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We would imagine that, for a first-time attendee at a College Graduation, it might seem puzzling to note that the event’s sole dedicated purpose, to commemorate and officially confirm the completion, by students, of the four- year college course, is officially referred to as a “commencement.”  The word, “commencement,” in every other context, acceptably, refers to the start [not the completion] of something.  [ N.B. The latter term applies to the ceremonial tribute, while, it seems, the word, “graduation” denotes the officially completed status of the student’s curriculum].

The first-time attendee, self- consciously, restrains himself from commenting on this apparent paradox, but is required to do so, necessarily, only for a relatively brief period of time. The Dean, or some other dignitary, in short order, will predictably appear at the podium to express, over the public address system, [it has, by its traditional iteration, become almost trite] that the word “commencement,” has reference to the beginning of the graduates’ respective lifetime of freedom and opportunity, to continue their study and to pursue further knowledge. Would that this oft- repeated declaration was true.

Considering the graduates’ young age and present celebratory state of mind, it is conceivable that the graduates did not even apprehend the subject statement at all; they, understandably, have other thoughts in mind viz., the recreational possibilities of summer, travel, internment and jobs, possibly, marriage or other timely subjects. In our experience, the possibility that the the graduate is actually considering any future course of elective study is indeed, seriously problematic. The University experience has habituated the student to practical considerations, such as, formal registration, instruction, course credits, quantum of didactic study, perhaps the co- registration of a desired acquaintance, as previous criteria for his choice of curriculum.

These considerations will have absolutely, no relevance, at all after the graduation ceremony is completed. Considerations of family and job, are at such stage, relevant matters of prime concern, and appropriately, deserve the major part of his attention and thought. At some point in the future, as his life proceeds, however, he will have the opportunity to elect to pursue personal fulfillment, in the “commencement” of study of, or participation in, a subject matter; one unrelated to the necessary, mundane, and often challenging, considerations of family and career. As a result of making such an elective choice, he could find himself enabled, conveniently, to maintain his self-identity and true persona, while simultaneously fulfilling his expected responsibilities to family and career.

In many of our writings, wherever relevant and possible, we have stressed the need for personal enrichment in the pursuit of life’s potentially aspirational goals of personal growth and self-fulfillment. They are capable of accomplishment, as possible, by engaging in activities, and pursuing interests, which, in addition to being personally enjoyable, offer the valuable potential to promote one’s mature understanding of himself and his environment. Life, in such event, would be fuller, richer and more satisfying.

Inarguably more valuable than diplomas, are the personal realization of one’s lifetime self-fulfillment, and thereby the realization of happiness.

-p.

As we understand the word, and, in vain, pursue attempts to comprehend the concept, “intuition” is the acquisition of knowledge, without proof, evidence or conscious reasoning nor any understanding as to how the knowledge was acquired. It is a purported species of “knowledge,” arrived at entirely without the process of thought. To reverse the usual format, we will first express our final conclusion, and thereafter state our supporting argument. We do not believe in any such thing. Critics, if any, have patience and kindly read on.

Any cursory reading of history, will inarguably reveal, that man’s great progress and advancement, proceeded to the degree that he employed his reason and intellect; and was retrogressive in periods when he did not. The Medieval “Dark Ages” was so named by later historians, for the reason that it is a period, exemplified by a dearth of reason or intellectual advancement, and exemplified by witch hunts, burning of “non- believers” and superstitious attribution of plagues and natural catastrophes, to black magic, practiced by the malignant influence, of arbitrarily chosen ethnic minorities.

The aptly named, 18^th Century, “Age of Enlightenment,” effected a “sea-change” (actually, a “tsunami”) in man’s development, since it by contrast, extolled man’s use of his reason and empirical experience, rejecting, atavistic aphorism, superstition and irrational thought.

