Blog 451 – 10.31.2016

We live in a time when there are so many ways to stay in touch, what with Social Media, emails, texts, and voice calls it is not only easier but relatively inexpensive to have almost instant communication with anyone in the world. But we have lost something.

The young people, and those not so young, will think me old school for pointing it out but voice calls are more personal than texts or emails. Oh, there are some advantages to writing. You can finish your thought without interruption and polish it before hitting send. Also you can respond when you like, keep it brief, and save all that time. What are we saving it for? And what better thing could we invest our time in than the people we care about?

What are we losing in the digital communication age? We are losing touch and our ability to relate to one another as human beings. This is reflected in all the inconsiderate and harsh communications. When we type we cannot hear the small inflections in our own voice or in the voices of others and so it is so much easier to miscommunicate.

Face to face is by far the best means of communication. Facial cues and body language say so much more than just words can say. That is why most of the great communicators did their best stuff one on one or in front of a crowd, face to face. People say some pretty mean things in texts, emails, blogs, and even books that they would not say face to face.

I tried to be “peacemaker” in a comment on Social Media recently where two friends were calling each other’s candidate, Satan. I remind you that the word Satan literally means, “Accuser of the siblings.” And at the same time of some pretty pointed words of Jesus to a crowd he spoke to face to face, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” Not the war makers but the peacemakers.

In my comment to my former classmates, my friends, my family in the highest sense, I said that the most important election that I ever stood for was Class Poet of the graduating class of Chattanooga Central High School in 1968. My good friend and classmate, Susan Huddlestun, got more votes and won. I was pretty disappointed but congratulated her and I never called her Satan either in the race or afterwards. Nor did she me to my knowledge. I went on to say that Jesus called Peter, Satan once over a disagreement on policy and plans but that they continued to be friends and work together. This Presidential election thing is not a new thing and we have had the peaceful and orderly transfer of power for over two hundred years. I hope we continue that tradition.

Our legal system guarantees the assused the right to face his accusers. An old expression goes, “I bet you won’t say that to my face.” And another old expression goes, “If you cannot say something good about someone just don’t say anything at all.” Wow, that would make for some pretty short speeches from the candidates. In one of the Presidential debates each candidate was asked to name one thing they liked about their opponent, face to face, and they each did. I think that was the best moment of the whole campaign.

The whole political process reminds me of professional wrestling. You do know that those arch enemies are really pretending for your entertainment don’t you? They go out eating and drinking together after those seemingly murderous bouts. It makes for good theater but not for the best of manners. Three guys most of us grew up with, The Three Stooges, gave each other a pretty hard time in front of the camera, but in real life they were friends even family. So are we. We should act like it.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White