Somebody asked if people felt they were an Idealist
according to the following definition.
"Working with others, in a spirit of generosity and
mutual respect, I want to help build a world where all people can lead free and
dignified lives."
Here’s my response: Since everybody is falling gently into
line, let me be the Devil’s Advocate. No. No. And hell No!
Working with others – Okay, admit it. How many of you people
out there want to go to work today? I’ve been waiting for 40 years for people
to step up and take steady, productive action. It is a rare thing when people
actually work together on something, and usually it’s short-lived as people
become bored and lose the initial momentum. Yet it does happen occasionally and
then great things happen.
The huge drawback to this portion of the definition
is that it implies waiting on others. Fuck that. I’m taking action and others
can show up when they’re ready, and just for as long as they want. I have no
expectations, and I am not going to wait on anybody.
In a spirit of generosity and mutual respect – I think that’s
idealistic in the dreamy sense of the word. Everybody is going to be nice to
one another, and when we disagree, we’re all going to kowtow to the one who
talks loudest and longest. We may as well call ourselves the Dreamy Teamy,
sweet cream and peaches. Naw, let’s have some arguments, making an important
point (thesis), and counterpoints (antitheses), and then synthesize (synthesis)
those into a greater solution. THEN, if you feel it (Do a gut check here), jump
on board and help make it happen.
Help – Screw that. I’m not helping. I’m doing it. If you’re
not doing it already, then watch and follow my example.
Build a world – What is this world thing that people are
always talking about? The world is doing fine just as it is. We can destroy all
life on earth, and the world will continue doing just fine. Perhaps you mean a
system or a “way of doing things.”
All people – Not everybody wants to work with others, be
generous and have mutual respect, and lead free and dignified lives. A huge
percentage of people want a powerful leader who will tell them what they want
to hear and let them be mean and fight their illusionary enemies that seem to
pop up anywhere the haters happen to be. So, not all people … some people.
Those individuals who know themselves and declare an ideal that they are
actively, here and now, working on bringing to reality.
Free and dignified – Okay, I’ll give you this one just out
of generosity and mutual respect.
How would I define an Idealist? A group of mutually
supportive individualists, each having a system or “way of doing things” that demonstrably
leads to a better life for themselves and those in their circle of influence.
Individualists – People who know who they are. If you don’t
have a good idea who you are, what you are about or why you’re motivated to do
it, then go join a herd that is under the guidance of somebody who does know
who they are, and with whom you can agree and support while you’re finding
yourself.
System – A way of doing things that others can learn and
practice, and then produce the same great results.
Demonstrably – Show examples where the system actually
worked to produce a better life for somebody. There is science out there that
tells us key elements of a system, and there are communities out there that
have demonstrated success for large groups of people for decades. Study and do.
(Take action.)
Enough ranting. (That’s like saying “enough fun!” LOL)
