My Search For The Truth - What About Ferguson Missouri?
I'm interrupting my series of articles about the soul to discuss what recently happened in Ferguson Missouri.
And, I'll begin with my favorite quote from Mark Twain, "It's easier to fool people, than for people to recognize that they've been fooled.
" Considering all that I've presented so far regarding the human soul, why is it so gullible? Why is it so easily brainwashed? After watching various accounts of brainwashing phenomena on the History Channel I was fascinated to watch how an entire nation could become so radicalized.
The dire circumstances in Germany following WWI, certainly contributed to how it might have happened, but there was something else that caught my attention; and it's how vulnerable the human soul is to persuasion.
While it appears that most of the older generation didn't buy into Hitler's brainwashing tactics, they must have been sympathetic to the cause since they allowed it to happen.
The primary tactic was educating the youth to believe in their human superiority, and in so doing they created a monster.
A monster that -- among other equally disturbing things -- was capable of killing innocent people without regret.
One case in point was a letter written by a soldier to his family that described how awful he felt after shooting some Jews that day.
He told his parents how bad he felt after the first time doing this, but explained how he could get used to it because it was what Hitler wanted him to do.
Another example was a young teenage girl who became pregnant after attending one of Hitler's youth camps.
When her parents became outraged, she told them that she did it for Hitler, and she would report her parents to the authorities if they continued to admonish her.
While there are many more stories like these, my main concern about brainwashing comes from the fact that this kind of "groupthink" has happened many times in the past and is with us today.
My purpose in analyzing the subject of brainwashing and "groupthink" is to formulate a solution rather than explain how and why it happens.
The fact is -- all of us are participating in some form of brainwashing, and most of it stems from the environment and culture that formulated our opinions and beliefs.
Now -- with regard to Ferguson, I recently watched a YouTube video of a young black man, from Ferguson Missouri, following the grand jury verdict that acquitted the police officer.
In essence, the young man said that the actions of most of the protestors and rioters were a result of brainwashing.
His recommendation was for people to recognize who they are and not what society has caused them to be.
After hearing this, I began to think that his insights were very profound.
They were profound because it called for all people -- regardless of race or ethnicity -- to examine their souls.
To ask fundamental questions about who and why they are, and then to seek answers.
Ultimately -- after doing these things -- they should make a concerted effort to make course corrections -- if necessary.
I'm not going to go into the course corrections that I believe people should make in their lives, but one might want to examine the recommendations made by Jesus the Christ and consider the way in which He lived His life.
Since I am a white middle class citizen of the United States -- it puts me in a privileged vantage point -- relative to the rest of the world.
However, I have seen this privileged vantage point being abused by people who apparently believe that somehow they deserve what they have and have disdain -- rather than compassion -- for less fortunate people.
I recall a case where my wife was a member of a tennis club, and told me about one member who was unable to play tennis, on a particular day, because she was breaking in a new maid.
She told my wife that breaking in a new maid was very difficult, and that she needed to make sure that the maid knew what she wanted to have done.
Do you see what I'm trying to say here? If not -- perhaps you need to do what the young black man from Ferguson Missouri had to say -- examine who you are.
Because I am a white middle class citizen, my recommendations to the protestors and rioters in Ferguson will have little or no effect.
At 73 years of age, I have been exposed to racial prejudice and seen the progress that has been made.
However, since the death of Dr.
King, I have seen that progress either declining of or at least not moving forward.
When Dr.
King said that people should be judged by their by their character rather than the by color of their skin, some African Americans got it but many didn't.
Unfortunately -- many of those that didn't get it -- were seen on national TV in Ferguson.
In my opinion there needs to be a replacement for Dr.
King, if race relations are to get better.
It will take an African American leader that builds upon Dr.
King's legacy rather than one who condones and excuses bad behavior and extensive use of foul language.
It will take a person of unquestioned integrity.
It will take a person who is not afraid to tell it like it is, and not a con man who profits from stoking the flames of discontent.
It will take a person who recognizes that many black Americans have become their own worst enemy and explains to them why in explicit terms.
It will take a person who doesn't blame non-blacks for their plight even if in some instances the blame is justified.
It will probably take a person with the stature of Dr.
Ben Carson.
I know this because of the admiration that I and many other non-black people have for him.
