Tag Archives: #civilization

A Future with Hope

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For more than two hundred years the United States has stood before the world as a beacon of hope, as a source of creative energy and as an evolving expression of political freedom, social diversity, and economic vitality.  People everywhere have been attracted to the vision it represents.  Yet, the extraordinary challenges confronting the American people today mark a turning point and a defining test of America’s place in history. 

Few have expected what we are seeing now.  Values, assumptions, expectations have all been disrupted.  Even so, America remains blessed with a constitutional order that respects the individual, seeks to protect both minorities and majorities, and makes room for diversity, innovation and creativity.

The genius of the United States Constitution lies in a simplicity that imposes minimal restraint and allows maximum freedom—all the while requiring moral responsibility and functional cooperation.

The unique character of the Constitution reflects the recognition of the Founders that “the pursuit of happiness” depends on the active pursuit of basic virtues: Truthfulness, trustworthiness, fairmindedness, forbearance, and a prudence that respects the interdependence of all the virtues. 

The Founders spoke of this numerous times.  It is written into the fabric of the American experiment. 

They did their part.  Our responsibility confronts us now.

We are living at a pivotal moment.  We face unsettling questions and a multitude of crises.  Will civil order be torn apart by distrust, resentment, and frustration?

Will the nation survive as the constitutional republic envisioned by the Founders?  Do we have the fortitude and grit to learn the lessons that can lead to a genuine American renewal?

What has happened to us?  Why do we feel so isolated, and so vulnerable to dysfunctional governance?

The dominance of corporate mass society has led to the destruction of coherent communities across the United States.  This has had a major impact on our personal lives, on civil order, on social stability and resilience.

Americans have been set adrift from the traditional source of identity and support once provided by cohesive local communities.  Few of us understand what we have lost.

The American Conservative Movement, founded soon after 1950, understood that “the quest for community” represents a fundamental human need.  Local communities have served as the foundation of civilization for thousands of years.

This inheritance has been lost, and with it the foundations of stability and well-being.

Without authentic community and the diverse institutions of civil society that community would support, Americans are vulnerable to the dominance of monied interests and centralized government.

Healthy communities do more than support safety and stability.  They provide the means for resolving problems and meeting shared needs.  They offer alternatives to dependency on government.

In stressful times reciprocity and collaboration become ever more important.

Local neighborhoods, communities, and networks of communities organized with constructive purpose, will ensure that the American identity is held in trust through the hard times ahead. 

Community will not protect us from uncertainty.  What it can do, and will do if we are determined, is open the door to the potential we already possess—dependable neighbors, mutual assistance, practical security, and home-grown economic renewal on a regional scale. 

In my new book, I offer practical guidance for making community work.  You are invited to consider a future we can all respect and believe in.

It will not be easy.  Responsibility never is.  With loyalty, discipline, and determination I submit to you that something far better, far nobler, something perhaps beyond our present ability to imagine, will emerge from the present turmoil.

The book is “Liberty and the American Idea: Rebuilding the Foundations,” by Tom Harriman.  It is available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book sellers.

May you find harmony, strength, and generosity of spirit in this holiday season!

Tom

Please watch for the next post on or about January 2. 

The Two Faces of Freedom

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Americans are a freedom-loving people.  But we do not often think about what this means.  Freedom means different things to different people.  At this extraordinary moment in our nation’s history, it might be wise to consider what we understand it to mean.

Two distinct views of freedom have emerged during the past two centuries. 

One is simply the idea that we should be free to do or to be what we are able to do or to be without human interference.  The second is the idea of having full control over our own initiative and purpose as self-directed individuals.

These two concepts seem quite similar at first glance, but they differ substantially in their implications.

The first involves the absence of coercion—the wish simply to be left alone.  It asks that we be assured of a minimum area of personal freedom in such manner that our humanity is not denied or degraded.

Recognizing the potential for personal freedom to impact negatively on the freedom of others, this view seeks freedom for the many.  It asks only that we be guaranteed a reasonable measure of completely free space around ourselves.

Perhaps we would also agree that, at the very least, the liberty of religion, opinion, expression, and property need to be protected from arbitrary interference.

The second concept is quite different.  This view insists on unrestricted self-assertion and absolute control of one’s own life regardless of the consequences this imposes on others.

Deriving from the will to control one’s own life and destiny, the second concept has significant consequences for society.

Clearly those seeking such liberty perceive themselves as responsible persons possessed of good judgment and perhaps exceptional wisdom, who are able to make choices based solely on their own ideas and purposes.

However, given the natural human resistance to rational and moral limits, this attitude can easily disrupt the equilibrium in communities, or in society as a whole.

These two concepts of freedom have come into serious conflict with one another over the course of the last two centuries.

An insistence that we should be free to do as we wish cannot be exercised in isolation. It readily evolves into a belief that we may have the right to influence or control the lives of other people.

