Columnist David Brooks wrote a wonderful article called "High Five Nation". After hearing an old radio broadcast he writes: On V-J Day, Frank Sinatra appeared, along with Marlene Dietrich, Jimmy Durante, Dinah Shore, Bette Davis, Lionel Barrymore, Cary Grant and many others. But the most striking feature of the show was its tone of self-effacement and humility. (Read the full column at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/opinion/15brooks.html?em). As one of the worst slaughters in human history came to its conclusion, with technology demonstrating its power in more gruesome ways than many had imagined possible, and racism expressed more hatefully than many would ever dared to have conceived, the sentiment of the "victor" is summed up, according to Brooks, by humility.
The talk shows are abuzz with the doings of Kanye West, the speech of Michael Jordan, the outburst of Joe Wilson, and Serena Williams losing it at the USA Open. Each of these situations may be specific people acting out what all of us would like to do, but something holds us back. Something checks us before we lose it, or before we say what is really on our mind.
I find myself in situations where my primary goal is to not do something I will have to apologize for later.
I know that sometimes it is easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission, but those are the times when we aren't really sorry for what we've done. That's different. But to be in a mindset where we are so convinced we are right that we toss sensibility to the wind, tread on people's character, threaten their physical safety, insinuate so as to destroy their reputation - that takes us beyond the "loss of civility". It takes us to the dissolution of democracy, to the brink of chaos, and to a place where all that is left is the shouting.
And then, there is President Jimmy Carter ... in his inimitable way offering a critique in a quiet voice, but with a prophetic spirit ... calling a spade a spade. Is it racism still running strong and deep within us that fuels much of the hateful rhetoric we are hearing? I think Carter's words are meant for all of us to hear.
Brooks assures us - This isn't the death of civilization. It's just the culture in which we live. He offers the glance back to that program, a day in which our greatest achievements were embraced with uncommon humility. He makes me think of another piece of my history - one that challenges me not to conform to the culture in which I live. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but with sober judgment ... It says that pride and certainty can be inebriating, and invites me to live humbly, to love extravagantly. Some days it just seems easier to shout; but then ... there is the having to apologize later.
I find myself in situations where my primary goal is to not do something I will have to apologize for later.
I know that sometimes it is easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission, but those are the times when we aren't really sorry for what we've done. That's different. But to be in a mindset where we are so convinced we are right that we toss sensibility to the wind, tread on people's character, threaten their physical safety, insinuate so as to destroy their reputation - that takes us beyond the "loss of civility". It takes us to the dissolution of democracy, to the brink of chaos, and to a place where all that is left is the shouting.
And then, there is President Jimmy Carter ... in his inimitable way offering a critique in a quiet voice, but with a prophetic spirit ... calling a spade a spade. Is it racism still running strong and deep within us that fuels much of the hateful rhetoric we are hearing? I think Carter's words are meant for all of us to hear.
Brooks assures us - This isn't the death of civilization. It's just the culture in which we live. He offers the glance back to that program, a day in which our greatest achievements were embraced with uncommon humility. He makes me think of another piece of my history - one that challenges me not to conform to the culture in which I live. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but with sober judgment ... It says that pride and certainty can be inebriating, and invites me to live humbly, to love extravagantly. Some days it just seems easier to shout; but then ... there is the having to apologize later.
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