CxD#94
Do the Right Thing; American Values; Cost of Reactivity
The fundamental reasons I’m concerned about current and future Trump voters is because they ignore the importance of character. The upcoming election will therefore be a way in which the United States, as a collective, will decide whether they value and prioritize character. It’s easy to dismiss character because of its broad vagueness, so this excerpt should help:
[This election] means reminding Americans of the values we still share, and the damage done when people are not held accountable for trampling on them. The values are pretty basic and can be simply expressed:
*Unity:* We’re one people. Our leader represents all the people. He doesn’t go around attacking whole cities and regions.
*Honesty:* We can’t have deliberative democracy without respect for the truth. None of us want congenital liars in our homes or our workplaces.
*Pluralism:* Human difference makes life richer and more interesting. We treasure members of all races and faiths for what they bring to the mosaic.
*Sympathy:* We want to be around people with good hearts, who feel for those who are suffering, who are faithful friends, whose daily lives are marked by kindness.
*Opportunity:* We want all children to have an open field and a fair chance in the great race of life.
Trump has put himself on the wrong side of all these values. So Democrats, go ahead and promote your plans. But also lead an uprising of decency. There must be one Democrat who, in word and deed, can do that.
If your purpose is, at the very least, not to make things worse, consider this: every time you respond to someone from a place of reactivity, you are guaranteeing a reaction in return. And reactions are, by definition, impulsive, quick, and often without skillful means. The only way around causing a cascade of reactions and their often negative and hurtful consequences, is to create space for your thoughts. So before you say something negative, or do some stupid shit, pause. Wait. Ask: how can I make life better for this person? How can I better the situation? Reactivity is not the way, pilgrim.
30 Years later, this film has never been more important. There are no flat, pious characters, just humans who succumb to either “love” or “hate” and can’t see beyond their narrow perspectives. It feels louder than ever, and might offer you a chance to reflect on your own intolerances. Hot. Hot. Hot.
Read an insightful analysis of the film’s brilliantly vivid filmmaking here.
