I’ve been traveling through Europe working with clients, visiting friends and exploring new wine regions.
Invariably after work is over and the exultation of the beauty of these places winds down, talk turns to the state of the world.
To Trump as emblematic of a view of the US that neither they—nor I—knew existed. To refugee situations everywhere and to the rising tide of racism and hate crimes that is threatening our world.
It always starts with discussions of Trump.
Disbelief that this sociopath, misogynist, lying, bigoted scum could possible become next president of the US. Realization that all of us, 90 or so days ago, thought the voting population of the country was well, like us–aware, somewhat informed, and rational.
And a bit reeling over the fact that indeed, we are in a bubble of education and affluence. Oblivious to the realities of a population segment that is front and center, represented so unfortunately by this monstrous caricature of a leader.
But while this is unimaginable, the refugee and immigration debate in Europe (and the US) boggles the imagination as well.
And equally as heated, especially here in Europe, Brexit of course.
These conversations invariably end with me painfully wide awake, cross the table or bar top from smart, concerned, intelligent human beings from multiple countries and backgrounds, thinking on the schism of logic, the rising tide of anger and the somewhat tenuous state of the moral and logical fabric of our global society.
Sitting in my friend’s chalet in the Alps the other evening, after one of these conversations, we both realized that we were both seriously angry at our governments, frustrated at the strata of democracy that obviously has failed and is no longer structured to manage the changes of the world.
And unnerved that while ostensibly we live in a democratic framework with elected officials, in some way we, like those who feel disenfranchised by the state of the economy in the US, were a bit helpless to truly change things with intent.
Certainly we are the fortunate. Through hard work, luck and in some cases birth, are doing just fine.
To a person, each of us, whatever we do for a living, are more informed this year of the politics of our countries, more studious of global economics and more stymied to put words on the growing anti-Semitism that is growing without harking back to thoughts of Hitler. That while he was a hero to a truly disenfranchised German population, was at his core—well we all know what.
Here’s the huge rub.
To a person, we all feel frustrated with lack of ability to truly impact change on a large enough stage.
We can donate to the limits of our political contributions.
I can speak for myself that I am more informed this year politically than ever before.
But am I really doing anything to drive change?
Not simply to insure that Trump, truly a modern Golem of stupidity and backwards values, doesn’t get a seat in the White House.
But to raise the discussion about WTF we can really do in the face of these untenable realities of the human catastrophe of refuge camps and a population without places to live or create lives for themselves?
How we address the reality that racism and bigotry are on the rise? That hate, the most blinding of all emotions, is becoming more and more prevalent everywhere.
That the schism of political discussion even amongst my peers and friends has in many ways stopped.
That in the most open forums and blogs, the smartest and most successful people I interact with immediately fall into rancor and the discourse turns from intelligence to hyperbole and viciousness when we address the growing shooting of civilians and its connection to gun laws in the country.
Why I, who have all the advantage, am starting to feel angry, not at the disadvantage of my situation certainly but at the very structures that have supported my life that are seemingly unalterable. Not open to a new way to address these issues and create discussions that can possibly—hopefully—lead to some change.
As much I am the beneficiary of the social nets personally and professionally, they seem honestly inappropriate for this conversation.
Facebook and Twitter, our strongest platforms for connectivity are unaccepting of these discussions by nature. They simply repel these conversations.
The trends towards removing comments from news sources are indicative that even what we held as the highest form of information, our news sources, are unable to host this discussion. Nor honestly are they able to remain impartial in the heat of the situation.
So this is my little part.
On my own blog to not open the political discussion, but see if there is amongst my community a similarity in frustration as maybe in the bond, there is a direction to find a way for change.
Or maybe it is just around some corner of my experience and someone will show me.
I’ve always believed that expression is an action. I still believe it now but it seems in the face of it all, somewhat less than enough.
