Freedom is hard

 I know that I have been extremely lax with my blog. I realize it's because I stop myself from writing the blog because I tell myself that, because I work in the theater, I'm not allowed to express opinions that don't relate directly to my work. I'm realizing that this is just a means too hold myself back. It's an old problem that can still affects me, unfortunately.

In reality, I believe that my work is wanting to know and understand human beings. It is my passion. I happen to express that passion working in the theater, writing, directing, teaching, even producing. I am fortunate to be my own boss. Whatever success or failure I have, I have no one else to blame or take the credit. I feel that I am free. It is what I love most about being American. I've traveled and worked in many countries, and deal with many people. I have never been anywhere that had as much freedom as Americans have.

In the times we are living in, which is changing our lives, we are seeing people's behavior when we are at our best and worst. It's hard to live through the pandemic we are in. To mask, or not to mask, don't get close, don't touch. We see people who ignore the reality completely, people who deny it's very existence. And, people who live in continuous fear and anxiety. It's very hard to stay rational, able to navigate our lives on a day to day basis. What should I believe? What should I do?

Freedom exists when people take responsibility for their actions. Freedom is not license to do whatever we want. Honestly, there are times I'm walking down the street somewhere and I see someone not wearing a mask. I want to say something. But, if they're not hurting anyone, if they're not close to anyone, what harm is it? 

Some in Michigan planned to kidnap the Governor of the state because they don't like what she's doing. Is that freedom? Or license? How do you know what is real? People seem to believe what they want to believe, not based on much sense of what the reality is. How do you know what the truth, the clearest and most accurate perception of whatever reality you are focused on, is?

The only answer to that is because it's what you feel, what your senses perceive to be. It's not a great comfort because it's not a easy, mechanical reality to measure. History shows us that many great men and women who discover realities that the rest of us don't sense, are often ignored, sometimes murdered for perceiving a reality, a truth that most people don't see. And, that isn't in a book, or accepted officially.

This problem of perceiving what is true is the center of the world we are living in today. We are inundated with information, virtually. And, misinformation! To see clearly, one has to know that one is in contact with reality, which means with what we sense and feel, including contact with our emotions.

Of course, I think I can write about this because the need to be in contact, to sense and feel, perceive reality, is what I do for a living. The difference is that I have to create an imaginary world, based on the character and the life that surrounds that character. I have to read and understand the play, which will be greatly affected by what I know about life. I merge my life with the play. It is a fantastic life, honestly. I feel lucky.

But, applying that capacity to real life, as a doctor or a scientist, in the true sense of the word, does. And, nowadays, we see that even many of them are out of contact with reality.

So, we must know whether we can trust ourselves. And, that comes with experience. Experience that is based not on believing that whatever we think is true. But, on what we observe in Nature. Including human nature.

We are living in sick times. And, people are sick. They can't see what is real. The virus isn't simply the Covid 19 virus. It is the virus within us, that spreads. It is our fear and anxiety that leads people to want to be led, to be told what to do. We give our power away. Staying free doesn't mean that whatever I want to do is okay. I need to know what is real. This can only be done individually, through our desire to become the most human we can be. It is how I define greatness. Great human beings are more human than most of us. They see the world clearly. They do not get sick with the virus of fear and inability to trust their perceptions of reality. 

Can you tell who sees more clearly?

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Donald Trump and the steps that gave rise to the ugly face of Fascism

It is sad for me to be watching the rise of Fascism in the United States, but the extraordinary rise of Donald Trump to becoming a serious consideration for the candidacy for the Presidency is a reality. I'd like to explain my view on why this is happening.

Fascism exists because a leader understands two things. First, peoples' deep longing to be led and be told what to do. And, second, their anger. Hitler understood this very well. And, we are seeing the same symptoms here. Mr Trump has even counseled us that if there is any difficulty during the nominations, there will be violence. He has sent the message to his followers, who, up until now, are not wearing brown shirts. Hopefully, they never will. And, hopefully, he never will. Hopefully, people will become aware that they have contracted a disease. The dis-ease of Fascism.

The question is: How did we get this far? What did we do? I, for one, look no further than the polarization of our politics, both in, and out of, Congress. Certainly, having differences of opinion, and expressing them, is a fundamental signpost of freedom. But, we have arrived at a point where there is no exchange and discussion that leads to a solution and a resolution of problems. People dig in, and there is no middle ground. Look at the Republicans recent stand on the nomination of a centrist judge to the Supreme Court. This stagnant atmosphere builds up frustration, anger, hate, and hopelessness. Hence, Donald Trump flows into the hole we have dug for ourselves.

I am neither left nor right. I have voted both ways, according to what I believed was best for the moment. And, I didn't vote for many years, because I felt that by voting I gave my tacit approval to what I saw as a corruption in our government. It seemed to me that the government acted like a country of its own, with no regard to the mandate that elected officials have been given. They were in business for themselves. I was angry. I still am. But, anger is no excuse for stupidity, or the rise of Fascism.

In France, where elections have two stages, the anger of the population is often expressed in the first vote. In recent years, that has meant the increased voting for the far right party, the Front Nationale. In the second vote, that vote is less. People switch and vote for the candidate of their choice. Though, we are seeing an increase in the vote for the far right.

People want something done, and in general, they feel that things have gone too far. In France, that means that an immigrant arriving in the country is given a place to live, an minimum income, while French citizens can't get a better apartment, can't get help when they are in need, and are more heavily taxed to pay for the government's expenses of paying for the underprivileged.

In the USA, the problems aren't that clear. We have a large illegal population, but a part of that illegal population pays taxes and receives no benefits, as they aren't entitled to them. And, we can argue about what the problem of unemployment is. The loss of manufacturing has to be considered as an important contributing factor, too.

Certainly, the Government wants us to believe that the ugly depression we suffered, caused by rampant irresponsibility in the banking industry, partially fueled by government deregulation, is over. What we need to be able to do is figure out when regulation is necessary, without it interfering with people's ability to do business.

Also, the Government doesn't say that it is over because a lot of people did something to resolve their problems. And, now hold two jobs, instead of one, and are making less money in the process. Or, that people with one job are working longer hours, being paid less, and doing a job that formerly was done by two people. But, we are a resilient people, used to working hard. And, up to now, we don't want Socialism. Yes, we have Social Security and Health Care. And, regardless of whether we like it, Even people who don't like it, use it.

I believe that there is a social contract that defines a Nation. What ours is, according to our Founding Fathers, is: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. What an extraordinary contract. It says nothing about helping people who don't help themselves. And, we need to discuss what that means. Fascism will not discuss that. It will exploit peoples' weakness and feeling of helplessness. In the same way, Socialism exploits those same weaknesses by saying that, since we can't take care of ourselves, we need to take away peoples' unwanted freedom and responsibility and give more power to the Government. To regulate their lives, as they aren't capable of doing it themselves. They are two sides of a coin. I stand for neither.

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