After a long presidential election in America - especially this last one - it is perhaps understandable that many of us have become spectators or, at best, bit players in the work of democracy. The lead actors are groomed for years, and funded handsomely to ensure that their visibility rises to the point that can put together enough votes from the masses to win election in our vast, diverse and noisy landscape. They become true celebrities and are treated thus. Even the critical online machine , comprising millions of supporters, that helped Obama become #44 is more of a stage device than actual people/characters...and so we conclude that democracy is mostly about a few really important people and the rest of us, in the wings or in the chorus, in the audience (or on the couch).
When things go wrong then- or as in current circumstances - REALLY wrong, is it any wonder that we want to throw tomatoes at the stage, or maybe walk out on the performance? We could try asking for our money back, but we don't really believe that's going to happen, right?
A few of us want to storm the stage, without really thinking about the consequences of that: we trample the lead actors for their performance to date...and then what? Are we ready to step into their roles? Maybe some of us, but not most of us. We have become very comfortable in the bit parts if not in the audience, making smart remarks from the cheap seats.
Democracy is, of course, not the stage, and there is no script that's been agreed upon. It is a messy, dynamic, never-ending process of becoming - and if you live here, you are part of it. As I watch, listen and try to understand the ANGER that seems to define the present moment, I find myself mostly hoping that we all come to the realization that we have no one to blame but ourselves.
If democracy IS theater, then we need to understand it as improvisational theater - and everyone in the house has to be prepared, and even demand, to be drawn into the production.
Instead we've allowed a not-always talented troupe of players hog the stage - and our democracy has become a parody of what might have been.
We sit back and watch (and empower) the same sad actors; we use laugh tracks, use cue cards to tell us when to cheer, when to boo...and we can become a very tough crowd when/if a new actor comes on stage and tries to make us really concentrate on the dialogue. American Idol is always playing in the theater next door, after all, so we might just go sit in the dark over there.
What I hope is that the kinds of technology that are transforming so many other aspects of our lives can transform democracy, as well. Democracy 2.0 could make understanding the issues easier...could make voting and participating more accessible...could make listening on a grand scale possible...could make the picture of our shared fate so much more compelling.
Of course like everything else, technology can be used for good, or for naught. I vote we take back the stage and commit to playing our parts. I may not ever get a lead part (and I may not want one)...but I'd take a speaking part if I seemed best suited to the role. Or if I decide to stay in the audience, I'll at least commit to writing and posting a thoughtful review once in a while - and I'll bring my family and friends to the show. C'mon...break a leg!
See you there.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
So true. Too often we hear the complaints in America but none of the complainers are providing an alternate solution! As you said, it is easy to throw tomatoes from the audience, and then pick up and head home. Instead of complaining and becoming complacent, I hope Americans instead become engaged.
ReplyDeleteBravo--great post!