Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself.... It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of his divine discontent. – Harper Lee
I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one, that has frightened
and inspired us…. Humans are caught — in their lives, in their thoughts, in
their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their
kindness and generosity too — in a net of good and evil. I think this is the
only story we have and that it occurs on all levels of feeling and
intelligence. Virtue and vice were warp and woof of our first consciousness,
and they will be the fabric of our last, and this despite any changes we may
impose on field and river and mountain, on economy and manners. There is no
other story. – John Steinbeck
Some of you complain that my blog
essays are too long, too esoteric, use too many big words unnecessarily, and/or
are too flowery.
The same readers claim that I
could reach more people, be more effective in getting my ideas across, and be
more persuasive with my points of view if I wrote shorter essays, used simpler less
intellectual language, and got to my point more quickly and directly.
I welcome this criticism and agree
that my writing could use some improvement. Concerning the readability of my essays,
you may not agree but I honestly think that with a little time and effort anyone can read and understand
them. Anyone. I am happy when people take the time to go through and study
my essays. I’m even happier when they point out the flaws in them and
shortcomings in my thinking. To those readers who have no complaints and who
write to me supportively, thank you.
I do not republish raw information
by itself, produce catchy sound bites, entertain, or give unsupported opinion.
Readers who expect this should go to the Internet, talk radio, and commercial
television.
I do not break complex ideas,
events, and problems down into easily readable, understandable bits. It is not
possible to do that with complicated matters and have it result in meaningful
learning and significant, sustainable changes in another person’s ideas and thinking
methods.
Understanding complex things and
changing another person’s or an institution’s deep-seated thinking require
serious, detailed reading, actively challenging their ideas and operations, a
willingness to do so, and effort. I try to lead and encourage readers to do all
these things. There are few shortcuts, if any.
If a shortage of time and the
complexity of our times are the problem, read “Have
We Become the White Rabbit? The Experience of Time in the Postmodern Era.”
The topics I write about - human
nature, ideas, beliefs, values, freedom, morality, virtue, social and cultural change
- are complex. I cannot whittle then down to bite-size, easy to swallow morsels.
I present points of
argumentation.
What I mean is, I present an
idea, event, or problem in basic language except when a few complex words or
ideas are necessary. Next, I describe how the idea, event, or problem came about.
Then, I identify the assumptions
and preconceptions behind the description of the event, idea, or problem. In
doing this I also try to present a range of differing understandings.
I then present what is behind the
smoke and mirrors the wealthy, powerful, or others use to hide or put makeup on
their intentions concerning the event, idea, or problem.
Finally, I state a conclusion
about what I’ve presented and a brief recommendation or projection, consistent
with my conclusion, of what the event, idea, or problem may bring about.
Put simply, I’m trying to help
people untangle themselves, in mind and body, from the jungle of words and
schemes of the wealthy and powerful.
No, not by adding more complex
words and schemes as I’m often accused of. Rather, by separating out and
examining the important parts of ideas, events, and other people’s arguments about them,
especially the wealthy and powerful, systematically and thoroughly.
You cannot understand and get untangled
from complex ideas, events, and problems easily or quickly.
It takes reading, time, effort, a
dictionary, an encyclopedia, and some serious thinking.
Quick, simple language breakdowns
and pointed messages are what the wealthy and powerful use to enslave and hold
us in their service. They appeal to our emotions and capture us with myths
laced with addictive consumer goods. Using the same methods will not give us much freedom
from these rulers. It will only give us new rulers and not help us think freely,
critically, and independently.
I research, think about, and
write my essays from what I see as an obligation to my fellow humans. That is,
to use what talent and experience they
have given me to help make us all more knowledgeable and free, and
better able to defend ourselves from those who profit from enslaving us.
I do not know better than
everyone. I am not always just, temperate,
courageous, or wise in my dealings with ideas, events, problems, and people. I
try. I am, like everyone else, imperfect and fallible.
I’m not always correct. But my
errors do not come from ignoring complicated things, waiting on and insisting
they be made simple for me, or from not trying my best to understand them
independently.
I am a teacher, one among many
others one can choose from.
Thanks for your time.
