Thread by @mhbx

One of the casualties of Trump(ism) & the last few weeks seems to be the death of the very early hope we might (re)think our understanding and experience of relationships. That there might be some recognition we are all connected & thus take better care. washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05…

What is not mentioned in the article, but is one of the central facts re these folks who are so g/damn "independent" & "want to be free", is when they do get sick they & those they infect will take resources from the system they despised. They may even demand it as their "Right".

And they will be taken care of as best as can be done. And when they die, it will be seen as a tragedy. Some of their "freedom loving" tribe (being sarcastic) might ponder the moment and figure out the dissonance. Probably not many.
Others will continue to blame "Obama", bec

that is what they are told to do, and are being informed is the cause of all their problems.

The world functions around the notion of Opposites. When a system is too far extended in one opposite it begins to swing back to a balance point. Most systems do not stop at the perfect

balance point, but continue into what is called an "over correction". Which causes a turn back...eventually, hopefully, there is enough of a learning to be called wisdom, and keep the swings w/in some moderate range that serves most of the needs/requirements of the system.

In this case, the "system" is society with its multitudes of "opposites" all demanding attention, and in most cases, priority.
(As a side note: A society wo deeply shared axiomatic understandings > values/principles, will not find anything like a "balance". Everything is a war.")

In the case of "I demand my rights to be free, and get a haircut" or go to the beach, or party...anything but acknowledge the intention of the government (of,for, by the people? one of the axioms in quesiton) trying to keep the social order. Even if it is done wrong.
The tension

is between the "Rights" of the individual and the conflict in times of epidemic of the "Rights" (and needs) of the collective (public).

Deep questions need to be asked, and answered.
Questions that are not allowed in times when the external stress & threat is only a thought

experiment. But now Demand an Answer.

Are ones individual rights to be privileged over all other rights, functions of society, and the needs of that society to protect itself, at all times, regardless of the context, regardless of what is "happening"?

That is essentially what

the "barbers" and the gun-toting folks of the world are demanding.

It is wisdom to understand the moment and what principles. are in play in the moment. It is a flat ignorance to claim absolutes regardless of what is going on.
It is demagogic to appeal to a principle that

does not apply, such as individualism, in a time when the society needs to pull together for a common purpose.

The times demand the wisdom of not-knowing, and thus being open to what-may-be-true.

The exchange between Sen.Paul and Fauchi the other day re humility exemplifies

this point. The individualists are prepared to submerge every other consideration to their certainty that they are right. And in that righteousness, deserve to do whatever they want, regardless of the impact on the public.

This is the essence of extremism.

It is the loss of wisdom, the ability to relinquish absolutes, and understand the moment and act accordingly, that is where we have ended up.
We have managed to get so far out of balance that we are now suffering the consequences of being so ill prepared for the times. Now

Now we are going to enter the correction phase. It is going to hurt and be difficult. Already the hopes for thinking thru the times and our systems rationally seems to be fading as the extent powers and holders of the keys are desperate to retain their grip.

We will be transformed. I think the only question now is how, how much, and how much suffering will be part of the transformation.

What we are going to become is the grist of many hopes, but no certainty.
Seems to me we, humanity, will emerge somehow better. If for no other

reason than being humbled by this epidemic, and thus more attuned to reality. Including the deep reality of our common needs. Including all people. All life. Regardless of how the economic system tags them as "essential" or not.

And our relationship to our mother earth.

It is the nature of Changes that when the times have come to extremis, to its maximum, it begins to shift and swing back toward its opposite.

We can only hope we will "swing" willingly, and with enough humility to learn what we need to know to survive the process.

In the longest time frames, I have no doubt.
It is the short term that is troubling and concerning.

I suspect there will be far more suffering than we are prepared. for or even think is possible between now and then.

Depends on how wise we actually are.

Coda:
This from the brilliant and beautiful @brainpicker.

Reminding that we are always in a sea of troubles, but that is no reason, and there is no time, to despair. Do life.
And see what happens.

brainpickings.org/2015/11/30/mar…