Our shining hero, is the 18^th Century English philosopher, John Locke, who, famously declared that man is born with a “tabula rasa” (a blank slate), and that knowledge is acquired only through life experience. This, the enlightened philosophy of “Empiricism,” is in complete contradiction, to the “Rationalist” school of philosophy, which held that, not all knowledge is learned; some, they believed, is inspired. In fact, it is the Rationalist belief, that babies are born, inspired with certain inclinations and ideas. It may be interesting to observe, with respect to our theme, that Rationalists believed that basic information is “intuited”. Again, we feel that such a view is pure, unadulterated mishagas.*

As one grows older, it seems, he comes to understand a wise old observation on life, “The days are long, but the years are short.” One occasionally, takes the time to look back on the seemingly, unbelievable number of his expired years, and may, indeed, recall, albeit in a shadowy or vague manner, limited snippets of some unique or, especially memorable events.  He may, interestingly, as, apparently is quite common, have moments when, considering the many years that have past, and the uncountable number of changing events, he has doubt as to whether a distinct recollection, is merely of some dream, rather than an actual experience.

To proceed to the point, it is incontrovertible, that conscious recall, of the multitude of long past, daily memories, is not possible; except perhaps, under professional hypnosis. As time goes by, we all experienced a plethora of events of every kind; certainly, too much to remember. But neurologists advise, that the brain has a remarkable capacity for the independent storage of past memories; so that its records very far exceed our capacity for recollection.

If we may be permitted to again refer to the revered, English philosopher, and Enlightenment empiricist, John Locke, [whose theories have, over the centuries, morphed into the status of undeniable common sense] it will be recalled, that the great man observed that we are born with a blank slate, and that everything, of which we have knowledge, has been acquired by experience. His theory, and the showing that the brain forgets little, will, we believe, amount to a rational explanation, of the so-called “miracle” of the purported concept of intuition.

The hint, firm hunch or feeling of prediction, or confident judgment, could not have logically, or conceivably, been created by some irrational, unthinking, personal provenance. The world recognizes the validity of Locke’s philosophy (life experience is the sole source of man’s knowledge) and therefore, the so called “intuition” would appear to be a feedback, or retrieval of inaccessible (forgotten) memory. The apparently magical hunch or immediate judgment, is in rational terms, the (unaware) result of some retrieved past experience.

However, in this great and tolerant Nation, where no manner of opinion should properly be discouraged, the reader, if he desires, may continue to think of “intuition” as the product of a miraculous talent, but if so, we would request that, to be generous, he also explain the noted, contemporary, absence of hobgoblins.

*Askin. Yiddish for “crazy talk”

-p.

The current political season affords no shortage of thorny and highly controversial issues for the campaigns of political aspirants, of every stripe. The teapot is beginning to bubble with heated issues such as, abortion, climate change, gun regulation, immigration policy, tax reform and economic disparity, racial and gender discrimination and health care. Speechwriters, no doubt, are, at present, burning the midnight oil in break-neck efforts, to efficiently produce, persuasive and impactful, speeches for their respective candidates. Hearings have been commissioned and held, to unearth disqualifying political or legal impediments to candidacy. Newspapers and the television media, have never had it so good, in this busy era of hot political contention. Tribalism, public marches and demonstrations, political ads, and war-like contention between opposing sides of the many issues are widespread. An organization which had arrogated to itself, the presumptuous, self-serving title, “Right to Life,” has seen fit, despite its publicly purported dedication, to the holy sanctities of life, to commit, premeditated and deliberate murder, in the course of its zeal for its perceived moral cause; an autocratic, ignorant and cruel President, with an apparent, psychoneurotic fear of poor Mexican Immigrants, has broken up immigrant families and, has, incredibly, put separated Central American children in wire cages. We could proceed to further furnish, America’s dark, musty attic with additional, harmful, destructive and atavistic revenants of the Dark Ages, but this note has a theme, which we would prefer, to express, at this juncture.

