I like science fiction. I’ve always liked science fiction, and although I know that will relegate me to a certain demographic (“one of those”) among some readers, I am happy to confess my predilection. In fact, some knowledge of sci-fi is necessary for this essay to make sense, so if you are still rolling your eyes, see ya.
Like many people, I am dismayed and alarmed at the state of modern political discourse. I see only problems – no solutions, no compromise and no reaching out from one side to the other. This is universal, from American Democrats and Republicans to Israelis and Palestinians, Russians and Ukrainians, and Shia and Sunni. I am not unique in my dismay and concern, but I am somewhat unique in my perspective. The son of academics, I am now, at 54, an experienced acupuncturist, expert practitioner of breath-centered exercise therapy, and a veteran of local politics, including 8 years’ service on Borough Council and two runs for state office. As I was lying in wife-ordered hammock banishment bliss the other evening, drifting slowly downward from my money and kid-inspired manic anxiety into the quieter, realer world of hummingbirds, clouds and overhead leaves, I had a sudden realization. At a time of world-wide manic anxiety, there is no mechanism available to make our political leaders go lie in their hammocks, think things over, and chill the hell out.
On a political level we don’t value sensitivity – in fact, sensitivity is seen as a weakness on the political stage. All the political metaphors are of battle; every candidate is scorned who doesn’t attack his or her opponent and castigated if they dare to object to cruel, unfair or brutal treatment by the opponent, the press or the public. “You knew what you were getting into,” is the universal, curt response to the wounded candidate. We don’t value sensitivity in general, as a species, except in strictly defined spheres: motherhood; the arts; religion; and therapeutic roles, for instance. However, if a mother, artist, religious leader or therapist enters the political or even simply the public sphere, he or she is expected to transform into a hardened warrior, casting off that foolish sensitivity and replacing it with thick skin.
As an acupuncturist practicing in the west, one of the things I say more often than anything else to my patients is, “We are all born with a certain level of sensitivity – the trick is to get yourself into a situation where your sensitivity is an asset and not a liability.” This is a true statement – anyone who works in a therapeutic setting will recognize its truth. You can’t treat a sensitive person as if he or she is tough, and you can’t treat a tough person as if he or she is sensitive. It doesn’t work. However, both the sensitive (mothers, teachers, caregivers, pastors, therapists, artists) and the tough (construction workers, military personnel, business people, public safety officers) have significant insights to offer society at large. Civilized society, by definition, will make room for both the tough and the sensitive, not simply to accommodate difficult people, but because BOTH HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER WHICH BENEFITS SOCIETY. However, in political discourse across the world, only the tough succeed, and only the tough get a voice at the most important tables. This creates an ongoing dialogue that is more and more wildly confrontational and unbalanced. It also harms lots of people who wish to be involved in the political process but aren’t naturally tough people. The increased participation of women in American politics was accompanied by a hope that they would bring a more human touch to the cutthroat world of partisan politics, but the opposite action occurred. Only the toughest bitches in America have been politically successful, and without exception, women have been shaped by “political reality” rather than women shaping it.
Which brings me back to science fiction. In the “Star Trek Next Generation” tv series, one of the commanding officers of the ship is Counselor Deanna Troi. As her title suggests, she is a counselor, or therapist, but her sensitivity to others’ emotional states makes her a valuable, even indispensable, member of the executive crew. She is at the table for EVERY important decision, and her ability to sense things beyond the other crew members’ comprehension makes her almost a secret weapon. She wears a prettier uniform than the others, her quarters are more comfortable, and she never tries to butch herself up to meet others’ expectations, because that is not her strength. Her strength IS her sensitivity, and her strength is valued and leveraged to the crew’s benefit.
Yeah, I know, it’s got “fiction” right there in the name, but other science fiction devices and conceits are ruling our lives, from the internet and cell phones to ATM cards and a global economy. Certainly some societies, including much of western civilization, continue to hold women and girls down, and hold them back from full participation in public life, but this isn’t a matter of male vs. female. Nor is it a battle between right and left, godly and atheist or east and west. Rather, it is about unexamined assumptions about the nature of power and the varieties of wisdom. At the moment, in every political system that I am aware of, the only power that is respected is hard power, and the only wisdom that is recognized is that gained in battle against an opponent, whether military, financial or political. The entire concept of cooperation is derided, insight isn’t trusted and understanding is rejected, with hostility. None of this, incidentally, is mirrored in normal human interactions, or at the local political level. People who practice “national” or “international” politics at the personal or local level are known as “assholes,” “bullies,” and other terms indicating, “This isn’t the way you want to act, kids.” Yet we have constructed, and continue to construct, our political systems so that only such people have any chance of success. If you want to identify the “disconnect” that so many see between our political systems and our actual lives, there it is.
Traditionally in America, perhaps the judiciary was supposed to fill the “counselor” role, but they have become as politicized (really, it should be “militarized”) as the rest of the political system. At the moment, our entire system of political activity is arrayed AGAINST the inclusion of sensitive people. Until we provide a place at the table for sensitive people, allow them to CONTINUE being sensitive in that role, and honor their contributions to political discourse, we are going to continue making decisions that hasten the extinction of our species.
Everyone agrees that our political systems are broken, but we keep asking (actually, demanding) that soldiers, businessmen and salesmen repair it. I wouldn’t ask most businessmen to repair a broken chair, much less an illness or difficult relationship. Tough people deserve a place at the table, but at the moment they have ALL the places. This is unbalanced to the point of pure insanity – it promotes confrontation, macho posturing and petty conflict and reduces the likelihood of agreement or cooperation. If we destroy ourselves by continuing on our current path, we will deserve it, and the planet will breathe a sigh of relief after we’re gone.
Nicole Faraguna says
Trey – very interesting piece – I am a sensitive person, have been all my life; and you’re right – rather than seeing it as a strength it has been seen as a weakness; people who so readily leverage cruel remarks will suggest “you’re too sensitive” when they are criticized for their harsh demeanor – never considering that their actions may be what is in the wrong. Constructive criticism and empathy are certainly not present enough in today’s political debates.