tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post9132762863212545106..comments2023-05-15T10:21:43.665+02:00Comments on face value: the ideal week (njira yatenga)Acaciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03148234753192860981noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-5404622957704710542010-03-22T07:09:27.928+02:002010-03-22T07:09:27.928+02:00mmh...this post sounds quite familiar....waiting f...mmh...this post sounds quite familiar....waiting for part 2 which I hope will be filled with optimism, hope, happiness, laughter, cheer, love and all the good stuff!Muzahttp://afrisciheroes.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-46588943188504173382010-03-15T13:10:45.486+02:002010-03-15T13:10:45.486+02:00nice piece jess... i must say if i ever had any id...nice piece jess... i must say if i ever had any idealism it was quite shortlived and reality has most definitely set in, taken over, and holds on tightly...Hannah Rabinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-69322816565850446142010-03-12T21:38:28.742+02:002010-03-12T21:38:28.742+02:00lovey, this veered a bit off track as I was writin...lovey, this veered a bit off track as I was writing it, and is not directly to the point anymore – apologies. <br /><br />ok so what's the problem. We'd all like clean streets, stocked libraries, decent laws, effective aid programs, freedoms, rights. So why are you and I so snarky about people who pursue these aims, in particular (or perhaps exclusively) about those people who are (gasp) idealists?<br /><br />Just to define terms, I think of an idealist as a person who earnestly pursues either unrealistic goals, or pursues realistic goals in an unrealistic way. This is at least my definition, and it probably excludes some people who actually consider themselves idealists; I might call these people activists, but not idealists. (Just wanting life to be better doesn't make you an idealist.)<br /><br />There are many kinds of idealism, but the big three that come to mind:<br /><br />Self-indulgent idealism. This is the rich college-educated east coast ivys trying to feel good. These are the people who congratulate themselves on driving hybrid cars and eating local produce and then spend $4000 to fly to Nepal for a volunteer vacation which they photograph artsily with a foot-long lens. This is all harmless enough, but it is aggravating because its practitioners feel virtuous despite being absolutely ineffective. <br /><br />Blind idealism, which seems like much of what you describe, obscurant mysticism, expectations stubbornly out of line with experience, etc. <br /><br />Heroic idealism, which I kind of like. This one involves stuff like self-immolation, hunger strikes, grand public gestures with significant risk to one's physical integrity. This is my favorite because it's hard, it hurts, and it means you really fucking care. The idealism – the reality-flouting part of it – is I guess just that you think it might work. Sometimes this does work (e.g., civil rights movement in this country), sometimes it doesn't work (most other examples).<br /><br />The defining feature of an idealist, defined even in the word itself, is a disregard for the constraints of reality. But it is possible to care, it's possible to do good, without being an idealist. Is your resentment of idealists because you no longer care? Or that you care, but you feel hopeless? Idealism is an especially perverse sort of hope, but they both thrive in the fog and I think your vision is too clear. <br /><br />The other problem I detect here is a conflation of cynicism and maturity. You think it was a young, dumb, bright-eyed Jessie who wrote letters and protested and drank expensive coffee. You think you are not as youthful now; now you have more realist expectations of both what the world is and what you can do to change it. The realist's perspective is sour, because it concludes that the world sucks and what you can do is very little. So of course you feel sour and hopeless and snipe at those innocents who thinking food might come on time, or licenses be issued properly, those who just haven't discovered the truth yet. <br /><br />The mistake lies in thinking that cynicism is the only response to enlightenment. This mistake is why you are surprised when your pastor – who, in his office if not in his person – you expect to be wise, is still capable of disappointment and dismay. Somehow he can be both realistic and hopeful – how does he do it? I think that is the path we should be seeking instead of cynicism, those little chinks of light around cynicism that we can still believe in. I think there is a way to balance realism with caring, mostly by looking at the level of the individual. So fixing trash on the streets? Probably not. Changing laws? Need a lot of people to help out. Helping a friend? That one we can do. I'm convinced it is possible to be hopeful without lying to ourselves, but admittedly I'm still a little idealistic about exactly how... looking forward to your part 2.karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-2103802850828708652010-03-12T18:48:24.695+02:002010-03-12T18:48:24.695+02:00I can identify a bit too much! I must admit I'...I can identify a bit too much! I must admit I'm shocked the petition was successful. Well put, as always. Now what to do about those flying crisp packets...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-53065856108949999692010-03-12T08:01:02.652+02:002010-03-12T08:01:02.652+02:00lol... do people in Nigeria really do that. I have...lol... do people in Nigeria really do that. I have a feeling Malawians would not comply, even though there's not much life in our cities anyway. Can you imagine Blantyre coming to a standstill? No different that Blantyre when its active if you ask me. I love the subtle sarcasm though. i could read for hours!kita kanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-48056682554491289952010-03-11T12:28:02.500+02:002010-03-11T12:28:02.500+02:00As usual, 'unputdownable' if that can be a...As usual, 'unputdownable' if that can be applied to reading on a computer monitor.Dannie Grant Phirinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-12173898994151442602010-03-11T11:25:07.540+02:002010-03-11T11:25:07.540+02:00I recently came across a term 'obscurantist my...I recently came across a term 'obscurantist mysticism' - and I thought it was a perfect way to describe Malawi/malawians , and even though its meaning is quite far removed from what i ascribe it to I think its apt nonetheless.. <br /><br />Hilarious piece of writing jessie... I was in stitches... thanks ... <br /><br />I have 'faith' that you'll find 'hope'... (soon!)Yiwondanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-34882095818986874312010-03-11T10:25:37.728+02:002010-03-11T10:25:37.728+02:00"...these idealists, who didn’t accept life a..."...these idealists, who didn’t accept life as it was but wondered how the world might be..." LOL... I liked that.Arthur Ntonyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-82945331866799419672010-03-11T10:03:19.710+02:002010-03-11T10:03:19.710+02:00enjoyed the reading last night, looking forward to...enjoyed the reading last night, looking forward to part 2Tendy Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-81222763380730407702010-03-11T09:02:20.245+02:002010-03-11T09:02:20.245+02:00You're right, having hope is essential to keep...You're right, having hope is essential to keeping a healthy outlook on life... just not so easy when everything seems to be going wrong and life is like climbing a steep uphill.Charisanoreply@blogger.com