[Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's

[catherine at welchbox.com]

Thank you, John, for such a thought provoking reflection (which prompted more and more thought provoking reflection from others).

I think there was an emerging generation song that was was out to capture some of Kierkegaard’s wisdom at an elementary level.  I can’t offer the tune, but the words as I recall were:

Oh I don’t want to be myself
Oh I don’t want to be myself
But that’s not my problem, my problem is relating
To the self that doesn’t want to be itself.

Oh I don’t want my situation
Oh I don’t want my situation
But that’s not my problem, my problem is relating
To the self that doesn’t want its situation. 


This little song still comes back to me from time to time and occasions a more useful reflection on my circumstances.

Catherine Welch
From: John Epps via OE 
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 3:36 PM
To: Order Ecumenical Community 
Cc: John Epps 
Subject: [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's

The Spirit of the 20’s
John Epps, August 2019

The categories for determining the spirit of a decade supposedly come from Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an Internal Crisis which raises an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I’ve used them in trying to assess the situation since the 60’s. Here we go again:

The Prevailing Spirit:
Our External Situation is best characterized as one of THREAT. Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away from fossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil and talk of recession is in the air. Politically, we have cut off alliances and find Russia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear capabilities. USA Congress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged with increased numbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear commonplace. And encompassing all this chaos is the Earth’s environment which appears to be undergoing dangerous changes due to global warming.

All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of FEAR. We increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race, gender identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems a threat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak, and we’re increasingly in a black or white situation: agree or fight. 

The Existential Question in this situation is HOW CAN WE SURVIVE? With the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, what can we do? Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective, remains local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to address larger issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties with Iran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in providing remedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite agreement from both parties, cannot move through Congress. 

We Escape through BLAMESTORMING; we look for scapegoats for each issue, then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is the only suitable relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, “Moscow Mitch,” Trump, Kim, Putin, Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others. Extreme hostility takes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band “us” against “them” or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating “them.” 

Towards an Authentic Response:
This is where we meet the question of God today: wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our existence. 

Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makes a difference, should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time, the mass changes needed can come from local people. 

The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will not survive. The future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however, have a hand in inventing it.

Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome. 



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