I Have Questions?

 

Why? Three letters that every kid learns when they are beginning to question the world around them.  Why do I have to put on my shoes?  Why do I have to eat spinach? Why do I have to go to bed now? All questions your kids or you have asked, often with the adult reply, “Because I said so”, not really the best answer. The need for asking why is foundational to understanding a cause, a purpose or a reason for something even if we are not ready to hear the answer. Since the dawn of early mankind, I suppose our ancestors asked why?

Like these hominids, I have more questions than answers. To many of these why questions there is no good answer, yet we continue to ask.

There are humorous whys. Why is my hair falling out? Why do my pants not fit me anymore? Why does someone keep misplacing my keys?

There are fun whys. Why don’t we go to the movies? Why not have another cookie? Why shouldn’t we skip to the park? Why not dance all night?

There are parental whys. Why did you not make your bed? Why did you not take out the trash? Why did you leave only a drop of milk in the carton?

There are serious whys. Why did you lie to me? Why are you not following up? Why did you miss the deadline? Why don’t you care?

There are political whys. Why am I paying these taxes? Why should I vote for you? Why aren’t you following the principles you swore to uphold? Why aren’t you protecting my individual rights?

There are hurtful whys. Why aren’t you like so and so? Why don’t you listen to me? Why can’t you follow directions? Why are you such an idiot?

There are helpful whys. Why don’t we learn this together? Why don’t you let me chip in? Why not make this happen so we can both benefit?

There are public policy whys. Why is there so much less extreme poverty today? Why are free markets better for people than socialism? Why do I need to ask the government permission to open a business?  Why do I have to register a firearm if it is my duty to protect myself?

There are philosophical whys. Why am I here? Why is there so much discontent? Why is there hatred? Why can’t we be friends? Why is freedom better than force? Why do we die?

Why is at the core of what it is to be. Why is front and center. Why allows us to understand. Why is simple, yet so complex. Why gets to the heart of the matter.

Out of the cardinal words for asking questions such as who, what, where, and when only why leads to more whys.  I imagine if there was a better word, we would use it. So, why not ask more whys. Perhaps we would all be better off asking it more often. After all, when you were a kid and asked why you couldn’t have the candy in the check-out line for the fifth time your parents either threatened to discipline you, gave in so you would shut up, or the wise parent left you in a hot mess, crying until you found out you were left behind. Sometimes why kicks our butt. Sometimes why gives in and gives us answers.  Sometimes we are just left in a hot mess to cry. Other times there are just no answers.

The foundation for critical thinking is asking questions: Who? What? When? Where? How? and Why? In this introspective Op-Ed, Brad Beck shares a variety of “whys” that he ruminates upon. Brad notes that the need for asking why is foundational to understanding a cause, a purpose or a reason for something even if we are not ready for the answer. Here is the podcast of this conversation. 

https://soundcloud.com/thekimmonsonshow/8-19-20brad-beck-i-have-questions

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

 I love to listen to music. Everything from Bluegrass to the Blues, Classical to Country, Jam Bands to Jazz. Even some old school rap or edgy Punk music can be catchy to my ear. A song by the English punk rock band, The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go” is one of those tunes that has been running through my head lately and I can’t seem to get rid of it. (Sorry, you probably have it in your head now as well).

It’s a constant refrain. Should I stay home, or should I go to the market? For the record, I rarely go to the market, my wife does this for us. She says I spend too much. Should I stay home or should I go to a meeting and perhaps risk getting the Wuhan Virus. Should I stay out of the rancor of social media or should I dive in the deep-end by defending a position that may not conform to established social norms?

Like the song, I have the recurring tune of the health crisis running in my head. Even with limiting my exposure to social media, negative conversation, and especially physically distancing myself from the purveyors of propaganda, aka, the news. The phrase, “Tune in, turn on, and drop out” used by Timothy Leary isn’t an option. Abusing drugs or alcohol to escape into an alternate universe that has descended upon us is not the answer for me. So what is?

One of the core tenants of citizenship is the principle of self-reliance;
to be responsible for yourself and finding the path to truth. To live freely one should provide the necessities of life for themselves. This includes knowledge that allows one to attain wisdom.

In 1970, Leonard E. Read, from “I Pencil” fame wrote a book entitled “Talking to Myself “. On pages 19 and 20, in the chapter entitled; “Eduction verses propaganda” Mr. Read wrote, “Eduction, not education, the true antonym of propaganda”. You may often hear, “If we could only educate people on this or that subject.” I find this reprehensible. I do not need to be educated. Why do some people feel they need to tell others they need to be educated? What if we are educated, yet do not agree with their point of view. Then what? What the statist is actually saying is “I will tell you like it is and you will now agree with my point of view”.

“Eduction, is rooted in the Latin “educere” which means “to draw out, elicit, evolve, to educe, or infer from data”. Too often in education today, an instructor will not share all sides of an argument with students or a curious individual for fear that the student or individual will arrive at a reasoned or rational point of view that is in opposition to the instructor. Many would rather indoctrinate through education because it is easier and more controlling.

My solution to all this is not to run from it but embrace the opportunity to read, listen, and study all sides of an argument and understand it so well that you can argue and recite the fallacy of the opposition. Expose it for its weakness and propose a solution that actually makes a persuasive argument. This takes work, study, time, and most of all, persistence. It takes thinking, reflection, and rechecking one’s premise. The alternative I fear is chaos.

“Should I Stay or Should I Go” was released in 1982 as a double A-sided single with
“Straight-to-Hell”. Hm, if we do not practice our persuasion and eduction skills we just may end up in that forsaken place. The next time someone says to you, “If we can just provide those people with education” you’ll know what they mean. Think like them or else. I think I’ll go.

Listen to the companion interview on The Kim Monson Show KLZ560 AM https://kimmonson.com/kim_monson_show/brad-beck-asks-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go/