EDITOR’S NOTE: You might have noticed that Neal Lemery’s pieces are now appearing under a different heading “Gift from the Muse” instead of Words of Wisdom … Neal’s note to me when he sends his pieces have always said “The gift from the muse today” and I realized that’s a much better title for the thoughts and inspiration that Neal shares with us. So, enjoy Neal’s latest gift form the muse. And no, it’s not the new AI tool from Meta …
By Neal Lemery
Ah, the election is over, all but checking the winners and losers, and having all the commentators and pundits do their Monday morning quarterbacking.
My phone, e-mail, and mailbox are quieting down, and this morning, only one candidate, from Mississippi, asked me to donate to their campaign. As I like to decide on candidates based on specific policy positions, and solid details of expertise and informed change plans, all of that political advertising seems to be a waste of effort and money.
A friend who writes an occasional blog compared our election system to a sporting event, a form of popular entertainment. They mourned the absence of the concept of critical thinking, and making the bold suggestion that a successful candidate should be thoughtful in identifying pressing problems and thinking through intelligent solutions. We as a country have recently treated governance and elections as entertaining and expensive sporting events, to the detriment of actually being solution-oriented and taking care of national business.
They also made the financial comparison between the money-drenched professional sports culture and the high cost and influence of political money. Their “politics is sports” theory seems to be a strong and apt metaphor.
My friend has a legitimate point, and a lot of our public issues are in need of intelligent and specific proven change, perhaps a concept that might be only in my dreams. Perhaps I am the eternal optimist.
I’m in recovery, taking the post-election morning to catch up on my laundry, fill the wastebasket with the remnants of campaign propaganda, have another cup of coffee, and take a nap. I did check my social media a few times, to keep up with some of the fallout from the election. Perhaps this was more in keeping with that idea of looking at electoral politics as a sporting event, and wonder which players will receive the Heisman Trophy, or go on to the national championships.
I’m enjoying the peacefulness of the day, not fearful of turning on the TV or looking for some funny joke on social media, and being done, at least for this election cycle, with the nastiness of too many of the political ads.
I’m also looking forward to a slowing of my abundance of political satire, realizing the last campaign reshaped the supply of what initially can seem to be great satire, instead of reality which comes across as clever satirical material, written by clever and talented humorists. I’ve maxed out on what is reality, dressed up to initially appear as Hollywood cleverness. I’ve been drenched with too much material and need a break, to dry out, and regroup.
It’s time for a break, a breather from all the rhetoric, all the propaganda, and the nonsense of our American political sports. My friends from other countries are fatigued, too, and wonder how we can put up with all this nonsense.
Rather than the usual diet lately of politics, personal attacks, and nastiness, I’ve decided I need a big dose of kindness and community caretaking. I’m taking a break from the political arena and striving to put kindness in my life as a cherished and fundamental value.
For those of us who have forgotten, kindness is a quality of behavior marked by generosity, consideration, and care for others without expecting a reward. It involves helpful actions, warm words, and positive intent directed toward people, animals, or oneself.
Kindness can be easily practiced, demonstrated, and shared, through thought, word, and deed. It is a common, everyday occurrence, easily communicated, and taught. I recommend it, and encourage the practice of it as an anecdote to our political malaise and exhaustion. It pairs well with a second cup of coffee and a long nap.
Books: NEW book – Recharging Ourselves, Building Community: Rural Voices for Hope and Change; Finding My Muse on Main Street, Homegrown Tomatoes, and Mentoring Boys to Men