It is convenient to assume that we know best, and some people think they know the true interests of other people better than those people do themselves.

This view gained traction during the 19th century, hitching a ride with the powerful Enlightenment belief that all of reality must ultimately be harmonious, and that science and reason would give humankind knowledge of a single unified truth.

It followed, therefore, that fully rational thinkers would never disagree and that conflicting values or truths were ultimately impossible.

Consequently, a number of well-known thinkers became convinced that if reason and rationality demand that our values must coincide in a free and “just” society, they must be made to coincide by any means necessary.

The historian of ideas, Isaiah Berlin has written about this concern in his famous essay, “Two Concepts of Liberty.”  He reports that Enlightenment philosophers became convinced that the better educated members of society had a right and responsibility to create and maintain a “free” society.

They believed we should do for citizens what they would do for themselves if they possessed the rationality and competence to understand their own best interest.

Thus, political philosophy rationalized the idea that it can be valid to restrain people in their own interest.

In this extraordinary view, writes Isaiah Berlin, “freedom is not freedom to do what is irrational, or stupid, or wrong.  To force empirical selves into the right pattern is no tyranny, but liberation.”

“Liberty,” he continues, “so far from being incompatible with authority, becomes virtually identical with it.”

Needless to say, this problem raises substantial concerns about our understanding of justice, morality, and governance.

Can it ever be justified or appropriate to place pressure on citizens for being, in our view, “irrational?” 

It was not long before this idealistic absurdity led to the nightmares of totalitarian despotism and total war in the 20th century. 

Tom

Regular readers can look for the next post on or about October 1. My forthcoming book is “Liberty and the American Idea,” subtitled “Rebuilding the Foundations.”  It is now in the hands of my publisher and will be available at Amazon and other booksellers very soon.  Sample chapters can be found at the top of the homepage.

What is Authentic Community?

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Communities have taken many forms. The internet supports numerous “communities” that flourish in parallel universes. Many are dispersed across wide areas and around the world. They include interest groups, professional organizations, religious congregations, and sports enthusiasts. Such associations provide meaningful and engaged interaction.

However, they exist with little or no awareness of the dynamic relationships and complexity of the localities in which people live. They are not concerned with safety or survival in hard times.

The concept of community we are talking about here is quite different. It is geographically local, but also ancient and universal. Only authentic community supports neighborhood safety, social and economic stability, and local institutions. It is by nature inclusive; no one is excluded.

The challenges confronting us today—civil disorder, social degradation, and widespread distrust—call for the creation of functional local communities capable of problem-solving and addressing shared-needs.

We cannot survive, much less build a society we can respect and believe in, unless we can depend on our neighbors. Collaboration is needed—not political agreement. The future will depend on our readiness to rise above our differences to the extent necessary for safety and self-preservation.

If we are not engaged with our neighbors, we can start now. We need to approach them in a warm and friendly manner. Bake some cookies or a pie. Invite problem-solving. Be forgiving. Avoid partisan comments.

When we encounter suspicion and distrust, we can be patient and understanding. We are capable of being respectful and supportive. Increasingly, civil order will require courage, collaboration, and grace.

Local communities have long been the basic unit comprising human societies—the dynamic structure in which justice, social order, and personal identity are grounded. It is here that young people learn values, find equilibrium, and gain a sense of belonging.

Everyone needs a sense of belonging grounded in place

Authentic communities invite active participation. We need to feel at home, and have the safety to be ourselves. So it is that community, when endowed with the full engagement of its’ citizens, becomes the substructure for freedom and the foundation for security. No other institution is capable of serving this purpose.

Only in genuinely functional local communities will it be possible to respond personally and effectively to the challenges of the present hour. We can and must learn how to encourage dependability and sustain trust among people who differ from us—politically, socially, religiously. Our neighbors come from every kind of experience and background.

Such learning requires patience and understanding, and the will to seek a future we can respect and believe in. We are capable of this.

None of the challenges now confronting us can be met with wishful thinking.

We are embarking on a long journey, a learning process, and for many, a new and meaningful creative endeavor. We will succeed with open and inquisitive minds, and the courage to learn by doing.

Tom

Regular readers can look for the next post on or about June 1.

My forthcoming book, “Liberty and the American Idea,” is with my publisher. It will be available very soon. The Introduction, an annotated table of contents, and several chapters are linked at the top of the homepage.

American Destiny and the Human Heart

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Americans have an extraordinary history and a rich but conflicted heritage. The creation of the United States brought a new political model to the world and a vision for the pursuit of justice and prosperity. This is an honor that we can take pride in.

While a record of missteps, tragedies, and popular misperceptions has plagued the country, we are called today to build a future that is free, just, and constructive.

