I’ve spent my entire life writing. I write because I breathe, because i have to write to exist. I write to tell stories, and because I need to express my feelings, opinions. I write to uncover facts, discover truths, and because I’ve always believed that presented with intelligent argument, information, or with a compelling personal story, people will make rational and humane choices. I write because I believe we can touch each other with words, and inspire ourselves to be better than who we are. Lately, I’ve been thinking I’m just wrong .
No one cares what anyone else has to say or thinks. No one is interested in facts if they don’t align with their narrow perspective. Outside of young children, few people want to learn something new, or a different view of the world than they hold and have always clutched onto, for fear of it coming apart. Editorial responses have become like selfies: the Instagraphing of snippets of ideas or what masquerades as thought..
There’s lots of anecdotal evidence to prove my point, research studies, and even a Presidential candidacy or two serving as snapshots of how no one wants any new information, especially if it’s based upon science or math. That’s the equivalent of photobombing a make-believe pose. We want things to be the way we want them to be.
My own recent case study came in the form of a thoughtful blog post published in the Napa Valley Register as an Op-Ed piece on Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. My article was entitled, “Obama’s Last SOTU (State of the Union) is Too, Too Soft.” I wrote the piece to express my disappointment with Obama’s lack of fire in his last fireside chat.
Within days of publication, 26 responses rained on the Napa Valley Register, each grinding out its own tune, clapping it own hands. What was written may have well been part of a separate Instagram account. Here’s a small sampling::
From “Rocketman;”
…….
“What Obama has figured out is that it takes more to be a President than having a background as a community organizer. His failures were guaranteed by his lack of experience and leadership abilities. Great speaking skills with no substance a president does not make.”
“Rocketman” got raked over by someone named “Grady.”:
“Everything he did was done with the ‘publicans resistance. They vowed to make him a one term president and obstruct everything he tried to do – they failed.”
Alucawanza agreed with Grady:
“That’s right 1Grady1. They failed. Now they want Trump! Heaven help us…’
An Instagrapher using the name “Ms. Demo” rushed to Obama’s defense:
“I think he has done a wonderful job and if the Republicans had worked with him instead of against every thing it would have been even more successful. If you support Trump, Cruz or Rubio then i feel sorry for you”
Time for the Founding Fathers to flit in, under the name “Madison Jay Hamilton,”advancing their own Instanalysis:
“Authoritarian corporatists of either party will be unpopular in 2016. BTW, I recommend readers see “The Big Short” at a local theater to view a film depicting some recent economic history. (It’s a provocative film.”
After a Trump trumpeter tooted the Donald’s horn, “Rootin Tootin Putin” put him in his place:
“That’s why they have elections, you get to vote for Donald Trump, and the rest of the nation gets to vote for a reasonable presidential candidate.”
An Obama-backer rattled off a list of 14 accomplishments of the Administration taken right from the White House website. Finally, she injected her Instagraph: “Oh, yeah, and Osama bin Laden is dead.”
Then, sounding like Sarah Palin blaming Obama for her son’s domestic violence & gun possession crimes, “Tripnote” tripped on his own InstaNoise:
“if democrats didn’t block Bush, think of all the things he could have accomplished.” Just think.
It was left to “Cross Country Kid,” to take aim at Obama’s brain and the nature of the game:
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” the Kid clicked “that if, after a cerebral snoozer like Obama, the voters overreact and put Trump into office. I’ve long thought politics is one of the better spectator sports. With Trump as president, every day would be like the Super Bowl. Let the games begin.”
I’m sure the people of Flint, Michigan, just can’t wait.
But it was Ms.Demo who had the last snippet:
” I am certain that President Obama will go down as one of the greatest presidents this country has had. You will have even more to be sorry for if Trump and his new girlfriend are elected.”
So, apparently, will Trump’s wife.