When I was in college, I majored in both Classic Civilization and Early American Literature, and contrary to popular belief, that Liberal Arts education was the most valuable knowledge experience anyone could ever receive. Of course, it's not as practical or glorified as let's say pre-Med or getting a business degree, but from a critical thinking standpoint, the lessons I have learned from history as well as the philosophical truths spilled out by some of the world's greatest writers has offered up the best understanding of how the world works. The perspective we gain from having a critical viewpoint of the functions of society can only be gained from this type of education, of which is limited, when you look at the more prized elements of conventional education. What does a business-minded professional know about the needs of society compared to its desires? How can a doctor guide the principles of the "greater good", rather than being concerned about an individual's well-being? Even though these professions have intents to improve society, often times they are so trivial in focus, that they cannot endure the scope of sustaining humanity.Anyone who has gained a liberal arts education, especially one geared towards history or literature, is the person who is most capable of having a universal viewpoint of human nature. It is the type of education that would best be suited for policy making, as the lessons taught in these areas, as well as the ability to sharply critique or interpret the elements of stories, the single process by which human beings can portray their experiences to the world. It is simply a direct exposure to humanity, and not some isolated, unilaterally tuned training. What government, as well as the public, needs is more professionals like this who have paid ample attention to the philosophical exploration of the human experience among other members of mankind, through the analysis and interpretation of literature or history. All of these things are lost or cast aside in science, business, or any practical education. Our culture has become too business oriented, enabling these professions to ridicule those who have studied humanities, and relentlessly divulge to the rest of the working world that their knowledge of literature and art is only good enough for the confines and lowly pay rates of a Starbucks coffee shop. Who is better at guiding the policies of humanity, than one who has studied, analyzed and critiqued it?
People need to address the true meaning of politics, and what its purpose truly is. Often times it is viewed as some negative association to their lives, as if it is some extension of all the bad things that either government, big business, corrupt politicians commit. It is an interpretive science, though, and extends beyond just being some element of gossip, out of reach of the academic stature of more accepted intellectual institutions. This interpretation is utterly wrong, and is detrimental to our well-being as a properly functioning society. Politics is simply the vehicle we drive on the road to something as close to utopia as we can achieve. A road to nowhere, but a road nonetheless.
From one of my favorite essays, titled Self Reliance, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, comes the most relevant quote to the discussion of political participation, "Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense..." The interpretation goes, that we must speak our minds no matter what, politically, if you will. This is the core of self-reliance. It is the only capacity for any man, regardless of intellectual stature to put forth that which is unique, and pure, and because it originates from a mind of a member of the human race, it is inherently universal. We cannot fall victims to forced appeasement, whether through being made to feel stupid, ignorant, unheard, or misrepresented. If we do descend to this level of denying ourselves to speak our minds, then we all fail to recognize the true meaning of free speech. We treat free speech these days as an avenue to fulfilling individual desires, yet it is meant for much more than that. Free speech is the not meant for those seeking instant gratification or self-fulfillment. Instead it is provided as a tool to build an enduring society; a civilization that can meet the needs of all its participants.
We solve nothing by ignoring our need to seek out civil truths. For, that is what politics aims to achieve, whether it be truth in individual rights, economic gain, or just preserving the integrity of your very own great society. If we cast aside participation in politics, then we are not free men. Try to convince yourself all you want, that it is a corrupt system by its very own nature, and that changing it is futile. The mere fact that you have not even taken the step to participate, to have even the smallest effect, is merely your own defeat. You have not seen the result of even trying. We leave it to those that are willing to contend with policy discussion and legislation, and that grants them the ability to wield power over those of you who will have no part of it.It is a normal human instinct to abhor that which we do not understand, or at least resist it. If not hate it, at least cast it out of our minds or any chance to participate in it. The mind will not voluntarily endure those things which it rejects, and this is a failure to recognize truth. When it does so, the mind is limited in its perspective, and we view the world only with self-reflection or inward thinking. Currently political thought on a global scale is entirely inward. In other words, each state considers only its needs, and fails to recognize the greater scheme of things, through the acknowledgment of the direct effects that failed external states may have upon their own.
The lack of new ideas stems from the neglect of participating in politics. If the discourse of legislation and execution in policy is only provided by a select group of individuals, then the guidelines of society become skewed in favor of those willing to partake. Today, we are dealing with a revolution on a global scale, while most of us withdraw our thoughts to self-fulfilling policies and debate. So, there is no better time to turn our political thinking upon those things which lie beyond the borders of states, and begin to inject into the global conscientiousness the possibilities of global citizenship. This cannot be accomplished by a limited group of thinkers or politicians.
On the note of politicians, with all the negative, corrupt, and ineffective leadership we have received from them, there would be no better solution to correcting them, than to initiate your very own political deliberation. I'm of the opinion, that if more people carried out a significant amount of political discourse, more so than is done today, our elected officials could not escape explaining their policy decisions through difficult high-flying language, the installation of public fear, or the sanctity of national security. Everything will be explained, because we have either gained insight through our own discussion, as if we were are very own branch of government, keeping our representatives in check.Politics is simply discussion. Without discussion, we would fail to gain any understanding of our freedoms, and the attainment of such freedoms, through the conversation of policy. Conversation without debate is only observing. If we cannot will ourselves to even dabble in politics, or embrace it, then we are just observers of legislation that is foreign to us. Instead, we should all take part in the conversation with all of our own opinions, and experiences, and make the laws that guide us our very own.
