Self-editorializing

Self-editorializing instinctively precedes self- expression.

We all are self-editors of words said and unsaid.

To err is human. To unleash uncensored unedited thoughts e.g. racist, put-down or out-of-bound/below-the-belt comments is to ask for a tit-for-tat, if not outright violent reaction.

Lately, uncensored expression under the guise of freedom of expression have been rampant and re-tweeted. The FCC and law makers have yet come up with a compromise to hold “violators” into account. (Section 230?)

All the while, a Silent Majority remain silent and stand by. What a lonely planet. The evil and the good, both with their shares of rainfall.

Common grace.

We teach our kids. Yet we forgot to re-teach ourselves those civic lessons half-learned.

Why are we here? To advance the ball? To chop wood and carry water – before and after Enlightenment.

Arts, science and technology, conspire to present us with more complexity (drones kill surgically, for instance). Does it mean morally, it’s more acceptable since we lessen the amount of collateral damage?

The Editorial department of our local papers got stripped off. We’re de facto a self-editorial department of one. Like a self check-out cashier job, we live and learn, bumping our heads, skinning our knees (for centuries, we just sit and get washed over by one-way propaganda. From a stoic mode to a spoke-person mode, it will take us another century). Curse words used to shunned. Now it’s cool to sprinkle them here and there to show we “get it”. What the f**k.

Stop the world, I want to get off. Too dizzy a ride. Too many Nike choices. Can’t “Just Do It” when material and moral options flood our simple mind. They preached Monotheistic theme in a pluralistic society. In other words, the more aggressive their approach (Christian Nationalism, for one) the more likely we enter another World War between Christian, Muslim and Jews. “We are right ,You are wrong. Zero-sum society.” Oil and water don’t mix. Kill Kennedy. Murder MLK.

Homogeneity is a concept that doesn’t exist outside of the marketing department i.e. market segmentation. Meanwhile, Santa continues to come knocking on every kid’s door. The month before, every kids knock on every door. It’s a numbers game. It works. The more the merrier. We optimize our choices and hedge our bets with diverse choices. Let the winner emerge.

It’s not a Lonely Planet, unless we wanted it too. Just stay home. Close the blinds and put on “All by myself”. Only in death should we do it alone. In life, we do it with others. Then, with every expression, every utterance, self-editorialized. Words that build up, not tear down.

We need to overcome that natural tendency to rise and scavenge on dead bodies (from hunter-gatherer days). To feel superior over others by putting them down. A local homeless man put up a sign which says “Happiness is a cheeseburger”. There is no further need for self-editorializing. Simple and straightforward. He got my vote and my dollar.