The Future Lens

There was a time when events shaped history. It was the 'facts on the ground' that would influence the future and help us understand the past. We might debate the meaning of it all and we were free to debate the events that triggered changes.

While scholars and historians will discuss Lincoln and the Civil War forever, or debate the real origins of World War One, it clear that 'facts on the ground' now play a lesser role than ever in determining history- or the future.

Now, feelings have entered the equation- so much so, that feelings have supplanted 'facts on the ground' and actual events as having primary influence.

That is not to say that nationalism and/or religion- clearly emotional beliefs, have not always been a source of influence. Of course, they have. That said, when forced to deal with 'facts on the ground,' they did,and responded appropriately. Irrespective of the government, monarch or church, there came a point when dealing with reality was in the best interest of the nation or church.

Nowadays, however, things are different. Today, as we noted, 'facts on the ground' take a back seat to feelings. Think about this. Our borders, spanning thousands of miles, were breached by terrorists, employing a single 'hole' in the system. Clearly, events of 9/11 ought to have us fortifying all of the system, and not just airports and visa applicants. Nevertheless, with thousands of miles of frontiers, that is exactly what we are doing.

Why? because we feel that securing our safety might alienate illegal aliens. What is worse, is that millions of people concur with that kind of thinking. The 'facts on the ground' and the reality of promises of more 9/11's mean less to us than the 'feelings' that many have.

It would be one thing if those 'feelings' were sincere and well meaning, because sincere and well meaning people can be reasoned with and accommodation can be found. Instead, the 'feelings' that we are forced to contend with, have at their source a 'Get Bush!' origin. Their myopic and narcissistic addictions are out of control. To espouse and co opt any idea or ideology, no matter how repulsive (not to mention stupid) is acceptable, if the object of the game is to 'Get Bush!'

A good example of how 'feelings' try to gain the credible equivalence of 'facts on the ground' can be found Democratic Underground.' Maxed Out Mama writes in, Believe It Or Not, of the almost orgiastic frenzy denying the 9/11 Pentagon plane crash. There are DU'er's that insist the destruction was deliberately caused by a Bush administration policy, a missile launched on the order of VP Cheney. Of course, there have always been conspiracy theorists, Holocaust deniers, flat earthers and those who believe the NASA moon expeditions were faked. In the past, they were marginalized people relegated to the margins. Now, the people that have such strong feelings about the administration, are mainstreamed.

Dr Sanity wrote The Narcissistic Synthesis: Sometimes You Get What You Need. The post is not escapist entertainment- it requires participation, thoughtfulness and reflection. There are portions of her post that need to be read and reread, so as begin to understand the richness and texture of her ideas. The rewards, however, are well worth the effort. Dr Sanity at first employs plainspoken elegance

Problems for the individual and for society occur... are not fully integrated into a "cohesive self" in adulthood, and thus emerge as dysfunctional behavior. It is fair to say that much of the evil that humans do to each other comes as a result of the ensuing narcissistic rage and narcissistic awe/ idealism.

When the grandiose self is out of control; the fragments self of the individual(s) will manipulate, control, subjugate, hurt and in extreme cases even kill others... Those in the thrall of the grandiose self are not capable of real human empathy.

Ever the professional, she describes the adult version of a tantrum (part of being a first class therapist is knowing that for $200 bucks an hour, patients do not want to hear the word 'tantrum'). Now here is where it's interesting. Feelings, as a predicate for ideals, may not be the best way to go. She notes,

For all the lip service given to compassion and caring for others, the individual in the throes of narcissistic idealism also completely reject the needs of the individual and enslave him or her to their IDEAL. Eventually, the enslavement--whether religious or secular--snuffs out human ambition, confidence, energy and self-esteem. These "do-gooders" cause considerable human misery and their ideologies can lead to genocidal practices and unbelievable atrocities on a grand scale, all in the name of the IDEAL or GOD. Appropriate benevolence and compassion toward others can only occur when there is a cohesive self in residence; who accepts that other people are separate from him, with thoughts, desires, wishes and beliefs that may not coincide with his own--and that those others have a right to be so.

With absolute clarity, Dr Sanity corrals disparate ideas into cogent though. Feelings are nice- but not enough to support beliefs or ideals to be acted upon or imposed on others. Feelings can be accommodated and factored into beliefs, as long those beliefs and feelings do not automatically trump other beliefs and they are not imposed on others.

We have only touched upon a small part of Dr Sanity's post, because for one thing, we are ill equipped to convey the intent and thrust of her post. Further, humming a few bars does not a symphony make. The content and context of her post must be experienced first hand. We would also note that her links are worth exploring. In particular, Shrinkwrapped (start here and explore further) and Gagdad Bob (start here) each offer up terrific insight.

Finally, examine Dr Sanity's remarks and thoughts on Polydimensional Reality and Neo-Rationalism. They are, by her own admission, concepts not yet fully formed and she plainly asks for ideas and input. She, as her readers, learn as we go along.

We like that about Dr Sanity, Shrinkwrapped and Gagdad Bob. They involve their readers, talk to their readers and have no qualms about learning from their readers and make no bones about learning from their mistakes and experiences. In fact, that is why we like and trust their opinions and analysis.

Truth never trumps ego and truth always trumps feelings.

Portions of this post have been previously published.