The Power of Spoken Words

Mark Twain once wrote, "Always do the right. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest."

"Shadow Over Boston"

One advantage I have, and there are not too many left in my octogenarian years, is that I get to watch our political leaders deliver their wisdom in toto and not just a quip in the news at the end of a working day. I have time to absorb the whole enchilada and not just a reporters interpretation. Their speeches run the gamut of downright horrible, to those that bring hope and  moisture to my aging dry eyes. There are speakers who seem to be talking to their neck ties, while protecting their manhood with their clasped hands! Then there are those whose brilliance can lift you out of your chair, or, in the case of Boston this past week, right out of your pew!  President Obama delivered two astonishing talks recently. The first one on Gun Control Legislation delivered in the Rose Garden of the White House Wednesday evening, and the other, the next day at the memorial service for victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Many of us, and I include myself, have just about lost faith and interest in politicians. But I now know there is at least one who, in spite of everything, seems to have remained honest and trustworthy. He not only knows how to deliver interesting and beautifully worded material, but to deliver those thoughts in a humane and sensitive manner.

If ever there was a time when our leaders should try to speak the truth, now is that time in history.

There are many kinds of democracy, but the two most familiar to us are Representative Democracy (Parliament for example) where we choose someone to represent our interests, and Direct Democracy (a club setting for example) where we vote ourselves.

  Unfortunately, so many of our elected officials seem to have their own best interests at heart, and that means 'hang on to their seat - cushy job! - at all costs'. This appeared to be the situation in the U.S. Congress and Senate on the gun control issue. Even though 90% of Americans approved the proposed bill! We used to call those people 'political hacks' - they belong to the small clique that controls them, not to the people who elected them! Then there are those who seem to think their God has bestowed upon them, and only them, the wisdom and power to rule. Thus, not only do they act smug and all knowing, but in a cliquish fashion, putting their future ahead of the  well-being of their country. Of course, they would be the first to deny such an ugly  accusation! But then they are the first, with their cute little smug smiles,  to sling "mud" (attack ads) at those they deem inferior to them. As George Orwell once wrote: (Shooting an Elephant)

"He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it."

But as individuals do we not sometimes do similar things! In my early working career I can vaguely remember being afraid to express my view in a meeting for fear I would be ostracized by my peers or worse, even loose my job! Not being able to express myself adequately in public left me speechless and cowardly. Of course, as my career was coming to an end by dint of old age, I lost all of my inhibitions and clearly spoke my mind!

Of course we have to look after #1! But when looking after 'number one' means being unable to consider others, to negotiate, to respect the many we depend on - even if we don't admit it - is to manifest in some small way the behaviour of those two young men in Boston.

Well.....

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week