I had an eye exam today and got to wondering about those eye charts. It used to be that the letters were printed on paper and hung on an easel; now they're projected on the wall and manipulated electronically.I became curious as to whether the lines of letters were always the same, theoretically allowing one to memorize the letters and to thereby cheat on the eye exam. You may think there isn't likely to be a high interest in that, but you might be surprised. For example, I could see people using that method as a way to avoid restrictions on driver's licenses or to escape that dreaded "over the hill" verdict when bifocals are prescribed to those more concerned about vanity than clarity.
I asked the ophthalmologist about this and he demonstrated how the letters can be randomized or changed by the click of a remote control. He did acknowledge that he rarely used that feature. So I can only assume that our society has a sprinkling of people improperly credentialed as having 20/20 vision, all because they memorized the bottom line on the eye chart. Knowing that if there is no vision the people will perish, I will be watching for these near-sighted offenders and will do my part to bring them to justice.
This got me to thinking about what a previous President Bush once called the "vision thing," referring not to an ophthalmological issue but to the need for people who can take the long view and see possibilities that most others overlook. Visionary leadership occurs when one can read the changing lines of type, never believing that memorizing yesterday's chart will be sufficient today or tomorrow.
There's an old saying that "hindsight is 20/20." Perhaps that is so. The visionary will not avoid looking back, but will also understand that the world beyond the farthest hill is what must be known, if imperfectly. There can be no cheating on this vision test, but there will certainly be new ways of seeing.
Can you read the bottom line?: C E P A E
As far as this president Bush is concerned, I believe the day will come when it will be apparent that his vision was faulty.
ReplyDeleteOne of the primary problems with this Bush is not only that his vision is faulty but even that he refuses to listen to those who know a whole lot more about every situation than he does and that he listens to the wrong people.
I have read that his father knew he should not invade Iraq in the first Gulf War because of the cultural situation there but he could not convince his son of it.
It has been rightly said that where there is no vision, the people perish. I would only say that it is even worse if the vision is faulty.
I have been reading your blog faithfully and reflecting upon your words. I enjoy your thoughtful insights and how you are able to weave into your comments a constant inquiry into the social and moral consequences about what is happening in the world around us.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I dont feel that you are making a true call to action. The values you are writing about in this bog affect both head and hearts. But dont you think that in order for peace to happen, there must be action taken by all of us in some way? Action that means working with one another, connecting personally and not just electronically? In other words, the values should be more than contemplations that are anchorded in the head and the heart. They should also be anchored in hands, hands of action.
I think that for peace, acceptance of diversity and true community to happen, we have to start at home with those closest to us. We have to start to think and act locally for changes to happen gloabally.
We must work and love not only those in our communities that are easy to love, but we must work with those that are harder to love.
So, while this blog is wonderful and it truly raises awarness and opportunities for reflection, I would like to challenge you and me and anyone else who reads this blog to go to work, personally, with people in our communities to bring about the values you write so eloquently about. Otherwise, the words will simply die on the page and commuities be left, floating, like driftwood in swirling waters.
Thanks for the thoughtful and challenging comment. I fully agree that words alone, especially words that point to social change, are empty vessels if they do not compel active response.
ReplyDeleteA blog like this has a somewhat unfocused purpose and no definable constituency. I write primarily to help shape my own thinking, and perhaps to frame my own action steps. If others find it provocative or insightful I count it a serendipitous but appreciated bonus.
In most cases I do not know who comments on these posts. That perhaps enables more open and free dialogue, but it limits the formation of consensus around active response. I know that some who come here are family, friends, or colleagues from previous work relationships. Others arrive randomly through the click of a mouse that led you here by either divine grace or rotten luck. If this eclectic body of surfers should find common ground that leads to deliberate and meaningful response it would be very satisfying indeed.
In some respects it is presumptous of me to call anyone to action just because they happened to pass through this collection of random thoughts. On the other hand, why not? Each of us still has to choose what we shall do, eh?
Thanks again for prompting me to think about this in fresh ways. I'll keep the point alive and will be interested in the observations of others.