This imposing task is made all the more challenging by the looming threat of numerous crises, in addition to the social costs of the past.

We could continue forever to relitigate the details of a painfully human history. But, in truth, we can only move forward by living our best intentions, honestly and frugally, into a better future.

Currently, a multitude of interacting crises are converging on the United States and on the planet—material, social, moral. The immense number and diversity of threats is unparalleled. Few Americans fail to recognize the challenge this represents.

Something extraordinary is happening. Our experience of normalcy has evaporated. Our lives are disrupted and the end is nowhere in sight.

It is natural to look for someone to blame, but this is hardly constructive. The most significant mistakes now plaguing us were made over a long period of time.

In addition, today’s world faces dramatic structural change—the inevitable outcome of material development and growth. Many of the new realities are quite substantial: digital connectivity, invasive technology, automation, surging population growth, and the rapid loss of farmland—to name just a few.

This is no one’s fault.

Our circumstances are disorienting and anxiety-provoking. That a faltering social order and growing tensions have generated conflict and political divisiveness is not surprising.

Never have Americans encountered a more pressing need to turn to our traditional strengths: To build strong local communities and to re-engage the fundamental basis for civilized order intended by the Founders.

Our greatest challenges fall generally into two categories, which will interact with devastating effect. One is material or structural in nature, while the other is social, mental, and ethical in its influence and consequences.

The second of these, while personally significant also impacts our ability to respond effectively to everything else.

Anxiety and stress are very personal. When they dominate our lives, it becomes difficult to see clearly, to solve problems, and to understand people. Uneasiness, aggravation, and impatience prevail.

Nothing is more subversive than distrust, nothing more destabilizing than dishonesty, nothing more destructive than fear.

Where guns are easily accessible, murder and suicide are destroying families and devastating communities.

What is to be done?

My forthcoming book does not dwell on the details of oncoming crises. I am focused instead of local solutions and the enduring strength of sustainable communities.

We need each other, but we are divided and alienated.

Our humanity was made for unity and compassion. The material world was made for our comfort and prosperity. Yet we are weighed down by fear, shattered by violence, and threatened by despotism.

Our immediate responsibility lies with our families and in our local communities. These are the foundations for identity and security. Here trustworthiness and dependability matter most

Like a family, communities are built slowly, with care, and sometimes where none previously existed. A dependable community can begin with just a few neighbors, but it must begin.

Each of us can form a nucleus of safety and sanity around our kitchen table. Each can serve the future with constructive purpose.

If we are to take control of our destiny we must engage our hearts, cleansing ourselves of resentments, of hatefulness, and every hint of darkness.

It is in our heart that we recognize justice. Here is the source of courage and generosity.

Turning outwardly with heart-felt intent we can be firm in our resolve, constructive rather than fearful, and ever mindful of forbearance and self-control.

Rising above the evils we encounter we can realize the goodness we were made for. We are all capable of bringing light into darkness.

Tom

Regular readers can watch for the next post on or about February 1.

The forthcoming book, “Liberty and the American Idea,” will be published early in the coming year. The Introduction, Table of Contents, and several chapters can be found at the top of the homepage.

Alienation and Authority

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The degradation of social order we are experiencing today did not come out of nowhere. Growing alienation and distrust have been apparent for decades. This is not mysterious. But understanding it has become essential.

In his book, “The Great Degeneration,” economic historian Niall Ferguson discusses what has come to pass. He considers four areas in which the degeneration of values and social stability in the United States has had devastating consequences.

Paraphrasing him with my own words, these are: 1) the role of responsibility in the stability of social order, 2) the disintegration of the market economy, 3) the fundamental role of the rule of law, and 4) the essential qualities of a vibrant civil society.

Looking back, Dr. Ferguson reminds us of the vigorous civil and cultural life of 19th century America:

“I want to ask,” he writes, “how far it is possible for a truly free nation to flourish in the absence of the kind of vibrant civil society we used to take for granted? I want to suggest that the opposite of civil society is uncivil society, where even the problem of anti-social behavior becomes a problem for the state.”

Regular readers of this blog are well aware of the destruction of functional local communities over the course of American history. What happened? Why is authentic community so important to civilized life?

This question was addressed directly by Robert Nisbet in the early days of the American Conservative Movement. His influential book, “The Quest for Community,” provides a clear explanation for the social deterioration underlying our present condition.

Robert Nisbet states: “I believe, then, that community is the essential context within which modern alienation has to be considered.

“Here I have reference not so much to a state of mind—although that is inevitably involved—as I do to the more concrete matters of the individual’s relation to social function and social authority. These are… the two supports upon which alone community, in any reasonably precise sense, can exist and influence its members….

“By authority, I do not mean power. Power, I conceive as something external and based on force. Authority, on the other hand, is rooted in the statuses, functions, and allegiances which are the components of any association.

