science, really? What will America depend on to keep its technological edge with respect to China, and how does ignorance accomplish anything of value?
How is having a leader who stands up in front of a nation and states, “I love the uneducated”, convey any values that will improve a nation’s future?
Tell me how it’s possible that supposedly religious people, almost exclusively Christians, can ignore lies, adultery, sexual assault, racism, misogyny and perverse behaviours? It is so obviously against their supposed religious convictions, yet they take part in, turn a blind eye to, and support people guilty of these acts?
When confronted, they will never actually address these failures and the hypocrisy that is so evident, instead they strike out against those who are attempting to maintain societal norms that are, to be blunt, requisite.
America is absolutely brimming with hypocrites. Over half of Americans espouse ‘belief’ in all of these ‘commandments’ of the church, yet minutes after leaving its supposed sanctity, take part in breaking every tenet of their supposed convictions?
And it is one thing to suggest that it’s the ‘others’ that are acting, and that I am simply an innocent bystander so to speak, but then these same individuals attend rallies where the object of their supposed support then immediately displays hate and vows retribution whilst lying about his own acts and perverse behaviours?
Americans are becoming consumers of their own lies. They dare not analyze their own behaviours or take part in self-analysis, obviously, or they would be so conflicted that they would obviously change. If not, then they are simply not ‘believers’ as their own super-ordinate being who is omniscient, omnipotent and all knowing, would sanction them, and is incapable of doing so.
Of course, in 2000 years, no such sanctions have been applied. It makes one wonder whether such a being exists? Could it be that religion is simply a social construct designed for consumers to feel better about their own lies, perversity, crime and actions that they take part in? Absolution, such that one may go on acting contrary to those supposed beliefs?
As an observer of the behaviours that I see in evidence, every single day from the soon-to-be ‘leader’ (?) of the free world, (at least until such time as he can correct that apparent issue), I see little hope for altruism, intelligent action, logic, reason or intellectual dialogue in America.
What is on display is arrogance, and a willingness to immerse themselves in echo chambers, avoiding looking at oneself. Today, those about to achieve power are bathed in group think and ‘belief’ such that it fails to regulate their or America’s behaviours. There is no wish to be introspective. I assume this is because they, those who want to ‘make America Great Again”, are fearful of what they might find there.
It seems that in America, there will be a race, and earnest determination to hit rock-bottom, both intellectually, ethically and morally.
As an observer it is disheartening to see America as I knew it, dissolve in a rain of indifference and willful ignorance.
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