Whatever Happened To Reality?
Deborah Venable
03/02/09
I’m
convinced of one thing as I try to take the pulse of the nation in this time of
its illness. People seem to be in need
of drama – manufactured or real – to give their lives meaning.
This
may sound like a simple statement, but I encourage you to think about it. Whether or not this observation is a symptom
or perhaps the cause of America’s current illness must be assessed in order to
find a cure. If it is merely a symptom,
perhaps the cure is closer at hand than we think, but if it is the cause – this
need for drama – the illness is much more complicated.
I’ve
often said that modern children have been discouraged from tapping into their
natural human imagination. Those of us
who grew up over a half century ago were grounded in a reality that could fully
utilize a healthy imagination to develop an overall sense of well-being. Today’s children have their imaginations
spelled out for them in so many ways that they cannot develop their own individual
escape mechanisms. More often than not,
if they do show signs of an “active imagination” they may be characterized as
“troubled” or not normal.
Children
who grow up with such limitations are destined to have problems coping with
reality. Every event must be dramatic
or else boredom sets in. Change becomes
a rallying cry, and reality is exchanged for any sense of dramatic
performance. Human beings appear to be
all-controlling of things not in their control, and refuse to acknowledge
responsibility for things that define their existence. With no imagination, even responsibility for
the weather is juxtaposed to that of individual responsibility for moral
right. They can control global climate
change, but cannot get a handle on deviate behavior. They need the drama that stands morality on its ear as it defies
the logic of deity and natural law.
The
whole country turns to Hollywood for role models on human attitudes.
Politicians
get as many prominent actors, directors, and producers in their corners as
possible while ignoring the reality of the “little people” that they are
supposed to represent.
Educators
turn out citizens ready to handle drama in all forms, but ill-equipped to make
their way in real life.
All
the world is a stage and everyone wants his curtain call.
Whatever
happened to reality? Anybody notice the
ticket booth? The price of tickets just
may drive everyone out of the theatre and back to real life. Anyway, I can dream, can’t I?