This is the season we say thank you for all the gifts in our lives, and restore our belief that dreams and miracles happen, and peace and good will prevail.
This is not a good time to be reaching out to each other. As a culture we have grown cynical and mistrustful of the institutions that once sustained us (government, judiciary, police, religious institutions, Big Five accounting firms), and now it turns out we don’t trust each other.
A recently published Associated Press (AP/GfK ) Survey found that only 1/3 of all Americans believe that most people can be trusted.
One of the basic ingredients of a democracy, is a trust in the other fellow to make decisions based on the common good, not just our own. The current political gridlock is another reflection of what happens to a society when its members no longer trust in the common good and pursue only their own. When that happens we no longer behave civilly toward each other.
Mistrust escalates fears, if you can’t trust 2/3 of the people you meet then it makes every stranger you encounter a potential trespasser. If you don’t trust the institutions to protect you, then you have to protect yourself. We are becoming a gun-toting, armed citizenry intensifying the boundaries between people.
The Survey also suggested that by the time we reach our mid-20s our attitudes about trust are pretty much set. I found myself fretting about how our growing mistrust is becoming so deeply embedded that maybe it’s already too late to spread this season’s message. In the midst of these musings I learned the Nelson Mandela died. I loved him, the man and the symbol. I loved that after 27 years of imprisonment and torture for his stand against apartheid he did not emerge as someone seeking retribution and revenge. Instead he built a community based on reconciliation and compromise.
Nelson Mandela restored my flagging spirit, another gift from this remarkable man whose life and work are living testimony that we are capable of moving beyond our mistrust and isolation, to find a way to live together in shared humanity. In this season of thanks and miracles, thank you for reminding us to live the dream.
Rest in peace Madiba.
Thanks for this important tribute, Carl. I bet, too, that Mandela would be appalled by the plight still of African-Americans in the USA, despite the Obama presidency. Especially worrisome is the generation of young African-American males incarcerated, a condition I’ve written about as aparttime. Let us use Mandela’s legacy for more trustworthy leaders in South Africa, the USA, and in mental healthcare.
-Steve Moffic
I agree Stevie and send my warm regards, C.
Up until now, I have felt highly of you, Dr., but after your little diatribe on Mandela, I have lost much faith in what you pour forth!
The world has been sold a bill of goods about Mandela. He wasn’t the saintly character portrayed in the movies! He wasn’t someone fighting for racial equality…he was the leader of a violent, Communist revolution that has nearly succeeded in a deliberate, systematic elimination of the white race. He was a leader of the revolutionary African National Congress, which he helped to radicalize into an organization sworn to armed, violent attacks. Because of him, anti-white racism is so strong today in Africa, that a prominent genocide watchdog group has labeled the current situation a “precursor” to the deliberate, systematic elimination of the white race. Africa is home to 4,000,000 whites…..25% of which, live in abject poverty! When I visited that country many years ago, is was thriving, and wealthy…that was BEFORE Mandela….he has changed it into just another illiterate, disease infested, pile of garbage, waiting for the next handout!!!
Why do you think our own socialist, marxist president (small letters intended!) is rushing off to pay tribute to this devil! Trying to mandate our government (again, small letter intended) to fly our beloved Flag at half staff, is ludicrous, and thank God some of our officials aren’t buying into this madness! We have an impostor here who is just as hell-bent in destroy America, as this little man has done to Africa….SHAME ON YOU! falling into this trap is incomprehensible!! How disappointing!!!
A very insightful piece on the subject of trust. Yes,we are living in an age where the levels of trust have diminished in all walks of life.The survey in America is an eye-opener.broadly,the same trends may prevail in other countries too.When there is so much mistrust,how can we collaborate to create good for all.Simply,because mistrust keeps ourself in shell,and we are not able to expand our boundaries.Mandela’s example is of great courage.Most importantly,he had trust in himself,and the ability of people who stood by him for a great cause.
http://www.trust-is-the-key-sanjay-verma.blogspot.com
Dear Eleanore;
Alas, I’m sorry to disappoint you. We disagree, but I do not feel shame, I feel a profound sadness that you cannot see the sins of an apartheid and that Mandela ended that racist system which resulted in in the first free and fair election in South Africa. He made reconciliation with his former oppressors his goal and succeeded. I’m hoping you can move toward that goal as well.
I’ve long said that most of our problems today are because we have lost sight of “the common good.” The problem is, our definition of what is “the common good” has fragmented. We no longer have a common vision of the common good. This is brought home in these very comments on this page. How can we work towards “the common good” and trust our fellow citizens when we have no shared vision of what the common good really is?
Dr H,
Interesting that you found a connection between the study, Mandela and the global political upheaval. I would not have seen that link myself.
I am amazed that 2/3 of people don’t find others trustworthy according to this study, but I had not considered the political implications of such a belief. If the study had asked me, “Do you believe most politicians are trustworthy?” I would have simply said, “No. Not even that measly 1/3!”
The implication that we cannot trust our own leaders nor those of other countries is a very grave consideration. It leads to the subject of powerlessness. Most adults recognize that it isn’t government “by the people, for the people” but it is disturbing to consider how powerless we “peasants” are.
Dear Carl thank you yes… love is the way .. an important ingredient is trust to create a more sustainable foundation for us all to stand on . Mandela modelled this “I feel” creating a wave of positive change. I wished to pop on say hello ” good heart”. There are so many good people in the world we just need to stay engaged in what goes on more not leave it for someone else. The way of helping one another can spread very fast this way .. blessings to you ..
You all make great points and there is no question the implications are enormous (and despairing), but take solace in the fact that although others have power, we always have choice. Mandela’s choices against those in power, ultimately led to a revolutionary change founded on reconciliation. That inspires my hope.