“Authority is indeed indistinguishable from organization, and perhaps the chief means by which… a sense of organization becomes a part of human personality…. Unlike power, it is based ultimately upon the consent of those under it; that is, it is conditional.

“Power arises only when authority breaks down.”

Loss of a self-generating social authority, which brings order, identity, and justice to our lives—is, according to Nisbet, the ultimate challenge confronting Americans. This is the necessity we must recover if we are ever to reach a civilized future.

If we allow the coherence and consciousness of civilized order to be replaced by autocratic top-down domination, we will have lost our liberty, our integrity, our self-sufficiency—leading to a long and difficult road ahead.

Constructive change made possible by the decision-making structure of the United States Constitution will be impossible without it.

Reflecting on the 20th century, and the legacy of two world wars and mass murder on a monumental scale, political philosopher Dr. Hannah Arendt drives home the hard truth of a shattered heritage–

“We can no longer afford to take that which was good in the past and simply call it our heritage, to discard the bad and simply think of it as a dead load which by itself time will bury in oblivion. The subterranean stream of Western history has finally come to the surface and usurped the dignity of our tradition.

“This is the reality in which we live. And this is why all efforts to escape from the grimness of the present into nostalgia for a still intact past, or into the anticipated oblivion of a better future, are vain.”

Listen, my friends: The only future for a free people must be secured with genuine values: Truthfulness, responsibility, steadfast patience—and the necessity for trust.

Each of you is capable of forming a nucleus of safety and sanity with your neighbors.

Don’t argue! And don’t wait!

Tom

Regular readers can watch for the next post on or about January 2.

The forthcoming book is “Liberty and the American Idea.” The Introduction, as well as an annotated Table of Contents and several chapters are linked at the top of the homepage.

Foundations of Trust

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The deterioration of civility and social order in the United States has brought with it estrangement, disaffection, and distrust. This unhappy affliction has been growing for decades. First focused primarily on government, distrust has gradually come to involve almost anything perceived as related to government.

Very little is trusted now. In the eyes of many Americans, educators, scientists, medical doctors, news media, and even the Constitution itself have all fallen from grace. Distrust has permeated society, causing anxiety and confusion, undermining our sense of security, and troubling personal relationships.

This is not simply a symptom; it lies at the heart of our difficulties. Trust is essential to the integrity and well-being of a society. It depends on justice and truthfulness, not political opinion.

Without trust no family or community or nation can long subsist. Truthfulness and trustworthiness are necessary foundations for order—in every aspect of our lives.

The loss of this security has brought the future of our country into question. Has the degradation progressed beyond repair? What can be done to bring healing—a return to genuine order and personal safety?

Americans face a multi-layered challenge. While trust must be won, it is very easily lost. Building trust takes time and lived experience. Loss of trust can happen in a moment.

Distrust in government is complicated by history, politics, and personal disappointments. Perceptions come to us with experience, and sometimes from pain. The challenge before us is imposing.

To overcome such overwhelming disaffection and estrangement it will be necessary to re-establish trustworthiness as the foundation for the character and prosperity of American society.

Real trust comes to life most readily in active interpersonal relationships. Real trust depends on meaningful interpersonal dialogue.

Consequently, it will be in local communities where the healing of distrust can realistically begin, and where it is most needed. When we face hard times, we need dependable neighbors. This is where trustworthiness truly matters when the going gets tough.

Americans are not accustomed to addressing this need. As important as it is for our safety and well-being, few of us seem to have the vision and courage to build supportive relationships.

When we engage in genuine personal relationships, we gradually bring trust to life in ever-widening circles. Trustworthiness becomes real as we experience dependability. We want it because we need it. But there are no shortcuts.

Building a stable, prosperous society will take as long as intelligent and determined people need to make it so. An inquisitive interest in understanding, and a willingness to be the first to listen, makes many things possible. Restraining ourselves from fractious debate when it will not be helpful, takes responsibility and discipline.

With respectful listening, we can make clear that we have heard the feelings, recognized the pain, and tried to understand. And this can happen best while we are working together to address neighborhood improvements and shared needs.

The mystery of differences and diversity does not need to be threatening. The greatest tests on this rocky road are those that call for grace, constancy, and generosity of spirit.

No one is asking us to change our views and our values. Instead, we are called to seek dignity for others as well as ourselves.

This is indeed honorable. But we are also called to something even greater. The integrity manifested in dependability soon spreads to influence the character of the wider world.

Strangely enough, it is actually just one thing—trustworthiness—upon which the integrity of nations, cultures, and societies depend.

Nothing in business or politics will matter until we get this right. And it can only be made right by each of us, made real in ourselves.

Trustworthiness is the supreme instrument for the safety and prosperity of the world.

Tom.

Regular readers can watch for the next post on or about December 1.