To attempt to convincingly do so, we would take the liberty of digression, for a brief, but analogically useful observation, employing the subject of trees, plants and flora, in general. A pleasant hike in a natural habitat, such as the woodlands, will reveal to the walker, verdant foliage, beautiful flowers, stately trees and a variety of shrubs.  Regardless of his personal preference, the hiker, of course, is aware of the fact that all flora have roots, which are a vital part of his admired tree or flower; indeed, of all foliage. Roots, which are knowledgeably, attached to all plants and grow underground, afford it stability, and in addition, systemic existence, by furnishing life supporting, water and nutrients.

Like the eternal existence and existential function, of roots, it is education that provides the underlying source for the nourishment of man’s capability to reason, and his development of mature prospective.  It has always been our consistent position, that Thomas Jefferson was entirely correct when he declared, that for a Republican Democracy to be successful, it requires literate and informed citizens. We have, in an earlier writing, expressed our anxious concern, as to whether the unexpected elevation of Donald Trump to America’s highest office, was a one-off aberration, or alternatively, a warning sign that the level of education and reason on the part of the American citizen, has been historically downgraded.

Continuing with the analogy, we cannot maintain the health of America’s woodlands (read, “Nation”) unless we, responsibly and regularly, see to it that its basic underpinnings, its roots, are responsibly watered and its flora, dutifully and continuously nourished. Underlying our nation’s divisive problems is the lack of sufficient and adequate, systemic education. Objective information, when duly and intelligently, considered by an informed and knowledgeable citizenry, is capable of producing a needed consensus and, hopefully, a path to the solution of America’s problems. Differences, where they exist, can be solved, or at least, resolved, by shared reason and an objectively informed approach to the issues; or at a minimum, an informed understanding of the alternate, or contending position.

We are disappointed to observe an overemphasis, by candidates and by the media, on the public’s hotly contested issues, which exacerbates the Nation’s current problem of divisive tribalism, and relatively minor attention paid, to their underlying, foundational cause, inadequate citizen education. The successful goal and benefit of enhanced awareness, can lead to improved mutual understanding, and, perhaps, even to eventual national concord. Education and heightened awareness is, inarguably conducive to the systemic health of the nation.  Not unlike the analogous practice of watering roots, it promotes growth and the attainment of man’s potential. Our idealistic Founding Fathers, we have previously noted, anticipated regular civic (and civil) debate, between informed citizens, as the beneficial route, to a sufficient understanding of the Nation’s issues and ultimately, their proper resolution.

Candidates who profess sincere love for our country, should espouse a much needed National program of improvement in education, rather than, tactically, pandering controversial topics, to the lowest common denominator of their voting districts.

We perennially yearn for a truly enlightened and verdant America.

-p.

The following true story, took place in the Spring of 1961, in close proximity to a U.S. Army Base, “Aberdeen Proving Grounds,” in the nearby State of Maryland. As one might note, the name is indicative of its function as a military installation, part of the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Department, tasked with the repair and testing of armaments.

We were dressed in our pressed khakis, every crease in place, shined brass belt buckle, shiny black boots, “army neat,” as officially required. On our left shoulder we showed the First Army Patch, indicating that we were from the New York area. We walked, the short way to the regular public bus stop, just outside of the high security entrance of the military base, and learned that there was a wait of, at least, 45 minutes, before the scheduled arrival of the Bus to New York.

In close proximity to the entrance to the military base and the bus stop, was an ordinary looking diner. If we may be permitted to briefly digress, we would point out that the quality and taste of enlisted man’s food and coffee, under the best of conditions, would easily qualify as a full, determinative defense, to any military charge of criminal desertion. This latter condition, might conceivably be accounted for by the huge quantities of food, required to be cooked, making careful preparation impossible, but more likely, by the U.S. Army’s typical personnel policy, which, for example, assigned auto repairmen to positions as cooks, and cooks to the position of auto repairmen.

Considering the scheduled 45 -minute wait, we entered the diner with the anticipation of enjoying the remembered taste of a good cup of coffee. The appearance of the diner was unremarkable, similar to the diners to which we had become accustomed. There was, in addition to several tables, a long food counter, at which six, or so diners were seated. We took a seat at the end of the counter and ordered from the counterman, a cup of coffee and a slice of, inviting looking, apple pie. The coffee and pie were delivered in a few minutes, and we began to enjoy it (privately, and bitterly, contrasting the same with the analogous abomination, served in the Army).