At this point, he appears to represent the hopes and prayers that an overwhelming number of non-black people have for the African American community.
And, I'll begin with my favorite quote from Mark Twain, "It's easier to fool people, than for people to recognize that they've been fooled.
" Considering all that I've presented so far regarding the human soul, why is it so gullible? Why is it so easily brainwashed? After watching various accounts of brainwashing phenomena on the History Channel I was fascinated to watch how an entire nation could become so radicalized.
The dire circumstances in Germany following WWI, certainly contributed to how it might have happened, but there was something else that caught my attention; and it's how vulnerable the human soul is to persuasion.
While it appears that most of the older generation didn't buy into Hitler's brainwashing tactics, they must have been sympathetic to the cause since they allowed it to happen.
The primary tactic was educating the youth to believe in their human superiority, and in so doing they created a monster.
A monster that -- among other equally disturbing things -- was capable of killing innocent people without regret.
One case in point was a letter written by a soldier to his family that described how awful he felt after shooting some Jews that day.
He told his parents how bad he felt after the first time doing this, but explained how he could get used to it because it was what Hitler wanted him to do.
Another example was a young teenage girl who became pregnant after attending one of Hitler's youth camps.
When her parents became outraged, she told them that she did it for Hitler, and she would report her parents to the authorities if they continued to admonish her.
While there are many more stories like these, my main concern about brainwashing comes from the fact that this kind of "groupthink" has happened many times in the past and is with us today.
My purpose in analyzing the subject of brainwashing and "groupthink" is to formulate a solution rather than explain how and why it happens.
The fact is -- all of us are participating in some form of brainwashing, and most of it stems from the environment and culture that formulated our opinions and beliefs.
Now -- with regard to Ferguson, I recently watched a YouTube video of a young black man, from Ferguson Missouri, following the grand jury verdict that acquitted the police officer.
In essence, the young man said that the actions of most of the protestors and rioters were a result of brainwashing.
His recommendation was for people to recognize who they are and not what society has caused them to be.
After hearing this, I began to think that his insights were very profound.
They were profound because it called for all people -- regardless of race or ethnicity -- to examine their souls.
To ask fundamental questions about who and why they are, and then to seek answers.
Ultimately -- after doing these things -- they should make a concerted effort to make course corrections -- if necessary.
I'm not going to go into the course corrections that I believe people should make in their lives, but one might want to examine the recommendations made by Jesus the Christ and consider the way in which He lived His life.
Since I am a white middle class citizen of the United States -- it puts me in a privileged vantage point -- relative to the rest of the world.
However, I have seen this privileged vantage point being abused by people who apparently believe that somehow they deserve what they have and have disdain -- rather than compassion -- for less fortunate people.
I recall a case where my wife was a member of a tennis club, and told me about one member who was unable to play tennis, on a particular day, because she was breaking in a new maid.
She told my wife that breaking in a new maid was very difficult, and that she needed to make sure that the maid knew what she wanted to have done.
Do you see what I'm trying to say here? If not -- perhaps you need to do what the young black man from Ferguson Missouri had to say -- examine who you are.
Because I am a white middle class citizen, my recommendations to the protestors and rioters in Ferguson will have little or no effect.
At 73 years of age, I have been exposed to racial prejudice and seen the progress that has been made.
However, since the death of Dr.
King, I have seen that progress either declining of or at least not moving forward.
When Dr.
King said that people should be judged by their by their character rather than the by color of their skin, some African Americans got it but many didn't.
Unfortunately -- many of those that didn't get it -- were seen on national TV in Ferguson.
In my opinion there needs to be a replacement for Dr.
King, if race relations are to get better.
It will take an African American leader that builds upon Dr.
King's legacy rather than one who condones and excuses bad behavior and extensive use of foul language.
It will take a person of unquestioned integrity.
It will take a person who is not afraid to tell it like it is, and not a con man who profits from stoking the flames of discontent.
It will take a person who recognizes that many black Americans have become their own worst enemy and explains to them why in explicit terms.
It will take a person who doesn't blame non-blacks for their plight even if in some instances the blame is justified.
It will probably take a person with the stature of Dr.
Ben Carson.
I know this because of the admiration that I and many other non-black people have for him.
At this point, he appears to represent the hopes and prayers that an overwhelming number of non-black people have for the African American community.