Posted by LDF on October 22, 2008 at 10:00:28:
In Reply to: Introduction posted by Irene Lynch on October 20, 2008 at 15:31:31:
This is my personal response, and I think we will each
bring something different to the fundamental point that Irene addresses: Human Consciousness.
My clumsy attempt: The difficulty of expressing the totality of meanings inherent in any set of values, beliefs, philosophies and the way we seek to embody them in our actions--and then try to put them into some sense of order and meaning in our daily life-- remains an issue we all try to deal with. Even that sentence I've strung together shows the problems. Its not easy, and each of us if we are being as honest and conscious as we possibly can be, struggle with it- internally- but even far more so in our attempt to express it in words to others. It takes time. Patience.
Two attributes that-especially now-seem in precious &
rare.It is difficult & fraught with easy potential for misunderstanding. So Irene's point is well-taken.
I think for each of us, whether we call ourselves Socialists or Buddhists, Liberals or "Independents", Greens, scientists or artists, practical realists or realistic idealists, the limitations of any 'label'
bears the burden of perceptions that are brought to it.
'Buddhists are self-absorbed', 'socialists are economic
determinists'. Both are idealists, dreamers, out-of-touch. I dare say "SOCIALISTS" bear more than most the absolute assumption that "Oh Yeah, I know what YOU believe", and so on, closing off any real listening or openmindedness. So we ALL struggle to be understood.
I believe the best way we can do that is thru dialogue, and so, this Forum, this Website. How to simplify & talk directly with each other about what concerns us, what we care about, what we want to avoid? I think maybe recognizing first that love is probably a fundamental in both these ways of living & seeing the world & humanity. Brotherhood,commonality,
interconnectedness, interdependence and yet self-hood, person-hood, self-fulfillment, independence and choice or will, self-LESSness and loss of boundaries between each of us as we see our human connections and needs. And then recognize for us to 'attain' this 'state' as at least social beings,we must learn to listen, be patient, absorb and yet remain clear on our hopes and vision. How to say all this, and more? Especially since all these 'truths' are almost similtaneous, parallel, if they are fully understood. I think we are all closer in our beliefs than is allowed by the dominant media and institutions-- but too often BY OUR OWN SELVES. Too many assumptions, too much 'flipping off' of anything that smacks of a future that differs from the present & past. Too much cynacism. Sorry, but too much laziness of thought and passion. Sure we're busy, but we give too much of ourselves away,following the dominant cultural assumptions & platitudes. As Andy Warhol said, "The culture is whatever is easy". Ok, we're overworked & overstressed. BUT there's a lot of mind-control that goes on that we too easily accept & internalize that hurts us: dividing us and making us
confused, resentful, afraid, alone and while probably the majority, thoroughly weak and defenseless. More thoughtful attention & real communication still awaits us. Can Socialism then come about before we achieve this state of concern and awareness? Can any'spiritual awakening' or Human Consciousness happen without recognizing our common humanity, weaknesses, power? I can't see how. Imagination requires flexible thinking.
Snapping the window shut on a new paradigm, no matter how untried, locks out a better future, a better world.
Without all these confluences, our 'better angels', our better selves, will remain in conflict. Embracing
the conflict is, I beleve, a better way. Some call it harmonious living, Hegel & Marx may have called it the Dialectic. Christ may have called it 'forgiveness'.
So, is socialism only an economic belief? A religious or spiritual belief? Is it rational or a concoction of hopes? I often say "Its what I believe, its my religion" because it is, afterall, based on my life experience coupled with my aesthetics : a desire for beauty, joy, passion, freedom, dignity for even the most awkward and clumsy. Clearly thought thru, Socialism is like a religion- or set of beliefs based on humanity- that envisions a social and economic framework which accepts all of our humanity, our duality, our frailties, as well as our amazing
strengths. Not based on 'winning & losing' but on balance and mutual well-being.
So are Socialism, Buddhism, Christianity, rationalism, romanticism, pragmatism, idealism...in conflict or in unity? Is it the individual who 'must change', or the society, the system & institutions we create & adjust to? Do we have control over anything we do as people? Which comes first,individual transformation or social? Can one come WITHOUT the other? All we can probably say is, change must come in all of these ways and if our life experience moves us to embrace a new under-
standing that enlarges what we define as "being fully human", then change will come. It can't be forced, but it can't be left 'unattended' and denied. Again,hence this website, hence this Forum.
As in the writings based on Buddha, Christ, Emerson, Thoreau, Lincoln, Vonnegut or Whitman or VanGogh, many of us share a vision- seeing the world as mostly a coming together, not only a pulling apart. And in our most fulfilling times, maybe called Enlightenment, maybe called class consciousness or simply consciousness, maybe called godliness or being good neighbors or good citizens...we can talk to one another, exchange our views and insights.
This to me, if we want to be very basic, is what socialism --or call it what we might--the REAL BELIEF IN REAL DEMOCRACY & HUMAN FREEDOM & DIGNITY which our website calls for...truly means. We can define it for ourselves. Science, art, spirit all come together in this definition, this goal, this vision. And I think speaks to all the things that all the world's great philosophers, belief system's & religions have always, underneath all the 'differences'....also spoken to.
POST SCRIPT :I know we're all busy so I apologize for the length--Short questions often seem to get the longest replies! LDF,an Editor