Dear Editor,
The making of Gods, from wo/man
Today—now, more than ever —with the political and technological distractions, the shifting truths on an earth within an incomprehensible universe, and a world with no inherent meaning except maybe the adulation of a money-tied system that devalues humans and praises money, we seek to make meaning of our lives.
We try various ways to escape our existence and our angsts, to find some type of significance, to deal with that thing or accident we call life. Within the freedoms and flexibility we possess, this responsibility to shape one’s life carries the burden of our anxieties.
Of the many manifestations of our existence, one is problematic: that of exalting oneself, of family members, and of other persons in society, especially that of politicians, who wield, for the most part, an inordinate amount of unchecked power, influence, and selfish interest.
No one—no wo/man—should be praised, idolized, adored, adulated, honored, mythologized, or worshiped without their accompanying faults, sins, failings, and vices, except maybe at a funeral, but even that should be tempered.
Yet we constantly use these tactics and methods: auto/biographies, a cornerstone, a plaque, social media stories/posts, the media, speeches, writing histories, naming a building, giving medals, a statue, etc. I am not (totally) against it, but there has to be a rigorous analytical vetting, screening, and culling process, a deeper evaluation, and a more critical, ethical standard, not just a semi-passive acceptance, with the acceptance of a sort of existential dichotomy of engaging in this selective exercise with an unabashed critique. This duality of our nature is simply part of our being; it cannot be excoriated and expunged. We are human. This is who we are, paradoxical as it may be.
This is similar to how propaganda and ideology work: a deliberate operation that communicates through various means, ideas, messages, and images meant to influence y/our opinions, views, social, cultural, and political behaviors.
This purposeful idolizing actually does more harm than good through a variety of means—blindly following, fixed thinking, fear-mongering, group and bandwagon views, legitimized dogmas, uncritical ideology, excessive admiration or devotion, admirable obedience, devoid of critical thinking, “Yes” people, moral corruption, loss of personal accountability, exploitation of followers, becoming illogical, too sensitive about objections and disagreements, mass manipulation, vulnerable emotions, lack of accountability and responsibility, etc. —all these effects make many people exposed, vulnerable, and susceptible. Maybe that is the point.
These seemingly harmless but persuasive and persistent methods appeal to y/our emotions, identity, history, fear, family, logic, nationalism, generation, future, morality, and desires in many ways to get you to think, feel, and see what again?
Through the Manufacturing of consent—the ubiquitous, seemingly innocuous and innocent device that influences your perception and behavior to get your support.
How do we make sense, in the end, of all this bombardment of illusive, nonchalant, and tricky tactics on our minds?
To counter, we have to carve out space for our minds to be free, to deal with our angst, to reject the onslaught, and to be like Sisyphus: keep pushing that rock up the hill against the weight bearing down on us, and resist consciously and conscientiously. But can we, or should we, live without such admiration of fallible man? There is some irony in our existence.
Nevertheless, there has to be balance between interest, ideology, and idealism against the common good, common sense, and common decency. Consent mixed with ideology eventually becomes a commodity.
Now, not because we are free- and this idea should be questioned: whether we actually are free—related to choice, influence, desire, and the many factors that act upon us in this world/life—we have to be critical, logical, sensible, and hold agents of change and influence and ideology (in its many guises) accountable and responsible for their duties, obligations, and responsibilities.
Thus, when and where this ubiquitous idolizing presence occurs, we must manufacture countermeasures to build a better, more equal society.
