The myth of sanity

Over the course of the last several posts, I've been using the word "myth" in its most current, generally accepted meaning: an understanding that is at odds with actual reality. We like to think that things are a certain way. We continually tell ourselves that they are that way. We might even go so far as to maintain that things should be that way. But, in the end, things are like that at all. They are quite different, but we have difficulty admitting that in reality, things are much different.

We like to think that we're our own persons, but for the most part we're not. We like to think we take personal responsibility for our actions, but more often than not, we don't. We like to think we're self-sufficient and that others have just as many chances and opportunities as well do, that we share that believe and similar values, but we don't. We like to tell ourselves that justice is blind, that we're all in this together, that we're safe and free because of the things we believe and hold dear, but in each and every instance over these last posts, we have seen that it really doesn't take much effort at all to break down the facade, to unmask the truth, and to that things aren't like we think they are, and they are certainly not like we would like to believe they are.

And therein lies the dilemma which we are considering today. Our common understanding of myth is very similar to our understanding of the term "fantasy". There is a sense of wonder and make-believe that flows in here. We make up our own version of what-is because, let's face it, it makes everything so much easier to deal with. Life's tough. It's not getting any easier. The number of issues and problems we are confronted with is getting larger not smaller. We'd like to be cut a break. We then tell ourselves that things aren't all that bad and that we're really not all that far off the mark, but at night, before we fade into sleep, we are nagged and haunted by doubts and uncertainty. We suspect, regardless of how much we tell ourselves to the contrary, that what we believe in, what we would like to be true, is, in fact, unreal and not true at all.

We keep on believing anyway. We lie to ourselves. We deceive ourselves. We act in some strange accordance with our beliefs, but our beliefs let us down. We can only hope, and many have given that up as well. But acting on the basis of a fantasy, not reality, is what is medically considered and what everyday common sense tells us is insane.

When we do look "out there" what are we confronted with? Crime, violence - both sanctioned and criminal - murder, rape, pillage, plunder, extortion, hostage-taking, kidnapping, scruplessness, greed, anger, hate, lack of empathy for just about anyone or almost everyone. And so we retreat even further into our illusions: I accepted Jesus so at least I can a Go-To-Heaven-Free card (or not), my military is protecting me, the police are keeping me safe, and the Huxleyan drug we're fed to keep us in line is called Fear, pure and simple.

If all this isn't insane, I don't know what is. To believe we're still sane may be the biggest myth of all.