The forthcoming book is being prepared for publication. The Introduction and an annotated Table of Contents can be found at the top of the homepage.

Will Tomorrow Be Like Yesterday?

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A multitude of interacting crises are converging on America and the planet in the 21st century—material, social, moral.  The extraordinary number and diversity of threats is unparalleled.  Something extraordinary is taking place.  Our experience of normalcy is evaporating.

It is natural to look for someone to blame, but this is not useful.  The most significant mistakes now plaguing us were made over the course of many decades.  And massive structural change is now impacting our lives, which is inevitable and no one’s fault.

Interrelated global dynamics—economic, political, agricultural—are all subject to a fragile fiat monetary system and supply chain, to the rapid and uncontrolled emergence of advanced technologies, and to the massive displacement of desperate populations.

This is structural change: Incoherent, ungovernable, disruptive.

Our most imposing challenges fall into two distinct categories, which will interact with devastating effect.  These two can be clearly distinguished, one from the other.  One is material in nature, while the other is social, mental, and ethical in its influence and consequences.  The second of these, while profoundly significant for us personally, also impacts our ability to respond effectively to everything else. 

When anxiety and stress are dominant, it becomes difficult to see clearly, to solve problems, to listen well and understand others.  Uneasiness and confusion prevail. Nothing is more subversive than distrust, nothing more destabilizing than dishonesty, nothing more destructive than fear.

Our current view of the future is disoriented and anxiety-provoking.   That a faltering social order and growing tensions have generated conflict and political divisiveness is not surprising.

Yet these extraordinary challenges present us with an equally extraordinary window of opportunity.  Yes, an opportunity.  Here lies both the problem and promise presently at hand. Never have Americans encountered a more powerful stimulus to rethink and re-negotiate a future we can accept and depend upon.

How, you ask, can such dialog be possible when no one is willing to listen or to talk rationally?

There is no quick fix.  There is, however, a practical response which will require courage and foresight, and can be initiated promptly.

We might resist personal effort or actual engagement with other people, but I don’t think we have a choice. The way forward will be determined by practical necessity.  Reality will impose itself.  The need for dependable neighbors is rapidly approaching.  And this is where authentic dialog begins.

Safety and security will soon require functional communities and neighbors we can depend on regardless of religion or politics or the color of our skin.

No political hero can do this for us.  We need to stand on our own feet.

And we can begin today—to gather those among our friends and neighbors who are ready to start thinking and planning together, assessing shared needs and acting constructively. You will need only a few to form a nucleus of dependability.  Others will be attracted gradually to the presence of sanity and civility.

Let me be clear:  We must do this in place, where we already are and with the neighbors we already have.  If we relocate out of fear, attracted by the mirage of like-minded partisans, we will sow the seeds of doom for the future of America.

There is a natural human tendency to think with our imaginations, rather than to investigate rationally.  But the bottom line this: In local communities, security depends on a diversity of experience, perspective, and learned skills.  And this is made possible with courage, authentic dialog, and a generosity of spirit.

It is time to act.  In today’s world it is not wise to think every day will be like the last.

Tom

Regular readers can watch for the next post on or about November 1. My forthcoming book is being prepared for publication.  I hope to see it available early in the new year.  The Introduction, an annotated Table of Contents, and several sample chapters are available at the top of the homepage.

What is America

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We have choices to make.  They might differ from the choices we are used to thinking about, but these are not normal times.  Indeed, the challenges confronting us today are likely to worsen.  Faced with multiple crises and growing instability we will become ever more concerned about the future—about personal safety, family security, and the need for self-reliance.

Local neighborhoods are where this matters most.  My question for you is this: Will we seek dependable relationships with our neighbors—or pretend every day will be like the last?

With social order under duress, hardship increasing, and mental health breaking down, we can and must come together with our neighbors.  We cannot wait until we are already in trouble.  We need people in our lives who have practical skills, who are steady on their feet, who can help resolve local problems.  And we will need them regardless of their politics or religion or the color of their skin.

What are we afraid of?

Yes, strengthening interpersonal relationships takes time and commitment.  Trust must be time-tested.  And yes, this can only happen if we take initiative.

The first step is always ours to take.  We need just a few concerned friends and neighbors to form a nucleus of support.  We can think together, plan, and build trust.  Others will be attracted as our circle grows. The road to security begins with civility and is paved with dependability.  This is the only defense against calamity.

Some may say it’s too hard or too late.  I say that Americans are courageous, resourceful, resilient.  The United States was conceived in controversy; and the vision of the Founders came with recognition that wisdom and strength are found in diversity.

Indeed, it is argued here that diversity is the foundation for strength, and that the United States of America is a visionary assertion of this knowledge. The Founders gave us a structure.  It is our responsibility to make it work. 

