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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In ‘97, Create New Perspective And Better News

Jennifer James The Spokesman-Re

I like to use my column at the beginning of a new year to think about the future. I usually don’t make resolutions so much as try to sort out the muddle in my head and in the headlines.

There is so much change in the wind. We are ambivalent, confused about world events and the immaturity of our culture. Americans are no longer young, free and capable of anything. The new television rating system reminds us that we are still crude, rude and unsure of what to do about it. We are feeling the weight of responsibility for ourselves as well as for the world.

Philosopher Elizabeth Dodson Grey once described the changes that would hit us in the ‘90s as “Good-bye more, hello less, hello more.” She said we must give up the value of “more for more’s sake” so our society can pay attention to character and depth, a truer quality of life. Perhaps the simplicity movement is part of that concern.

What would help us keep the best of this unique democratic culture and avoid the worst? What changes can we make that would leave us at the end of next year feeling that we have more quality of life, not less?

The last election left a bad taste in our mouths as have any number of headlines about violence, racism, abused and molested children, political extremism and the destruction of our environment.

What headlines would you like to read and what are you willing to do to make those words appear? Here are some of mine.

“Citadel Realizes It Confused Bullying With Leadership”; “Congress Admits They Confused Leadership with Pro Wrestling”; “Parenting Courses Become Mandatory When Children Declared Valuable Resource”; “Drunken Drivers Forfeit Cars Not Lives”; “Christ Returns, Rewrites Bible, Thanks Women.”

“Israel Looks In Mirror”; “Billboards Disappear Given Advertising Glut”; “Everyone Votes in Local Election”; “Tobacco Companies Admit They Sell Death Now and Again”; “Reality- Based IQ Tests Give Minorities the Edge In Common Sense”; “New Psychological Tests Reveal Gays More Civilized Than Straights”; “Boxing Declared Violent”; “Spectators Refuse To Kneel Before Stadium Gods”; “Women Given Transplants, Toilet Lines Disappear.”

We need better news, a new perspective, new sources of energy and new measures for safety and compassion. We need to create new stories, new headlines, a better version of America.

That is our assignment for 1997.

But egocentric cultures such as ours resist responsibility and our leaders follow. We defend democracy throughout the world, but forget to take care of our own communities.

We are concerned about the nuances of our health but still buy tobacco stocks. We produce marvelous levels of creative output but expose our children to trash television.

What passes for acceptable programming on our own Public Access Channel would not be acceptable in a Sea-Tac topless bar or the sleaziest club in Paris.

Weapons are, in many ways, the most obvious symbol of egocentric America. We demand the ultimate freedom to kill, be killed and sell weapons to killers, because we cherish the opportunity — the choice — to own and use anything.

Gangs act out our own refusal to become adults. The inner city becomes another version of the Wild West as do guerillas around the world whom we have armed.

Sociocentric cultures put the group first. They limit the individual and his access to weapons to protect society. They establish security by requiring conformity. They encounter far less violence, but lose the ability to be wild and rebellious.

The Japanese study Americans to learn to be more creative, spontaneous and innovative. We study them in hopes of becoming more disciplined and responsible.

We represent the creative chaos of the individual. They personify the sustained tenacity of the group. We envy their organization and purpose. They envy our freedom and spirit.

America is the more adventurous, perhaps more advanced human model. We believe deeply in developing the full potential of the individual.

We are the only nation in the world that is so unrelentingly egocentric. We are wonderful, but confused and violent. We feel entitled to have it all, but are in trouble because of our inability to control ourselves.

We want state-of-the-art everything for ourselves, even if many of our people cannot afford it.

But the mosaic of people that creates our special cultural intelligence requires compassion to survive. Some generosity towards the group, some standard for our children is essential or the chaos caused by those who cannot fit in will expand beyond our ability to cope.

What I draw from this pot full of thoughts is a commitment to work intensely on violence next year, to try and understand again why we celebrate it so and the cost we pay for that passion.

Well, I feel better. I’ve organized my thoughts. Now it’s your turn.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Jennifer James The Spokesman-Review