Category Archives: painting

Unimpeachable Truths

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I’ve been thinking lately about the multitudes of good and sincere people in the world who have arrived at dramatically conflicting views as to the nature of reality.

Most all of us rely on what we consider to be unimpeachable support sources for our views and usually a contingent of like-minded others that reinforce our beliefs. The evangelical Christian, the Qanon conspiracy buff and the liberal mainstreamer will tend to approach daily occurrences with sets of premises and then conclusions that are quite different. Such conflicting perspectives are the stuff of the social divisiveness manifesting itself these days; the dilemma of free thought in a free society free from coercive oversight, I guess.

I have no answers other than responding with patient tolerance in the knowledge that most everyone deserves respectful acknowledgement of their usually carefully considered views. The hope is that we can all spot disinformation when it presents itself. Hopefully, we can think past the response of the recently interviewed lady asked why she embraces her position on a current controversial idea. ‘I know it’s not true’, she said, ‘but it’s consistent with my beliefs.’

Fundamentalist Fervor

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I’ve been wondering lately what sort of life events, what kind of social influences one would have to experience to lead him or her to embrace the stringent discipline of fundamentalist religion.  Apart from an innate proclivity toward a rigid, reactionary conservatism (can there be such an inclination?), what, I wonder, propels some people toward angry condemnation of any and all perspectives differing from their own?  

 In fairness, most everyone seeks answers to the big questions: the nature of existence, life’s inherent meaning, but only some of us (a small minority one hopes) determine their answers to be an infallible, absolute truth that leads them to rail against the slightest suggestion that there might be other good answers. 

Some of these true believers have come to the conclusion that the life they had lived before finding the Truth was so despicable that a psychic renewal was required: a re-birth into a total acceptance of, commitment to, their recognized god.  In order to maintain their new persona and recently acquired cosmic world view, an Opposition, an inherent Evil identified as constant reminder that one’s beliefs are constantly under siege, that life is a battle between the forces of God and Evil.  Tension and conflict then become an everyday experience and concern. 

There are, of course, degrees of fundamentalist fervor.  Not everyone who embraces conservative religious beliefs are overtly hostile to those they might consider infidel or apostate.  Still, the idea of immanent cosmic conflict isn’t buried too deeply below the surface. 

These are disconcerting thoughts to my mind, but, I guess, in the end, it’s all about being certain where the truth lies: for these folks it’s not within the empirical but rather the cosmic realm.  For some the rewards of a promised afterlife tempers the outrage and sustains their vision of the soon to be realized cosmic light.  

Stream of Consciousness

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I think i should prepare my skis for storage now that the skiing season is over, I think a coat of preserving wax should do the job, I think if I give the skis a good coat and I’ll not scrape them after, just use the waxing iron and apply the wax and let it cool and put them in storage above the cabinets in the furnace room where I always keep during the off season, I think is the best place for them so I can remember where they are next year after it snows enough for skiing I can take them out scrape off the old wax and get them ready to take to the trails, I think should be sufficient preparation if I do Chris’s skis too she’ll be ready to ski, I think she’ll be happy to go even though she felt a bit unsteady on her skis this year not having had much good skiing the past winter or for the past three winters for that matter climate change creating a warming climate that is not conducive to good skiing but I’ll prepare the skis anyway just in case to be ready for the snow next winter when snow will surely come at some point even if were both a bit hesitant to put on our skis feeling as we do a bit unstable on the trails that are often icy now that global warming raises the temperatures above freezing and then the overnight cooler air freezes the wet snow making it icy and unstable causing me to be uncertain about putting the skis on even though the temperature may be nice to be out in and I do enjoy being out in the winter if it’s not too cold although I think I’m less tolerant of the cold now that I’m older than I used to be when I would ski almost every day on the toughest trails and feeling quite good about my improving skill level although not as good I know as the young skiers on the school cross-country team I would see practicing skiing much faster than me using good technique I can only admire knowing I will never realize their skill level but can nevertheless admire their abilities and I do enjoy watching them move efficiently over the slopes as I wait for my turn to enter the trail and struggle up the first hill which is pretty steep and has me puffing a good deal by the time I reach the top and then can enjoy a brief respite on the slight downhill run only to have to climb again and Chris will be here soon to join me and we will go out for a hot chocolate and talk about next spring..

SL River (January)

False Narratives

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I’ve been reading about how mass movements are started, what exactly might inspire otherwise uninvolved people to rise up, to act with energy against what they see to be a real threat to their way of life.

Fear has something to do with it, I guess. The realization of an unthoughtful populace falling behind a demagogue who promises one thing and delivers another.

What these folks want, I suppose, is the re-establishment of a fair and inclusive structure, a pluralistic society threatened by the xenophobic ministrations of a leader whose motivations are at odds with the best interests of the people. Such a man spins a believable narrative promising improvement, thumbing his nose at the established ways, he is one who has little regard for prevailing institutions, one defiant in word and deed.

