" Socrates to Glaucon (with apologies to Plato) "
Let me show you in an analogy how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened. Behold politicians living in a cave, which has a mouth open toward the light. They have lived here from birth with their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see the cave wall before them, being prevented by the chains from turning their heads.
I see. That certainly explains how some people run for office. They see shadows on the wall and hear only the echoes of their own voices. How else can they call “chaos” “victory”? Or “poverty” “progress”?
Most are decent people. But they are prisoners of that wall. To win elections they see shadows of their opponents on that wall and think they are seeing reality. The only other opinions they hear are echoes of their own voices.
Truly that explains why they say such ugly things about each other. I see by today’s news scroll that the two Virginia Senatorial candidates are engaged in a form of mud wrestling with words. Why do they do that?
They must believe that mud sticks and thoughtful debate is gone with each breath.
How else to explain how two honorable men with good ideas can accuse each other of everything from delaying arms for their centurions and not paying taxes to demonizing women and " becoming" the words written in books (a miracle similar to a befuddled Archimedes turning gold into lead).
Truly. But they are not alone.
No. Most certainly not. Many politicians across the land known as America are facing real problems with unending war, the health of their people, and the growing number of poor people. But instead of offering thoughtful ideas, too many debase their messages with accusations against their opponents of everything from phone sex and choking mistresses to all manner of civil and legal crimes.
That is true. And so sad for democracy. But how can people who want to vote responsibly see the light?
They must break their own chains, turn their heads and look for the light at the opening of the cave. Who among these candidates for public trust seem to be trying to see both sides of complex issues? And whenever citizens see or hear messages that distort truth and spread hatred, they should send or tell those candidates and their messengers what a famous lawyer once said back 1954 AD.
“Have you no sense of decency. At long last do you have no sense of decency?"
From an editorial in the Virginia Hospitality Suite.
