I try to keep my blog posts positive—in an effort to maintain my own grattitude and positivity—however, sometimes I just need to vent frustration. This is such a time.
Over the last several weeks—now approaching months—we have been facing a challenging pandemic and strain on our health care and educational systems, as well as on commerce. We have been asked to “Stay home. Save lives.” Above all, we have been fed a steady stream of ever-changing or impending policy changes that frequently left us confused and fearful. The reality is: we weren’t prepared at any level of leadership. So, decisions were (are being made) on the fly (at least seemingly so). Some decisions were good. Others seemed quite arbitrary. Most seemed to demonstrate a mere lack of common sense.
It is not only the politicians who suffer from the real pandemic (what I refer to as “cranial-rectal inversion”). It would seem that a majority, rather than minority, of the population lack simple common sense. Perhaps, this perception is biased by a media who tend to sensationalize and seek more to entertain than to inform. It is certainly biased by social media memes that prefer to share the extremes of stupid and information that suits the preferred narrative. Nevertheless, it would appear that common sense has been lost to the modern world. Common sense seems to be increasingly uncommon.
The Oxford Dictionary defines common sense as “good sense and sound judgement in practical matters.” Sounds simple. So, why do we so rarely use it? Why do we ignore it when making decisions that affect others. I would argue that it is not because we are Intellectually incapable (though I have seen a whole lot of “stupid” lately). I would argue that it is a Spiritual deficiency. We have lost our sense of others. We have become increasingly divided in our views—to the point of being blinded to the points of views of others. We are increasingly self-centered rather than other-centered. We make decisions based upon the labels we identify ourselves and others with rather than what is best for all. Hence, we have lost the “common” in common sense.
Many years ago, as an undergraduate student at West Virginia University, I took a Geography course as on of my General Education requirements that continues to influence my thinking to this day. (It is one reason why I am such a proponent of liberal education.) In the course, among other inspiring assignments, we were asked to read The Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin (1968). I still have the paper I wrote in response to reading the classic article. While the Hardin’s focus was on population and limited resources, I have found the paper applicable any time the discussion pertains to shared resources and the application of self-interest. It enlightens my desire to be other-centered. It reminds me that every decision I make—great and small—has an impact on the lives of countless others. It is why I have a libertarian leaning, politically, and a strong sense of social responsibility. It is why I make the decisions to eat right and exercise. It is why I get upset when food spoils or is wasted in our household. It is why I drive a small car and pay careful attention to my gas mileage. It is why I can easily call out my own hypocrisy and appear overly critical and cynical. At the same time, it gives me hope. I trust our intellectual and technical capacity to solve most of the world’s problems. This trust, however, is frustrated by the recognition that common sense is increasingly uncommon.
I made a comment on Facebook the other day (it was in response to a WHO suggestion that governments restrict alcohol during the coronavirus pandemic—it could have just as easily been in response to comments made about closing tennis courts or scientists finally recognizing the role of exercise, or the lack thereof, in the disease) to which my friend, Sam, responded: “Again Jeff why are you trying to apply logic and common sense to the world?!?” It was a sad reminder that we have almost given up on the expectation that our leadership will display common sense. Has common sense really become so uncommon? I would argue, yes. I leave it to all of society to prove otherwise to me.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!