We are going to do things a little bit out of sequence this week. Let’s start by taking a couple of seconds to look at the photo at the bottom of the page. <1> <2> <3>. Excellent. Now commit this rather tranquil image of the Patio de los Arrayanes from the Alhambra in Granada, Spain to memory. We’ll return to this image later in the blog.
I have been having great difficulty trying to understand how so many people that I like, respect and even love could have chosen to re-elect our president. For someone that I consider a narcissist, pathological liar, cheat, misogynist, and racist, I find it hard to understand that they could have voted to re-elect such a person.
I remember from college taking a class about the origins of the Cold War. If there was ever a period when there were diametrically opposed views, this was one of those times. I believe that it was after reading “The Good War” by Studs Terkel that I gained a new appreciation for people’s perspectives at the time. American foreign policy was based around the perception that the Soviets were trying to overtake the world. Soviet foreign policy was based around the perception that the Americans were trying to overtake the world. The reality is that both nations were trying to create a buffer for themselves from the devastation of yet another world war. Same concern, only 180 degrees apart.
I have come to the understanding that a similar situation has developed in this country. Conservatives are concerned that their rights and way of life are being threatened. Liberals are concerned that that their rights and pathway to a better life is being threatened. The only difference this time is that the enemy is internal.
Let’s now return to this week’s photo. This image is actually rotated 180 degrees. It is a photo of the reflecting pool in front of the Patio de los Arrayanes. The Alhambra sees as many as 8,000 visitors each day. Trying to take a photo devoid of tourists is impossible. The only way that I could properly take an undistracted image of this iconic architecture was to take a photo of the reflection of the building, not the building itself.
Most likely, the only reason that you perceived that this was a proper image of the Alhambra is that I didn’t give you the time to fully let your brain resolve the image and I conditioned you to think that this was a tranquil scene. You were never given the opportunity to analyze the photo without any outside bias.
This may be the most concerning issue of our time. Truth has become perception. Whoever is best at manipulating the image or message, controls the truth. Deciphering the truth from fiction is near impossible. It all looks and sounds so real.
We must use more than just our eyes and ears. We must consider both sides of the issue. Engage our brains. What are people’s motivations? What do they have to gain or lose? This will not be easy as it requires knowledge. There are numerous influences, both inside and outside, that are trying to control our sources of information.
As you can tell by now, I am greatly influenced by the lyrics in music. There are certain words and melodies that are Windex to my blurred consciousness. Let me repeat some words from Sting’s song entitled “Russians” that are very prophetic:
“There is no monopoly on common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too”
Now do me one last favor. Replace “Russians” with “Americans” in the last line of these lyrics. That gives me reason for hope.