No sooner did we begin to partake of our coffee and pie, when a soldier, approximately the same age as we, wearing the identical sharply pressed tan uniform, bearing the same First Army insignia, entered the diner. After mutually exchanging a nodding hello, he sat down at the lunch counter next to us. It seems that, he too, was on a weekend pass, and was also waiting for the arrival of the New York bus. He asked us about the coffee and pie, which we recommended enthusiastically. He ordered the same from the counterman, who seemed, in response, to immediately freeze. We suppose that we should properly mention, at this point, that my fellow soldier was black.

Not only did the counterman halt in his tracks, but the six or so diners, sitting at the other end of the counter, angrily looked up and seemed to glare. Neither the fellow soldier nor we, had any idea of the dynamics of the situation, until the counterman approached us, and shockingly said to the other soldier: “Look man, if you want coffee in a paper container, you can drink it outside.”  It took a while for us, to appraise the situation, but in a moment or two, we realized that we were confronted with an obvious and ugly occasion, of racial prejudice.  The other soldier then peaceably left, and we, in a state of shock, quickly finished our coffee and pie. The counterman then approached us and said, as follows:” Look, I don’t really care that much, but if I served him, I would lose my customers.” We silently paid our bill and left. To this very day, we sincerely regret our remaining the few additional minutes required to finish the coffee, and not, immediately leaving the diner, in solidarity with the other soldier. But, perhaps in mitigation, we were absolutely stunned into silence and inaction.

The instructive point is, that right thinking people may not be experientially equipped to quickly identify, and at once appropriately, react to matters outside their (moral) life experience. Most associate and fraternize with others who share their high principles and life ethic in common. The cited experience was, in actuality, perniciously obvious, but took us a few minutes to recognize. Overt acts of racial bigotry, in our early days, were matters we merely read about in a newspaper, or were informed of by television, but did not witness. Seeing an unexpected, real life, example of this previously known, dreadful pathology, required a little time for its recognition (by us and, conceivably, the other soldier involved).

We certainly do not recommend that right- thinking American citizens, deploy their sensitive antennae, in a continuous, sweeping, radar-like reconnaissance, in the search for discrimination, or other hateful behavior.  We do recommend, however, that good citizens remain aware of the existence of such evils and, to the degree that they happen to confront   them, to respond, peacefully, but firmly and appropriately.

-p.

 

We will shamelessly confess, that our declarations as to what we have termed, man’s “private, lifelong conversation with himself,” appears as an instrumental theme running through a noticeably, great number of our approximately 400 blogposts. One’s privately recollected evaluation of the past history of his personal responses to life’s varied stimuli, eventuates into a fixed and stable self- identity, and as well a realistic understanding of one’s public persona. Our privately accumulated, and constructed, sense of honor and propriety, our degree of happiness, our feelings of success or failure, and our potential for true empathy [as we have consistently declared] are all internally generated, by our individual self-image, and our perceived role in life’s theatrical production. We have noted, however, the observed reservation, that the self-image, to some degree, may be tempered by an evident, uniform perception by other members of society. It has been our long-standing, and frequently stated, belief that, our personal morality, our sense of justice and fairness, as well as the nature of our acts, are principally dependent upon that privately held, self-image.

The most elemental and dynamic ingredient in the infrastructure of all human society, is the phenomenon of interpersonal interaction, viz., overtly expressed, public thoughts and action. In the private conversations with ourselves, thoughts, accurate or inaccurate, may well exist, as we think or presume to see them. By contrast, in interactive communication, messages are conveyed, only to the extent that they are actually spoken; in the employment of the naturally accepted meaning of the chosen words, and accordingly, heard as such. The mere intention to convey a message, is of little consequence, contrasted with the words actually employed, in the subject conversation. Subsequent disagreement, predictably, will occur when a speaker accurately recalls his prior intention, but erroneously remembers his words.