Perhaps we have lost our way at times, stumbled, gotten sloppy.  But now it is time to pull together. Stability cannot be imposed from above in a free society.  The kind of strength we need comes from within—with courage, determination, and generosity of spirit.  And it can only be made real in active interpersonal relationships.

In finding our way through a multitude of crises we are forced to renew our values, think on our feet, and collaborate with others.  A creative process is now underway that would not be possible otherwise.

We are capable of rising above our differences.  We can allow one another the freedom to differ, to be misguided, to have a painful past.  We can address eachother respectfully.  Or, we can let the American vision and treasure slip between our fingers, and tip ourselves into chaos.

Some may think their principles are too important to be compromised.  Most of us, however, believe that the American Republic is worth defending, and that it is time for Americans to rise to the next level. The concept of unity within diversity did not exist prior to the founding of the United States.  The American Founders set humanity on a new course with a constitutional structure that accommodates diversity and facilitates collaborative problem-solving.

There are serious problems needing to be understood and resolved, and they cannot be addressed or even discussed when we are submerged in animosity. 

America has always been known for the clash of differing opinions.  Social, political, and religious pluralism is what America is all about.  This is who we are.

Consequently, constructive dialog is essential.  Problem-solving can be pursued to the extent necessary.  And it will only be possible if we allow trust to grow and be tested in functional working relationships.

Please share your perspective.  I value your feedback.

Tom

Regular readers can watch for the next post on or about October 1.

My forthcoming book offers a practical strategy for making this work.  I hope to see it published early in the coming year.  The Introduction, as well as an annotated Table of Contents and several sample chapters can be found at the top of the homepage.

First Principles

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If we wish to live in safety we will seek to create safety in our communities, actively engaging with our neighbors and forming dependable relationships.  When the going gets tough having dependable neighbors will matter.  Trust becomes real when we work together to resolve local problems and meet local needs.  Without personal initiative, this just isn’t going to happen.  And we cannot afford to put it off until tomorrow. 

Collaboration among neighbors is not encouraged by the world as it is today.  Isolation is pervasive and partisan politics dominate.  We shy away from friendly problem-solving and fail to take responsibility for our local circumstances. The future of America depends on our escape from this paralysis.  We are better than this.

In my view, our first priority must be to see with our own eyes and think with our own minds.  We must never submit to the willfulness of partisan opinions.  How can political manipulation be trustworthy?  Can we see that the vast quagmire of social media has its source in the human imagination?

Political philosophy can be a meaningful and valid concern.  But if truth be told, it is the ethical consensus embodied in human behavior, social conduct, and in law that secures order and forms the character of society.

The fundamental question facing each of us is this— How can we live with the moral integrity that civilized order depends upon? Avoiding this question changes nothing.

I expect the thoughtful reader recognizes the role of ethical consistency and moral rectitude in ensuring safety and fairness in the social order, as well as in a personal life well-lived.

The problems confronting us in the world as it is are complex.  They often impact us personally.  We should not expect to live in a stable society, or engage in a genuinely functional community, without being prepared for ethical questions.

Ethical rigor does not require an unforgiving attitude.  Our differences cannot be undone, and we must rise above them to get where we need to go.  We may never know of the hardships or disappointments another person has experienced.  These are among the influences making them who they are.  We all have disappointments, and we are all in this together.

The deterioration of civil order is apparent.  The painfulness of loss is all around us.  It is in our interest to identify the shared principles we need to give us strength, and to bring us through the long crisis ahead. 

We must pull ourselves away from moral degradation that imposes on us from every side.  Its addictive nature of is a growing influence, subverting economic stability, social order, and mental health. 

In the days ahead, Americans will be increasingly dependent on dependable neighbors and strong communities.  We must make this real.  Local neighborhoods need to be the wellsprings of dependability.

And, if we are to create safe communities, we must begin with the personal integrity upon which community depends.  Authentic community is defined by trust, and by the conditions that determine the quality of trust: truthfulness, moral responsibility, and active interpersonal dialog,

These are not things that come by way of wishful thinking.  They depend on committed intentions and personal engagement.  They are learned and lived in the context of time-tested relationships.  Real community is not possible otherwise.

This may seem idealistic to some and to others simply out of reach.  However, I believe we have no choice.  If we are to find safety, we must come to know and trust one another.

We really do not need to agree on everything.  But the future will depend on dependability. Trust matters!

We cannot wait until next week or next year.  The future is now.

Tom

Regular readers may watch for the next post on or about September 1.

The forthcoming book has been completed and is being professionally edited.  The Introduction, as well as an annotated Table of Contents and several chapters are linked at the top of the homepage.

American Crucible

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For more than two hundred years the United States has stood before the world as a beacon of hope, as a source of creative energy and as an evolving expression of political freedom, social diversity, and economic vitality. People everywhere have been attracted to the vision it represents.  Yet, the extraordinary challenges confronting the American people today mark a turning point and a defining test of America’s place in history. 

