Enthusiasm Curbed

Enthusiasm is an essential ingredient for maximizing life’s experiences. Wouldn’t it be terrific if all people had the opportunity to live life enthusiastically? Realistically, they don’t. I cannot imagine how people living in abject poverty or seeking refuge from political and military strife could muster much enthusiasm for anything. Seventy years ago, it was possible for the peoples of “first world” countries to be shielded from the daily onslaught of news about those in distress.

In the second decade of the Twenty-first Century, the words and images that tell of global strife arrive on our handheld devices with lightning speed, sometimes at our request and sometimes not. The empathic individual cannot escape this onslaught. His enthusiasm for life is likely curbed by all he sees or hears. He is bound to develop a degree of Weltschmerz.Peace

A concerned first-worlder can engage in a number of activities in response to his angst about the plight of others. He might work for an NGO, donate money, goods and services to help support those in need, volunteer with organizations that support the needy, join and support organizations that lobby for democratic and civil rights, or work diligently to bring governments to power which have a substantial empathic and sympathetic world view. One of the more effective and accessible courses of action is advocating and voting for national governments committed to international peace and domestic equality whose prime modus operandi is to act in ways that do no harm to others and intentionally enacts legislation that enshrines that principle in law.

Where are the political platforms which enthusiastically begin with the proclamation – every promise we make and every piece of legislation we enact will conform to the precept, do no harm to others directly or indirectly? When a government dedicates itself to helping the downtrodden at home and abroad and supporting those engaged in humanitarian work, it is worthy of our support. Unfortunately, such governments exist in liberal, progressive minds and in humanist hearts, but not in reality.

Does the responsibility for government behavior and policy rest solely with the politicos of the world? Clearly not! In democracies, “We the people”, to borrow a phrase from a famous document about liberty and justice, are responsible for the governments we elect. Some say we get the government we deserve, but I believe we get the government we permit to be elected. Where are the citizens who enthusiastically demand such attitudes from politicians soliciting their support? Where are the protesters demanding government complies with the precept, do no harm to others either directly or indirectly?

The precept of doing no harm to others either directly or indirectly is an overarching philosophy. If that was a guiding principle for government, gender equality, racial equality, humane refugee policies, equal opportunities for employment and education, equal access to quality healthcare, etc.,etc. would flow naturally from governments and institutions. Call me a dreamer if you will, but ask yourself if there isn’t more than a kernel of truth in what I write

As I pursue hobbies and avocation, vocation, engage with life enthusiastically, my enthusiasm is dampened by the fate of many peoples. This is surely an aspect of suffering which each of us should experience, unless of course we lack empathy and turn a blind eye to the greater truth of the misfortune of others. There is little we can do to directly change the tragic course of life for others, but there is much to be done to influence the politicians we elect, and the governments they form. When we lobby our politicians to do the right thing enthusiastically, there is a chance they will. If we do not, then the inertia of vested interests will prevail.

As always, your faithful blogger,

L Alan Weiss (Larry) – Author