To possess utility, interactive communication requires the careful consideration of the specific words used. This is eternally so, based upon the mandatorily necessary assumption, that a person’s intention is reflected in his chosen words. This fundamental assumption inarguably, is at the basis of all rational communication. Accordingly, effective conversation, can only take place, when speakers specifically employ those words which accurately represent the particular thoughts they intend to convey. It may be a useful practice, in matters of especial moment, to consider, in advance, the specific content of one’s intended statements.

A frequent instance of undelivered messages is additionally incurred, when each of the parties to a conversation, does, in fact, concentrate upon the thoughts he wishes to convey, but does so, to the exclusion of the statements of other party. When there are two parties, each, respectively, laser focused on his own personal, thoughts, to the mutual exclusion of the statements of the other party, there is no conversation.  We offer the following, fictional illustration:

JACK: Say, Jill, you have no idea how big the fire in the school was last Thursday.

JILL: We had a kitchen fire last month.

JACK: Unfortunately, two firefighters were seriously injured.

JILL: My kitchen will never be the same.

JACK: We were advised that one of the injured firefighter is in critical condition.

JILL: They think it was started by the defective wiring of our toaster.

JACK: Oh! I have to go now, see you.

JILL: Me too.

JACK: Goodbye, good talk.

JILL: See you, yes, good talk.

Authentic awareness of the other party, is inarguably, mandatory in any rational conversation; such essentially basic requirement, nevertheless, is often ignored, and so, many messages, sadly, go undelivered.

-p.

We are abjectly remorseful about being reoffenders, recidivists, concerning the several breaches of an earlier resolve. Our resolve was to resist all future inclination to post, on the subject of our miscreant and unprecedented, aberrant head of State. We have, nonetheless, reluctantly and apologetically, done so, but, in mitigation, only when events were so detestable and bizarre, that refraining to do so, would be wrongful, as akin to the historically verboten, “Sin of Silence.”  The present conundrum relates to the best action to take, responsive to the President’s wide variety of miscreant behavior (some, possibly as serious as treason). The same has now been confirmed by, among other things, no less than the (two years in the making) Official Report, of the duly appointed Special Investigator.

The U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 4, provides, that a sitting President can be removed, (but) only in the following manner. The Lower House of Congress files charges, an “Impeachment” amounting to “High Crimes and Misdemeanors,” committed by the President (analogous to a grand jury indictment). After which, the charges set forth in the Impeachment, are tried before the Senate (analogous to a Criminal Court).

There has been an understandable and passionate outcry, for immediate impeachment, emanating from many Democratic Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and a truly sizeable number of private citizens; maintaining that the arrogant, lawless President should be sanctioned and removed from office to affirm our laws and traditional codes of morality. Nonetheless, as set forth, below, the issue is whether it is wise at this time, to initiate the factually supported and meritorious process, a procedure which would, predictably, pass the Lower House, which contains a Democratic majority

It seems relevant to that issue, to enumerate the following two cogent considerations, (1) the controlling political party in the Senate, is the President’s party, the Republicans, and (2) the next Presidential election is no later than 2019.

Certain sage and experienced Members of Congress, notably including, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, are of the opinion, that we should not mount such a proceeding at this time. Her decision, as we apprehend it, seems to be that a present proceeding, albeit, clearly justified and meritorious, would help President Trump. It would necessitate a long (one year?) procedure, during which the Orange Demagogue would be allotted significantly more neurotically desired, television exposure, and may be able to convince some uninformed voters, that the Official Proceedings were, as fantasized by him, “a witch hunt”, in an attempt to re-litigate his election victory.

We too, have become impatient for justice, respecting this singularly obnoxious, unfit, dishonest head of State, yet, we feel, tactically obliged to agree with Speaker Pelosi. An impatient desire to see this charlatan punished, in order to summarily, reaffirm the rule of law and morality, could end badly. His purported posture as a victim of the political left, may find some acceptance, in some uninformed quarters. Trump has been divisive enough; his face has imprinted itself on the television tube, far too often. Congress would be further diverted from passing needed legislation, the international relationships with other heads of State and Countries, would be completely ambiguous (they are bizarre and unclear enough, already), the Nation could find itself vulnerable, due to perceived legal doubt created as to meaningful executive actions, and, finally, procedurally, because the Senate, being Republican, would never convict him.

