Hawthorn Hill Journal by Richard deRosa
On Playpens and Politics
The other day, while walking, all I could think about is how much like a playground our contemporary political arena has become. Actually, much of what I know of playground behavior comes from what I have heard from others. Growing up, I never spent much time at all in anything akin to a playground. Although, I have fond memories of a favorite sandbox in a small play area adjacent to the main zoo in New York’s Central Park. But I think it is fair to extrapolate what we know about playground behavior to a generalization of the endlessly embarrassing behaviors on exhibit daily both in Washington, D.C. and around the country. Bullying seems to be rampant. And just about every childish behavior one associates with playground culture makes the daily headlines. That, in and of itself, is unfortunate. No need here to chronicle any specifics. Anyone opting to check out a newspaper or listen to any evening newscast is served up a full plate of clownish, even vulgar, performances.
When it comes to news and newspapers, I harbor conflicting feelings. A teacher I admired, who to this day exerts an enormous influence on my intellectual life, suggested that reading a newspaper every day is a waste of time. Change the names and dates and places, he said, and nothing ever changes. That also reflects the attitude of Thoreau, another of my enduring influences (some things digested with several grains of salt), who opined that if anything of significance transpired it would find its way to him. The counterpoint to that approach has always been a mother who stressed the importance of keeping up. Also, the small boarding school I attended required that we keep up with current affairs. We could be subject to a quiz in any class, the subject matter notwithstanding. Despite my early mentors’ admonitions against a too-zealous attachment to a daily newspaper, I do keep up despite the urge all too often to throw up my hands in despair, figuring the world is going to hell in a hand basket (imagining that journey takes some doing). Lifelong habits are tough to break.
One news tidbit today had to do with how much money each of the presidential candidates has amassed. I gave up donating money to political campaigns some time ago. I would rather donate my money to organizations that focus on urgent needs, such as hunger and eradicating malaria. Just think of the good those wasted millions could do toward addressing our many pressing societal needs. Instead, hard-working people, as well as wealthy donors who care only about buying influence, fill coffers that fund silly, often derisive and downright nasty television ads. How much influence ads exert is an open question. Oodles of cash is pumped into political consultancies and law firms, both of which, especially lawyers, bill outrageous sums of money. Oh well, life in these United States!
Another newscast ended with a piece about Taylor Swift and her NFL boyfriend. Conspiracy theorists have had a field day with this one. Apparently, the benighted couple not only works as undercover PSYOP agents for the Pentagon, they are also co-conspirators in a plot to reelect Joe Biden. I wonder if they, too, are using Jewish lasers to turn up the heat for Joe. Until a few weeks ago, I had never heard any of Swift’s songs and had never seen a picture of her. I made a point of listening to some of her more heralded songs. Okay, nice sweet voice. But not all that different from scores of other singers that crowd the pop charts. Guess her theatrics must outshine others. I wish the couple well, but as is the case with millions of other couples, their romance is inconsequential, reporting about it positively boring, and a waste of air time and valuable newsprint space. Some things, such as mating rituals between consenting adults, are best left out of public view. If by some chance the happy couple invites the public into their otherwise private lives, well then, live the dream and don’t complain.
It appears that our country has morphed into a vast playpen wherein some of the most flagrantly infantile behavior is not only tolerated, but often celebrated. Social media is one of the most egregious examples because it gives cowards cover. Playgrounds are great places. True, they can be incubators of nasty behavior at times. But we’re talking about kids, not adults, who should know better. But being an adult does not always mean acting like one. Most kids at a playground are monitored by an adult. So if less than kind behavior occurs, it can be dealt with. The American political arena is more gladiatorial than deliberative. Far too many of our politicians need a good old-fashioned spanking. Perhaps even a soapy mouthwash might do the trick. I know of this method’s efficacy from personal experience.
Dick deRosa’s Hawthorn Hill essays have appeared in “The Freeman’s Journal” since 1998. A collection, “Hawthorn Hill Journal: Selected Essays,” was published in 2012. He is a retired English teacher.