The Democratic primaries for the NYC mayoral race took place this week, and it reminded me of an aspect to modern American culture that I am finding increasingly alarming. Remember when it used to be said, “may the best man win?” That’s nonsense now, the current mantra is “may the best spoken” win.
Our modern pipers step up on their stages and bandstands, and boldly play their tunes – generally strident, aggressive songs with bold melodies and an upbeat rhythm. Their hired accompanists stand around them, and dance and clap to the beat; before long a group of sycophants and clingers-on are singing along…often louder and more stridently than the main act. The growing crowds attact bigger crowds, until critical mass is reached…and whoever gets the most people to dance along, wins the election. Lyrics are inconsequential, as long as they resonate properly with the tune. Content is inconsequential, as long as it’s politically correct and contains all the current popular buzzwords and catch phrases.
Even more frightening to me personally, is our tendency towards this kind of intellectual laziness does not limit itself to politics. Heaven forbid we actually truly find out about a candidate, or vote on a wholistic view of issues rather than the current hot topic. Double-forbid we should actually research anything else we hear. We blithely accept what is presented on scientific issues, religion…pretty much everything. All it takes is someone with a clear, confident voice to stand up and start declaiming, and that person will have a following. Get enough followers repeating what they say, and it is generally accepted as The Truth.
In one of the most brilliant twists of irony I have ever seen, some people have awakened just enough to this effect to angrily rise up and shake their fists at “The Media.” It’s their fault for presenting only the fluff and the drama! I have to ask, how about we take some responsibility ourselves? It’s not The Media’s fault that we only tune in to what we want to hear, rather than what we need to hear. They are making their living off of it, they really have no choice but to cater to our choices. And we get what we ask for. Just like we get the politicians we deserve.
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