We have entered a dark time.  Confronted with economic degradation, with deep distrust and growing social disorder, it can be easy to forget the unique stature of the United States and the unfolding role it has played in the progress of an ever-advancing civilization.

Our economic well-being as a nation has been weakening for decades, and the generosity of spirit for which we have long been known has dimmed.  Confidence in the future is shaken.

But this is not the end of the story

A new beginning will be necessary to recover the resilience and generosity of spirit that has made us what we are.  It is time to rise to the next level.  There is truth in the unity of our national character—in our humanity and the dignity that has given Americans courage and self-respect.

Few have expected what we are seeing now.  Values, assumptions, expectations have all been disrupted.  Even so, America remains blessed with a constitutional order that respects the individual, seeks to protect both minorities and majorities, and makes room for diversity, innovation and creativity. 

The genius of the United States Constitution lies in a simplicity that imposes minimal restraint and allows maximum freedom—all the while requiring moral responsibility and functional cooperation. 

The Constitution is a legal document, carefully crafted in structure and intentionality.  But it is far more than a simple contract.  It embodies a vision and a trust.  It was prepared by men who cared deeply about the future and about Americans as a people.

This has been presented to us as the gift of an inheritance.  The freedom it promises is anchored in the wisdom of its legislative order, the protections it seeks for the individual, and the means with which it enables constructive change. These are among the elements of a non-partisan civil order that provides Americans with stability and the opportunity to forge a rational future.

The unique character of the Constitution depends on moral responsibility and the basic virtues we all know about: Truthfulness, trustworthiness, fairmindedness, forbearance—and a prudence that respects the interdependence of all the virtues.  This is written into the fabric of the American idea. 

Yet we are faced with unsettling questions, here and now.  And we are confronted with a multitude of serious crises. Will civil order be torn apart by resentments, distrust and frustration?  Will the nation survive as the constitutional republic envisioned by its founders?  Do we have the fortitude and grit to learn the lessons and reaffirm the vision that will lead to a genuine American renewal?

We are living at a pivotal moment. Are we prepared to embrace the spirit called for by the founders, which alone can lead to unity of purpose?  Or will we succumb to a rigidity born of insecurity and fear? 

The correction of mistakes cannot be addressed until we answer this question.  It must be addressed in dialog and in our hearts.  Civil disarray and social degradation will remain with us until it is.

What do we fear? 

A readiness to entertain differing views without altering one’s own is the measure of a mature person.  And we cannot seek solutions or influence change without an accurate understanding of what other people are thinking and why.

Only when the underlying conditions of conflict are fully understood, can it finally become possible to negotiate genuine security and collaboration. 

We will pay a heavy price for suspicion or defensiveness—when courage is only a step away.

Tom

Regular readers may watch for the next post on or about August 1.

An Introduction to the forthcoming book and several sample chapters are linked at the top of the homepage. To receive emailed alerts, you may click on the Follow button..

True Leadership

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The rapid deterioration of civil order and social stability in the United States has become apparent to everyone.  Do we accept this as an unalterable reality?  Are we comfortable sitting on our hands?  I don’t think so.  When things are falling apart, we need to attend to safety and order wherever we are able.   Our local communities are where we have potential influence and are the most vulnerable. 

Safety in an unstable world will, in the end, depend on trustworthy relationships with friends and neighbors.  But how is trust to be built with people we do not know well, if at all?

Many of us do not know our neighbors.  We live in a society that has lost its sense of community. Yet nothing is more essential today.

As challenging as this seems, we must respond.  Taking initiative is essential, even when we lack confidence.  We need our friends and neighbors.

We may at first find our initiative appreciated by only a few.  Do not be disheartened! A small number of people who are ready to think productively will allow your efforts to take root.  A nucleus of thoughtful citizens can discuss local needs, begin to plan and build trust.

The possibilities for action abound.  Neighborhood safety or a chat group devoted to mutual assistance—or even food security—can be unifying endeavors regardless of personal differences. Community gardening, for example, can provide productive neutral ground and shared security.  And preserving food can be a friendly cooperative endeavor.

Taking initiative is essential, yes, but true leadership may not be what many of us think.  We cannot be directive.  We cannot control what needs to happen.  Understanding and direction need to come from the group through dialog and consultation—formed as a summation of perceptions and ideas.

Only in this way will the best ideas and insights be developed and made available.

Encouraging creative endeavor in a diverse group of Americans will call for patience, flexibility, and encouragement.  We need to learn how to do this.  Everyone has something to offer.

In the formative stages of community-building, your efforts will gradually come to be appreciated.  However, there may also be perceptions that you are assuming a leadership role, whether you intend it or not.  This could become problematic. You will not be happy with the consequences of unexpected assumptions. 

