Spotlight on Cynicism

I've often been called a cynic. It's probably accurate. So maybe I have an insider's perspective on how so many people are wildly cynical about their so-called holy cause and principal passions.

The first sin was said to be pride -- not just a desire to be important, but a desire to be a match for the gods themselves, right?

I read a piece on accused murdering-professor Amy Bishop last night that examined her great anger at feeling invisible. That's a fairly universal feeling, as I see it. Bishop's life represents one extremely warped way to lash out against those who seem to keep us invisible.

But there are other ways too, ways that are less warped but quite damaging potentially over the long haul.

I think of Muslims in the greater Middle East who feel significant only to the extent that they are blaming the U.S. for causing their problems. And in so doing, they manage to tolerate crazy jihadists who then devour them.

I think of secular and orthodox Jews who can't come close to agreeing about what manner of society Israel should be -- but they are able to agree that anyone who criticizes Israeli policy is an anti-Semite (are you listening, Barack Hussein Obama?). All the while, Palestinians and Arabs continue to breed quickly enough to allow Muslims to someday outnumber Jews in an ostensibly Jewish state.

I think of Tea Partiers who claim to want lower taxes but have yet to renounce the various social programs and military adventurism they so gladly support. I think of Democrats too, more united against Rush Limbaugh than in favor of representing the entire citizenry.

In all these cases, the protagonist deludes himself into believing he is a noble warrior, even a martyr. Yet something cynical is going on at the same time. The same homo sapiens that splits the atom and stares down distant quasars and meddles with DNA is too intelligent and too clever not to recognize that there will be serious long-term bills to be paid as a result of today's intransigence or grandstanding or recklessness.

He simply may not care deep down, because he is at least scratching his itch -- his need to be significant, and loud, in the public eye. And if his children bleed as a result of his lifelong itching, he figures he will be gone by then, all while he claims to be fighting on their behalf.

Now that's cynicism.

Comments

[impotenta]

Great name for this article. Cynicism indeed :D