General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsElephants
We all know the parable of the elephant and the blind men. Like all good fables, it uses an entertaining, easily understood story as an educational device to shed light upon human nature. This one originated in ancient India, and became a staple of numerous eastern religious belief systems. The wisdom and insight it provides has allowed variations of the fable to spread across time and distance.
Western culture tends to be most familiar with the Jain version: the blind man who touches the elephants tail describes the animal as being like a rope; the leg, a tree; the side, a wall; the trunk, a tree limb. Each is correct, yet none appreciates the others description. The parable provides a powerful metaphor for the human condition.
In 1872, a political cartoon used an elephant to symbolize the republican party. The image stuck, which is a shame, since elephants are intelligent, wonderful beings. Indeed, everyone likes elephants, and respects their right to live -- everyone, that is, but those who seek to exploit elephants.
Now, who do we know that fits that description? Who doesnt respect an elephants right to live an elephants natural life? Who would seek to exploit elephants as a source of cheap labor; as a vehicle in warfare; and to be slaughtered for their tusks? Who might we describe, using the biblical metaphors of deaf, dumb, and blind to definite their attitude towards the elephants natural rights? By gosh, would that not be our beast fiends, the republican party?
All that may sound like an amazing coincident. Yet, because I do not believe in coincidence, it is not why Im writing this. Rather, I want to make a point -- minor as it may be -- about a dynamic in the DU:GD descriptions of the republican elephant. Its something that many, maybe most of us, do from time to time. Im certainly as guilty of it as anyone else. Its easy to focus on its tusks, and identify them with the republican military aggression in the Middle East; or its ears, and identify the government eavesdropping on citizens; or its feet, as crushing the middle class. And all these are true.
The potential problem, however, is one person/group sees only their issue as big, and of greater significance than some or all of other peoples issues. Who gains, for example, if there is a divisive debate on what is more important between, say, womens reproductive rights and marriage equality? Between the environment and anti-war movements? Police violence and public education? Racism and economic justice?
By no coincidence, each of those four examples includes distinct issues, that are at the same time closely related. So much so, that it is an error to think that we can fully resolve one, without fully addressing the other. Why? Because that is the nature of the republican elephant -- which is not a living, breathing, flesh-and-blood creature at all
.but is instead an unconscious, destructive machine.
Obviously, this doesnt mean that every time one posts something about a cause they are advocating, they need to include a laundry list, in alphabetical order, of all other related issues. But it does mean that it is an error to insist that your cause is The Cause, of far more significance than those of others. If, for example, we take the issue of violence, it is a mistake to believe that the violence perpetrated against one group is more important than the violence committed against any or all other groups. Indeed, doing so misses the higher point that all of that violence is actually connected, like the features on the elephant.
It is in our ability to make the connections between the many issues that the Democratic Party should be taking a firm stance on, that helps to unite us. It is our understanding of these connections that enlightens us to the true nature of the beast. And more capable of protecting us from it.
Peace,
H2O Man
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)Indeed, we need to stick together.
Thank you for this post and gentle reminder.
I fun fun writing this one. Edited my sick jokes, of course.
longship
(40,416 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)Do you know that Elephants and Sea Cows are the closest relative of the Hyrax?
The Hyrax looks like a rodent, nothing like an Elephant or a Sea Cow. I thought someone pranked Wikipedia, but come to find out, they all have abdominal testes. Their balls are in their stomachs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrax
H2O Man
(73,605 posts)Life on earth takes interesting forms.
herding cats
(19,567 posts)Thank you for using such a lovely way to remind us of this.
H2O Man
(73,605 posts)One of the unhealthy dynamics of our culture is its ability to make people feel they are alone. If you think that you are the only one in, say, a group of 100 that has a certain concern, you are far less likely to speak up, than you would be if you thought 25 others shared it. Or 50. Or 75.
I think that this was one of the strengths of the Occupy Movement. It might have started out "them darned leftists," but it ended up drawing a much wider audience. More, it connected with a portion of the middle class, "polite" society. They may not have left their living rooms to join in, but they were conscious of Occupy's message. Hence, the establishment's efforts to disrupt and discredit American citizens exercising their Amendment 1 rights.
The Democratic Party needs to connect with more people, at the local, state, and national levels. That requires politicians who can communicate with the public. And that the public trusts as being authentic.
F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)The only way we can bring down the insanity of our current state is by coming together as one. These issues are all interconnected, and we cannot forget that. If we are to bring about a revolution against the capitalist system that oppresses us all, we must realize that racism is tied the economy, that poverty is tied to the environment, that the rescinding of women's rights are tied to the failings of our education system, etc. There are innumerable connections between various forms of oppression, all inextricably woven together. We are going to have to fight on all fronts for a hope at a better future.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)It becomes easy to see that the vast majority of human injustice stems from oppression of others. If the frame becomes oppression of others, that would unite the vast majority.