(a brief digression in prep for Inauguration Day)

At some deep, embarrassing, defensive level this writer sometimes feels made to feel like he lives in one of the most disliked demographics in the world today; the older, white, middle class American male. I think I am feeling the disquieting bite of a ‘counter-stereotype’. The point of this posting is to say my deep hidden sense of offense is probably more broadly and deeply felt in the population than I and thoughtful people want to admit. While this sad feeling of mine didn’t even come close to me changing my vote for the king of stereotypes and insults, I am not so sure about everyone else. Being stereotyped at any level is a painfully deep human offense. If after January 20 you don’t like what is going on I would like to offer some advice. 

Any movement founded on opposition is very vulnerable to the creation of oppositional counter stereotypes in their own campaigns. Unfortunately these assignments of stereotype usually come off, particularly to the targets, as cartoon memes in adult clothes. These thinly disguised insults only feel justified to the oppositional mindset that launches them. However like all stereotypes they have an almost irresistible vacuum force and, like the big black hole, they draw in unintentional casualties as we discovered in this last election. The counter stereotype is not effective politics.

The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King supported his message of equality, integration and inclusion not with counter stereotypes but with a dream that described in beautiful words a picture of what good looks like. The creation of a dream is a deeply spiritual as well as creative process. For those disappointed by the this last election’s results, after Inauguration Day January 20, you will have a short window of three short years to create and spread the next dream’s draw. We need a compelling, gathering and unifying dream. Anger and rage have done their work and can take a rest before the world explodes. 

Now the next posting will resume the work of The Good Decision’s small contribution to the next good dream starting with the Citizens of the World and Nurturance Community.