Transience, Palin and Responsibility

03Oct08

If you haven’t read Abraham Maslow’s A Theory of Human Motivation, do yourself a favor and give it a look.

I don’t know if I’ve quite reach that point of his self-actualization, but I’ve got the feeling that I’ve got to be damn near close. Discussing it with someone that I consider a mentor of sorts recently, we got onto the point of transience after the pinnacle of the hierarchy of needs is reached.

I’ve written in the past how I often turn into a blubbering mess when I never was before. I’ve become an advocate for those with less opportunity than me, in terms of immigration. High taxes and welfare socialism still irk me, sure, but compassion, understanding and communication are now my central motivation. Self-actualization shouldn’t be the final step; it’s just natural to feel the need to want to do more, be a part of something greater than yourself, after you have found your convictions. So when I spied the impassioned speech of the AFL-CIO’s Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka, it was more than his evocative delivery that delivered.

This presidential election—and my own personal struggle with connecting with people that I meet every single day—stems from this irrationality that Trumka is talking about. My obsession with this election stems from my passionate stand against this: the complete and utter disregard for the appropriate valuation of intelligence and logic from large swaths of the American population. Confidence and faith are solid stepping stones for a strong, personal character, but they cannot be the building blocks for cooperation or community. They cannot be proven wrong, they never “blink” and they polarize too readily.

And that’s where my transient campaign lies. It often leads to defensive exchanges, but I feel like I am doing a disservice to friends and family if I hear excuses for evading self-reflection and common sense. Beyond self, I would hope that those around me would feel responsible to hold me accountable for my convictions. Motivations are personal and true, but, if you truly care for someone, I implore you to set the bar high and question their reasons when they seem flimsy. Help them find their Fight Club Moment. Hold people accountable for consistent understanding without hyprocisy.

Trumka isn’t just talking about racism. He’s attacking the tenets of a culture that knows no political party or religion. He’s not only preaching tolerance of ethnicity, but also promoting the deconstruction of an attitude rooted in irrationality. For the first time ever, I take my vote seriously, and it isn’t because of flag-waving “Vote or Die” pseudo-patriotism. It’s because of a personal responsibility, one that is important to me, to promote the virtues of knowledge and rationality with my vote. Governor Joe Sixpack is literally insulting that idea and it literally makes me sick.

(I’m hyped on Vicodin. Just had knee surgery today. The crutches chaffe and the drugs have got me feeling drunk.)