Self Awareness
I’ve been told that I am self-differentiated. Yesterday, I posted a quote from Carl Jung on my facebook page that read, “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” That reminded me of the Buddha who thought an individual’s karma caused people to cross into life’s path as a way to help us understand ourselves. Maybe that’s why gospel writers quilled the words for Jesus, “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.”
I can hear the porch swing creak as Atticus talks to Scout, “If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”
In the film, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Ben Gates is talking to the President of the United States. “And because you’re the President of the United States, sir. Whether by innate character or the oath you took to defend the Constitution or the weight of history that falls upon you, I believe you to be an honorable man, sir.” The President replies, “Gates, people don’t believe that stuff anymore.” Ben replies, “They want to believe it.” This is what irritates me.
I am the oldest end of Generation X. My understanding of politicians and power is shaped by the early memory of missing cartoons on TV because of the Watergate trial. Nixon resigned. Ford pardoned him. I remember feeling sorry for Carter, booing, then cheering, then booing Reagan again. In my short life-time the nation has changed from a melting pot to a mulligan stew. We are a reality TV hypnotized desegregated patchwork of districts, states, advantaged and disadvantaged gated communities. Our culture and Christianity has embraced separate but equal because it is expedient, easier to raise campaign contributions, and for now ensures the cycle of mediocrity and overt corruption continues as the norm rather than the exception.
This irritates me because I want to believe, all evidence to the contrary, that government officials in high office will do what is in the best interest of the citizens rather than the citizen corporation. It irritates me because I want to believe that, all evidence to the contrary, public officials are not above the law. There can be no American dream without the institution of government holding itself accountable, in meaningful and visible ways, for doing what is right for the citizens of this nation rather than raising campaign contributions to regain power in the next election. I want to believe the American experiment is not complete.
I don’t have the institutional power of a congressional representative, a city council member, a senator, or a lobbyist. If I did I might be doing the same things any of these people are doing to ensure that I stayed on easy street and kept the seats of honor. I haven’t walked around in their shoes. I don’t know if Rep. Wilson of South Carolina is just an angry white man with race issues, frightened for his own political future and that of the south, or concerned about how to provide health care for persons of this nation, legal and illegal. Recently, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, was on cable. It reminded me too that I am irritated at myself for believing that “by innate character or the oath you took to defend the Constitution or the weight of history that falls upon you, I believe you to be an honorable man (person).” I want to believe this about my government, the institution. That is what irritates me. I guess this makes me somewhat self-aware.