With the nation in a devastating downward spiral of dishonesty, delusional behavior, and pervasive fear, true leadership has never been more needed.  But, never has leadership been perceived with greater suspicion.

Responding to clearly felt needs with effective organizing will not be possible if we present ourselves as lightning rods.

With the world as it is today, leadership must be is exercised with quiet humility.  I am not talking about modesty.  Our purpose must be community, and unity must be the priority.

If we are willing to work with our neighbors—and can find people who are ready to engage respectfully—we will find our way forward one step at a time. Responsibility and action are interdependent.  Words can be misunderstood and manipulated.  So, it is important that we invite others to join in active collaboration. 

Quiet leadership in authentic communities helps to overcome fear and hesitation. It encourages responsibility and fosters trust.  It is best shared, and will be best understood as personal commitment to meeting community needs.

We must try to see the end in the beginning, and to see the way forward when it appears uncertain or impossible to others. 

True leadership has a way about it that encourages, influences, supports.  It remains calm in the fog of uncertainty and is unperturbed by the anxieties of others.  It patiently gathers and facilitates frightened or troublesome people to unite constructively in response to practical necessity. It proceeds with a self-effacing demeanor and a low profile.  It often goes unrecognized, and this is as it should be.

When a genuine leader has been effective, community members will feel they have taken on challenges and won success for themselves. And, when a truly great leader has been present, people will simply say: We did this ourselves.

Tom

Note to regular readers: You may look for the next post on or about July 2. To receive emailed alerts, visit my website.  An Introduction to the forthcoming book and several sample chapters are linked at the top of the homepage.

Responsibility in a Complex World

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It has been said that liberty is not possible without responsibility.  Is it true?  Do we understand what this means?  This is not a new question for this blog.  But there are really several questions implied here:  What is true liberty, and how does liberty depend on the fundamental (actual) reality in which we live—as opposed to our many imagined and misperceived assumptions?  And how can we live accordingly?

I expect none of us seek the liberty of wild animals, which is subject to the unbending requirements of nature.  A free society, though far more flexible, never-the-less depends on respect for the well-being of our neighbors, as well as the civil order we all depend upon.  There can be no freedom which violates the safety, dignity, or property of others.

We all know this country is facing serious problems which demand attention.  Emotions are high, and understandably so.  Yet, words and actions which destabilize the order necessary to resolve problems and make changes are self-defeating and accomplish nothing. Without an orderly process for addressing differences and difficulties we are confronted with an abyss.

As human beings we actually do possess the capacity to respond effectively to difficulties.  We are capable of responsibility—the ‘ability to respond’ constructively. I will offer several observations.

If we are to accept responsibility for rational problem-solving, how is this to be accomplished?

First, responsibility for something depends on accurate perceptions of circumstances rather than on unexamined assumptions, and certainly not on the false assuredness of the human imagination.

Second, problem-solving quickly runs into trouble without rules of engagement we can agree on. This is something we actually have, if we are willing to make constructive use of it.  However, making use of it depends on a constructive attitude—a readiness to listen, to understand one another, and to compromise to the extent necessary for immediate problem-solving.

The next steps will require a long view, and emotional discipline.  Why?  Because we cannot advance toward a more principled future without interactive dialog. This will not be possible unless we understand and respect the values, experience, and concerns of everyone at the table.  It’s that simple.

Neighborhood forums can be effective at addressing needs and core issues, if we want them to be so.  On the national level we also have an effective and well-tried model, if we want to make it so. Whatever its limitations, the Constitution of the United States provides a structure for decision-making designed for a contentious people.  It is notable for its’ simplicity and absence of constraints.

The Founders knew that respect for certain basic virtues would be essential—honesty, truthfulness, trustworthiness and cooperation.  They said so.  Clearly, they expected Americans to govern their own behavior.

The imperative that future Americans observe virtue ethics and engage in respectful behavior was stated by Patrick Henry, James Madison, George Washington and others. 

The Founders could not impose the cooperation upon which the Constitution depends, but the document makes necessity self-evident. Correcting problems and making changes requires a structure and process that makes this possible.

Order is necessary to make changes to order. If we destroy the means for decision-making we will descend into chaos.  And chaos has no means to correct itself.

How do we understand the meaning of freedom in a complex civilized order? Fairness and balance are written into the legislative structure of the Republic.  The rest depends on us. 

We are more than 300 million in number and we have differences—differences in experience and perspective and creative imagination.  This cries out to be investigated, to be understood and respected.  It has reasons!

Instability begins with an unwillingness to listen and understand.   

We must never throw away our inheritance and imagine it possible to start over from nothing.

Tom

Note to regular readers: You may look for the next post on or about June 3.

An Introduction to the forthcoming book and an annotated Table of Contents are linked at the top of the homepage.