The vindication of morality and the rule of law, under the present circumstances, must, necessarily, await a bit more time than our appetite for rectitude might prefer. America has another election in 2020, and this embarrassing miscreant can then be voted out. In any event, patience, will in this matter, go far to assure justice. A Trump communicated perception of a “bum’s rush,” may favor that oily demagogue, in his faux claims of political jealousy. While the Department of Justice will not indict a sitting President, they can, indeed, be effective in fully prosecuting him, when he is no longer in office (many of his crimes have a five- year statute of limitations). The understandably impatient citizen, should temper his desire for immediate justice, with the realization that there are years in which to legally indict and try Trump, when he is out of office. An improvident and impatient desire to (justifiably) punish Trump can result in his re-election and the consequent renewal of his period of Presidential immunity.

With regard to society’s demand for a public, principled and timely statement of the universal need for universal conformance with law and approved behavior, respectable American citizens have already rendered their decision, concluding that he is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors, and can wisely, and tactically, endure awaiting the appropriate time for criminal action and just punishment.

-p.

Let us all Praise,
The warming rays of mild sunshine.
Let us all Praise,
The re-awakening stir of woodlands.
Let us all Praise
The soothing balm of warm zephyrs.
Let us all Praise,
The awaited homecoming of birds and critters.
Let us all Praise,
The retreat of the tired mists of winter.
Let us all Praise,
The verdant renewal.

(Attributed to Leonard N. Shapiro,
(Spring, 2019)
-p.

We, “screwed our courage to the sticking point,” rolled up our sleeves, bit our lip, and courageously undertook the mission, to comment on the eternally vexing question: Do dogs smile?

Before proceeding with this most troublesome, existential question, we would make certain candid reservations; we anticipate the accrual of some rather daunting criticism and potentially meritorious challenges, for the reason that we do not have a background in neuroscience nor in veterinary science; in fact, we do not, own a dog (only cats).  In spite of our profound absence of (scientific) provenance, we will, in mea culpa fashion, candidly, confess to having an irresistible attraction to issues, which possess the simultaneous attributes, of eternally being hotly contested, and, as well, being of little or no cognitive consequence.

Stated with scientific precision, the query du jour, is whether a visibly happy canine’s open mouth, is indicative of the emotional act of smiling, analogous to homo sapiens?

It seems procedurally appropriate to initially, offer some rudimentary observations on the physical act and the interactive impact of man’s smile. Man’s smile can be visibly observed by the turning up of both corners of his mouth, often accompanied by the wrinkling of the skin around the eyes. We are instructed that it is enabled through the “limbic system” of the brain, the latter, being functionally responsible for a variety of significant functions, including emotion and behavior.

In humans, the smile appears to be involuntary (always sincere), and voluntary (often insincere). In other situations, the involuntary smile can be seen, at times, in unhappy occasions, unexpected notices of decease, painful remembrance, mea culpa situations or, perhaps as an ironic exclamation. The human smile can be rather ubiquitous and complex.

One is obliged to assume that could it be shown that a dog can, indeed, smile that such a smile would be limited to the expression of happiness,

Happy smiles on people, have been shown, medically and scientifically, to have many salubrious results. In addition to retarding naturally occurring bodily chemistry that is responsible for anxiety and low moods, it has been shown to promote good health; and has been claimed by some authorities on the subject, to actually, increase longevity. There appear to be several studies, which conclude that smiling induces more pleasure than ingesting large portions of chocolate; and that, even a forced smile can be a mood booster. There is an old Buddhist saying that: “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but at other times the smile the source of your joy.

