Prevailing
Interpretation
“All
things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation
prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.”
Friedrich
Nietzsche
If
you listen to the politicos of this world, you will never know what
truth is. In a half-hour sequence of the evening news, it's possible
to hear five different interpretations of the same event. Take our
national disaster readiness, for instance. There is still debate as
to whether people should be allowed to rebuild in flood prone
areas—like coastlines, and river valleys. We humans love to be near
water. It's in our DNA—out of necessity, tribal people always
camped near water sources. And even though we now, for the most part,
have water piped into our homes, we still want to camp near lakes,
rivers and oceans. But is it reasonable to, year after year, rebuild
in places that have flooded repeatedly? Should the nation bear the
financial burden for homes built on sand spits in the Gulf? Ask ten
people and you will get ten answers. Ask the politicians, and you
will get whatever answer is expedient at the moment.
Prevailing
wisdom is also regional. Here in the deep south, opinions tend to be
conservative in every domain. Those of us who are progressive or, God
forbid, liberal, are pariahs, who basically have no voice. The
conservatives believe that truth lies with them—and we bourgeois
bohemians believe it lies with us. Between the two, there is no man's
land. At this particular time in history, the conservatives control
the South. This is their time to shine, and so they will push their
agenda as far as they possibly can, until there is a correction and
the pendulum swings the other way.
Nietzscehe
also spoke to this: “The individual has always had to struggle to
keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be
lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to
pay for the privilege of owning yourself.” Being on the far side of
prevailing attitudes is a lonely, sometimes dangerous business, but
the price is just right for owning one's own soul.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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