My last essay may have been my least favorite ever. Because I’m writing so sporadically here on WillSpirit, the readership has dropped sharply. If the site were still attracting people, I would have removed that last post in light of its negativity. A certain loyal reader of this blog cancelled her subscription because of it. Living as I do in the liberal environment of the San Francisco Bay area, it is easy to forget that half the country likes Dick Cheney and George Bush. My point on this blog has always been to foster emotional growth and wisdom, and I’ve had no interest in engaging politics beyond what directly affects people who struggle with psychiatric conditions. By attacking the former vice president in the context of the Gulf oil apocalypse, I broke one of my cardinal rules.
I’m leaving the essay in place as a reminder to myself that mental circuitry can sometimes arise that works against one’s larger purposes. In fact, such independent entities take over all the time. Why else do we say things we don’t mean, or hurt those we love, or sabotage our chances? We each live with the illusion of being a single, coherent human mind, but in reality the ‘self’ is a chaotic collection of influences that compete for control. One advantage of meditation is that it allows one to begin to see how thoughts, moods, and urges skitter across the interior landscape like tumbleweeds in a gusty and shifting wind. In my better moments I can see when a rogue element is taking over, but sometimes a whole hour can be spent writing something that’s supposed to be inspirational and wise, but is in fact just an opportunistic expression of my frustration with the American political system.
Whether a certain man acted in a certain way and promoted a catastrophe or not, the point I was trying to make ended up coming out by example rather than exposition. The exact tendencies that tempt me to judge and criticize are the same mental movements that allow people to act in ways that go against the common good. We are none of us so virtuous and pure in action that we don’t sometimes act with selfish or hostile motives.
>> Share on Facebook>> Tweet
1
markps2 at http://YourWebsite
Having an opinion, an enemy is not a bad thing. You can’t please all the people.
“A man with no enemies is a man with no character.”
— Paul Newman
A man who makes no enemies is never a positive force.
– Simon Cameron
The Man with No Enemies
AN Inoffensive Person walking in a public place was assaulted by a
Stranger with a Club, and severely beaten.
When the Stranger with a Club was brought to trial, the complainant
said to the Judge:
“I do not know why I was assaulted; I have not an enemy in the
world.”
“That,” said the defendant, “is why I struck him.”
“Let the prisoner be discharged,” said the Judge; “a man who has no
enemies has no friends. The courts are not for such.”
Posted at June 9, 2010 on 6:26pm.
2
Will at http://willspirit.com
Mark–
Fair enough. But although human minds and human natures have long been objects of my study, I am ignorant of politics. Why offend someone by speaking about something I know little about? And what good comes from badmouthing a politician anyway? It’s easy to make enemies, and it’s also tragic. I don’t mind doing it when necessary, but this was not one of those times.
–Will
Posted at June 9, 2010 on 8:00pm.
3
Michael at http://YourWebsite
Well, now I’m inspired to humility. Reminds me of a time when I spoke out in public against a local public figure. I wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t speak from wisdom either. Blessings for coming back to your larger purposes.
-Michael
Posted at June 10, 2010 on 9:48pm.
4
Marie at http://mmaaggnnaa.wordpress.com
Hi, Will -
I’m so glad you didn’t remove your essay . . . I found it to be very truthful and full of wisdom. Kudos to you for writing it, posting it and keeping it up.
- Marie (Coming Out of the Trees)
Posted at June 11, 2010 on 9:52am.
5
Will at http://willspirit.com
Thank you, Michael and Marie both, for commenting. It’s interesting to me how differently people feel about the post, but I’m mainly glad that the underlying message seems to be getting through, however clumsily. Best Wishes.
Posted at June 11, 2010 on 11:31am.
6
lostinamaze at http://inamaze.wordpress.com
I know what you are saying here. I am always afraid of offending people on my blog with my opinions of how I see things for myself. I have no illusions that my wisdom or knowledge of issues or even about myself is lacking. But at the same time it is my opinion even if it is only based on what I know. It is a fine line. Life is one big continuous learning curve. But regardless of what I just wrote I do understand what you are saying here.
Posted at June 11, 2010 on 1:46pm.
7
Will at http://willspirit.com
lostinamaze–
A year ago, when I started the blog, my intention was to use it as a platform to try out my ideas and see if they had traction with the public. Now that my naive understanding of blogging has long since matured, I’ve seen the effort as more about me working out than trying out my ideas. In which case it’s vital to hear from regulars and fellow bloggers. So losing a reader who commented so much really mattered to me, more than any political views I hold. But if the subject had been something more central to my belief system, I’d have accepted the loss in stride. It’s a complicated mixture of what’s important to me and what seems essential to say. Plus, I allowed a superior tone into the piece in question that is not consistent with how I want to present myself. Learning curve, indeed.
–Will
Posted at June 12, 2010 on 6:02am.
8
Lili at http://YourWebsite
I’m not sure what loyal reader to you means but if she couldn’t tolerate your honesty then perhaps it’s best she find somewhere else to be. This is YOUR blog and whether you like or dislike what you write at times, the second you doubt yourself and pander to someone else then is it really your blog? You talk about what little you know about in terms of politics. So what? Does this make you “less” capable of speaking your opinion? You would be astonished at how many politicians do know a great deal yet still do unethical things. My concern is you not being “you” for the satisfaction of others.
Do ponder that.
Posted at June 13, 2010 on 5:28pm.
9
Will at http://willspirit.com
Lili–
I guess my concern is that my interest is in mental health, not politics. I’d like to keep my views on emotional wellness on center stage here, and not lose readers as a result of opinions that aren’t unrelated to my larger aims.
–Will
Posted at June 14, 2010 on 5:21pm.