It has been shown that many, non-human, animals are capable of experiencing and exhibiting emotion (in their respective fashion), also, logically, governed by the brain. Our question is do they actually smile? We know that they wag their tails in rapid fashion, make eye-contact, and are very active when excited and happy.

Based upon our observations and especially, upon our feelings of exasperation, at the popular tendency of pet owners to anthropomorphize their beloved pets, we answer in the negative. There are a goodly number of people who sincerely believe that happy dogs smile; we do not. Dogs have mouths that open wide and might be perceived, as happy, in happy circumstances. But it is not smiling. When dogs are hungry or angry, they bark, utilizing the identical configuration of open mouth. It would appear that the pleasure of seeing the happiness of a loved pooch, is an invitation to perceive that the shape of his canine mouth is a smile [Why don’t my cats smile, they are loved, well cared for, and happy?]

Animals should be loved, valued and respected, for what they essentially are, and not as cute surrogates of projected human emotions.

-p.

The 19^th Century witnessed old Mother Russia, still mired in its historic serfdom, while, in bold contemporary, contrast, England was metamorphosing into the sociological, political and economic epoch, which we refer to as “The Industrial Revolution.” The essentially sleepy and bucolic nation of England, was effectively transmogrified, into an unprecedented, frenetic new context and atmosphere.

The introduction of industrial machinery, capable of producing, seemingly, unprecedented, quantities of commercial products, led to profound sociological changes in English society, and, sadly, a new perspective of the common man. Russia slept deeply through its agricultural economy, based upon its atavistic and cruel mistreatment of its serfs (“souls”) and commoners. England, however, exceeded all existential nightmares, by establishing the virtual deification of profits, and sacrificed the common man, a dedicated slave, to that deity. The previous extant, minimal recognition of modest humanity and persona in the common man, was now totally degraded, to his potential capacity to perform labor. Husbands and fathers, mothers and their young children, desperately wishing to avoid starvation and extreme penury, were virtually conscripted, to perform, hard, backbreaking, and life shortening, physical labor, by capitol’s pathological mania for profit. A reference to any of the great novels by Charles Dickens, will reveal the abject misery of the common man, ensnared in the inextricable web, of unlimited and unhealthy working conditions, polluted air and filthy environment of this historically celebrated, industrial advance.

An apt illustration of the completely dehumanizing and heartless practices of the times, was the deploring institution of the feared treadmill. Being punitively sentenced to the treadmill, for any length of time, meant bodily deterioration and agonizing death. What today is a pleasant, elective, exercise appliance, was in the era of Queen Victoria, a painful, punitive and deadly, instrument of torture, whose steady operation, incidentally, provided additional power for manufacture.

Over the centuries, slow developing reform and empathic enlightenment, gradually proceeded to the amelioration of many such harsh conditions. Humane parliamentary legislation and the ultimate rise of recognized labor unions, did much to alleviate the dark, industrial purgatory, that personified Victorian Britain.

It may be said that an analogous manufacturing drama was thereafter played out, but, arguably, less dramatically, in new world America; however, the evils of slavery, in our country’s agricultural sector, more than made up for any possible difference, in the degree of comparative inhumanity with England.

It may be a startling revelation, at this point in our writing, to declare that its theme, is not the fundamental horrors of the labor practices in the Victorian Era, in England; nor the inhumanity practiced, in its earlier years, by our own Nation. Its intended purpose is to account, historically, for the common context of work, and its correct, appropriate and proportionate place in our lives.

We will hazard the expression of our radical, personal contention, that the known history of the inhuman misuse of labor, is responsible for a PTSD-like malady, which we would like to describe as our society’s neurotic, over emphasized, “work ethic.” The commonly understood neurosis is that our time has value, only to the extent, that we and it, are productive. It is truly ironic, that the mind-set of the avaricious, self- centered and mono- focused industrialist of the 19^th Century, to the effect that man’s value depends on his productivity, has, eerily been subscribed to, by the ordinary citizen in our modern age, as an epilogue to the perception of labor, in past history, by some bizarre process of societally, transmitted, PTSD.

