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.

The authoritarian mind

Most of you have most likely never have heard of Bob Altemeyer, but he is, I think, probably the most knowledgeable person on the planet when it comes to the authoritarian mind. What is that, you ask? It's the kind of mind that you find in people who are either authoritarian themselves or would prefer to an authority they can turn to who will make their decisions for them. Whew! I hear most of you saying, so you're not going to like it one bit when I tell you I'm probably talking about you. I also know that those of you who are still willing to read on will doubt much of what I have to say, so here's a link to his definitive work, The Authoritarians, freely available online, so you can read it for yourself, and you can check the science that backs it up. I'm not blowing smoke.

I know, I know, you're riled that I would even suggest that you're not a freedom-loving, freely acting, self-defined and voter-ID-carrying individual, a person who does their own thing and doesn't take crap from anybody. I know that's what many of you think, but that's not the person you say hello to every morning in the bathroom. It's the person you would like to say good morning to. I know that too.

Let me tell you whom I'm thinking about: a person who likes things to be clear-cut, black-and-white, right-and-wrong, because, hey, that's how things are supposed to be; a person who has standards they uphold for themselves and those close to them, people who know what's good for themselves and for others; a person who is willing to give anyone a real chance, even if it's clear that some people are more deserving of that chance than others; and finally, a person who has strong beliefs (and opinions) are a number of important issues and doesn't (or won't) recognize that these beliefs and opinions are at odds with each other or perhaps even contradict one another.

Humor me. Take a look at the following statements and see how many you agree with:

1. The grand-jury verdict in Ferguson was appropriate.
2. Obama's executive actions on immigration is an overstepping of executive authority.
3. Harsher punishments deter crime.
4. Most welfare recipients have become dependent on public assistance.
5. Though there might have been some wrongdoing, the banks really are too big to fail.

The more statements you agreed to, the more authoritarian you probably are. You would prefer strong, clear, decisive action be taken against those who deserve having such actions taken. Be honest. Ever since we gave up the rod, we've been spoiling the child. Every time we tried to be more sensitive to the feelings of others, the more they simply take advantage of us. Local authorities can do no real wrong; they have a tough job. National authorities too often overstep their boundaries and put us all at risk. That's how most people tick these days.

More distressing than anything else is the fact that these days things are just messy. Too many boundaries have been blurred, too many people are living at the expense of others, too many sound, helpful principles and simple rules are being ignored; it's high time we start doing something about it. Authoritarian-minded individuals tend to have stronger opinions are the types of things that I've mentioned herein, and they tend to be less tolerant of deviations from accepted norms. They also often feel that they're being pushed into a corner and they really don't know how much longer they want to put up with it.

So, let me remind you of a wise, old adage: You become what you hate. So stop, take a good look at what you're irate about, and then keep in mind ... that'll probably be you before it's all over.