Policies and not Politics

Kindness

The news is not pretty, neither internationally nor domestically. It seems to be politics as usual – name calling and figure pointing. Not pleasant if you’ve grandchildren and worry what kind of world are you leaving them. Perhaps it’s always been that way: gloom and doom, except now with the internet and social media it’s more immediate and in your face 24 x 7. Politics as usual!

I doubt that any essay is going to change that around. But since Archimedes said something like “give me a fulcrum and a lever long enough and a place to stand and I will move the world” (and it doesn’t hurt to note that this was in turn paraphrased more than two millennium later by Susan B. Anthony, “Give to woman the ballot, the political fulcrum, on which to plant her moral lever, and she will lift the world into a nobler purer atmosphere.”) I thought I’d give it a try in the next several essays.

Let’s see if we can brainstorm about policies, fulcrum, and levers in the hope of moving the world in a positive direction. If we can focus on policies and steer clear of politics maybe we stand a chance. But first let’s see if it’s possible to distinguish policies from politics at least for the purpose of these articles.

Let’s use “Policy” to describe goals or abstract concepts and “Politics” as the means one uses or implements to achieve those goals. Often it’s the means, the how to, that generate the heat and argument and the shouting matches of  “I’m right – you’re wrong,” Enough of these arguments and there’ll be no movement and both fulcrum and lever will crumble into dust.

Best to illustrate. Where to start?

KINDNESS. Challenge, how do we start? Right away I remember one of my parents punishing me, saying “this hurts them more than it will hurt me.” Others saying it’s “No kindness if you let so and so get away with doing this or that.” And what would a “Kindness policy look like? Would we know it when we see it?

Interesting, and we’ve only started. But hopefully no one is yelling I’m wrong yet.

If we’re all thinking about what’s kindness and not screaming “you’re wrong” that’s a good thing.

How about we focus a little. Tackling kindness on a global level may be biting off too much for starters. Before we try rolling out a universal solution better we learn from industry and make a test model first. Let’s see if we can focus on a microcosm of our own small world. We can always scale up gradually making improvements as we go along. Remember, this and life itself is a work in progress.

Got a chin to scratch on? Scratch.

How small a microcosm should it be: a village, a neighborhood, an extended family, a partnership, just one – ourself?

In many respects the smallest arena is the toughest one. At the same time it does insure our focus and motivation. As good scientists, let’s see what we can learn as we prod our fragile experimental sample of one. What does kindness mean to me (and you) and do I see or understand it when it hits me in the face?

First a little story. Remember stories just are.

The other week I attended a concert on a college campus. During intermission I wandered around the halls stretching my legs. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered a Kindness Calendar pasted to an office door. It was for the full month and every day there was a suggestion of a different activity: call a friend, send a letter home saying hi, eat a piece of fruit for a healthy snack. Wow. When I got home I searched on line. There was at least a page full of icons for different sites with kindness calendars or programs. Made my day!

I was curious. I wanted to make a small donation to the college and called. I was connected to someone who could help direct a check to the music department and asked about the kindness calendar, how it got started etc. And the woman must have smiled. She said she just thought about it one day, printed them up and distributed them on campus! Talk about JOY! If only I had thought about Archimedes before that call I’m sure I would have felt the world move in that moment.

Back to us. Kindness. The Golden Rule, or better yet in this time of enmity and divisiveness, the saying of the Jewish Sage Hillel who live two millenniums ago in Jerusalem: “That which is hateful to you, do not do unto your fellow.” Know that “your fellow” includes you, yourself!      

Policy. Hmm. Let’s explore Kindness and what it means for ourselves going forward. Not every minute of every day – but from time to time, at odd moments and at even moments. Let it mature like good wine in the seasoned casks of  our brains and hearts. After a week, a month, a…. try to formulate a kindness policy. Share with others and grow strong.

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Ken was a Professor of Mathematics, a ceramicist, a welder, and an IBMer until downsized in 2000. He taught yoga until COVID-19 decided otherwise. He continues writing, living with his wife and beagle in Shorewood, Wisconsin. He enjoys chamber music and mysteries. He’s a homebrewer and runs whitewater rivers. Ken is a writer and his literary works can be found at https://www.kmkbooks.com/

He welcomes feedback on his articles and can be reached at havokjournal@havokmedia.com.

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