Our ingested “work ethic”, we submit, is, in reality, a perversion of the natural goal and purpose of the remarkably evolved, unique entity, called homo sapiens. The belief that man is worthless, or, wasting precious time, unless he is actively engaged in productive activity, is atavistic, unhealthy and erroneous.

We have, in past writings, acknowledged that, evolution’s, greatest and most generous gift to homo sapiens, was an advanced brain, capable of reason, advancement and ultimately, wisdom. We do acknowledge, and energetically confirm the necessity for work as part of the nation’s production of goods and services, and as well, the satisfaction of the individual’s temporal needs. We do, however, additionally, place a high value on man’s uninterrupted leisure. The latter affords the rare and invaluable opportunity to think and commune with oneself. This vital necessity, we would denominate as the priceless and mandatory, “leisure ethic.” Reading, engaging in a sport or other elective pastime, or, importantly, when the opportunity presents itself, to leisurely sit and think, is one’s own personal time; the rare and valuable opportunity to be, uninterruptedly, and singularly, himself.

Expressions such as “time off,” “break-time,” or, “coffee break” carry the clear suggestion (“off” from what?) that life and work are synonymous, and that personal time, vacation or holidays, are only ancillary to life’s natural purpose. While gainful employment, certainly, is a required activity, we are morally obliged, by our given franchise to be human, to value rare, leisure time, not as a “break,” but as an engagement in (our own) prime time.

We suggest the formal recognition and national institution of an officially recognized, American leisure ethic.

-p.

In previous writings, we have commented upon our admirable, and, somewhat idealistically naïve, Founding Fathers, in their historic declaration that, “All men are created equal” (which, in that period of American history, unfortunately, did not include women or black people). With that declaration, they admirably and effectively sounded a death knell for the traditional European system of privileged birth and its resultant, social classes. The salutary declaration was certainly well intended, but could not foresee nor avert a perverse, and unavoidable institution of societal classes, based upon criteria other than, the contemplated, privileged birth.

In contemporary America, we are confronted by social problems created by economic maladjustments, and continued concentration of the nation’s wealth and control of the national economy, in the hands of a small percentage of the population. Contemporary studies show, an upper wealthy class, (1%), a nouveau riche class, a middle class, working class, a working poor and a poverty class; which sociological construct, would appear to be an enduring, economic phenomenon. This fact pattern appears to be responsible for many far reaching consequences. Stratification, based upon wealth, income, education, occupation and social access, have been demonstrated to have a significant societal impact on, health, family life, education, religious affairs, educational policy and most shamefully, even the administration of justice.

A classless society, in theory, would refer to a society, in which no one is born to a social class, and where there would exist the realistic possibility of equality of wealth, economics, education, health and social network, individually arrived at, solely by life experience and successful achievement.

The desire for such an ideal, a classless and universally equal society, is far older than that 18^th century, optimistic attempt by our founding fathers. In 73 A.D., Spartacus led an army of slaves in a revolt, seeking human equality. In England, a group called the “Levelers,” a 19^th Century, left wing party, revolted against the unequal English Class system of the time. The year, 1917, saw the Russian Revolution, inspired by the theory of a classless society, to be ruled and managed by the “Proletariat”, inspired by the writings of Karl Marx. Every one of these cited events were failures, and empirically demonstrate, that societal equality cannot be achieved by force. The Russian revolution, in fact, resulted in eventuating the development of more “managerial classes,” than all of the social classes which were previously sought to be eliminated. In any event, Russia, today, is visibly, an autocratic state, run by a tyrant and his loyal group of sycophantic, conspiratorial oligarchs.

George Orwell’s satirical, symbolic treatment of the Russian Revolution, in his novel, “Animal Farm,” contained the instructive statement, “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”

History has undeniably proven to all who have chosen to pay attention, that all social animals compete for status, and are, regrettably, by some natural inclination, hierarchical. We would humbly respond to history’s lesson, that despite its accuracy, moral recognition of the universal equality of human rights, is in all cases, irrevocable and, mandatory.

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