Usually such an individual emerges in response to the cries of the disenfranchised. Sometimes, though, a talented ambitious man of low moral integrity may insight the masses through coercion and false narrative to rise up against their own best interests, to champion change for the sake of change, fed by the energy of their common opposition to perceived injustices and identification with their chosen leader. They rally for their side to win at all costs, but in so doing threaten in their vehemence the integrity of the institution allowing them the free expression they exercise.

An unsettling scenario, it seems to me.

How to Travel as One Ages

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We’ve been thinking about taking a trip to Great Britain in a few months in order to experience a few things we’ve missed in past visits. The ease of organizing an itenerary: flights, ground travel, reservations on-line makes planning a breeze and eliminates much of the uncertainty long distance travel often presented in the past.

But I’m thinking that as we age perhaps the two of us might consider a companion or two to further insure good experiences. Should one of us take an unexpected fall a physical therapist might be useful and then if worse came to worst someone adept at mortuary science would be good to have along.

Of course both would have to be socially compatible as well.

Nightmare Scenarios

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As my mind wanders these days it finds its way into various nightmare scenarios: unsettling thoughts about what may happen when I embark on a soon to occur trip across the big water. I’m having dire imaginings about potential occurrences; lost or pilfered necessities like phone or passport, missed travel connections, unavailable accommodation; the list goes on and on. These thoughts are occurring to me frequently and in great detail and last until I can forcefully break from beneath the dark cloud and relax my furrowed brow, only to imagine another unpleasant scenario a few hours later.

As I check and recheck my travel plans, entertain alternative options just in case, I have to wonder if I’m not making the whole future enterprise more complicated than it needs to be. I know, having traveled as much as I have, problems can be solved, the locals are helpful, and worst-case scenarios are unlikely to occur.

My mind will continue to race and I will worry but I’m still not buying insurance.

An Unsettling Scenario

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I’ve been reading how the infiltration of artificial intelligence entities, robots, into the public sphere has the potential, as AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, to undermine the free and open exchange of ideas necessary to a democratic society.
Algorithms, as anyone who consumes social media knows, feed the reader more of the same. The potential for these entities to harbor hidden agendas, to move the consumer into conspiratorial beliefs is a real concern. The complex nature of the information produced through the computer system, based as they are on a multitude of factors, makes deciphering the how and why of the digital results beyond the comprehension of most human agents leading many to simplistic beliefs in deep state conspiracies like Qanon.
Hopefully mechanisms will be put in place and sufficient political will will be exercised to regulate the increasingly sophisticated cyber beings.

Science and the Humanities

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I’ve been reading, lately, about the distrust science elicits these days from diverse segments of the populace. Apparently, the condemnation isn’t coming only from the religious right who might, I suppose, have a problem with the dismissal of dogmatic beliefs toward which empirical investigation tends to lead, but also from certain intellectuals who see science as reductive explanation for the complexities of our world.

I must admit this second concern resonates with me a bit, being inclined as I am to wonder in awe at the mysteries of nature. My readings have awakened me to the realization that through aesthetic contemplation I can gain a deeper, richer experience of the natural world I find so compelling. The mysteries of consciousness, addressed with such magic by the Surrealists, becomes even more intriguing when considered in the light of neuroscientific studies on the human brain. Art can be appreciated in greater depth when considered in context, provided through historical and archaeological investigation and the psychology of aesthetic response is considered.

I’ll keep this in mind, well, at least be peripherally aware of the contribution science might play in my daily aesthetic experiences even though I find it hard to put language to the ephemeral.

 

Populism

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Political populism appears to be in the ascendance these days.  The idea the ‘power’ is in the ‘people’, the ‘people’ being those rightfully in control, dismisses the opposing views of the minority.  Opposition is unacceptable, lost elections must be the result of fraud, theft; criticism the purview of ‘intellectual elites’.   

Populism simplifies, views differences in terms of power, who’s in charge, distrusts the complexities of democratic structures that require ongoing dialog to self-correct when necessary.  The ‘power of the people’ will be placed in the hands of a strongman who will suppress, unde4rmine institutions in order to impose the ‘will of the people’.   

The attraction of such a position must have something to do with a sense of social impotency, a lack of faith in a democratic society.  The danger is the establishment of totalitarian control. 

Unlimited Possibilities

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I’ve been thinking lately about the youthful exuberance, that, these days, when encountered, tends to send me in search of the nearest exit but as I contemplate such behavior, I have to admire the beauty of youthfulness, their sense of an unfettered, unlimited future.

Even as early elementary friendships metastasize into the social pressures of junior high most children anticipate a positive future, at the very least a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how unreasonable their intentions about how to get to that enlightened future many will be able to hold that vision into old age.

Most will need some help getting there, though

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