Who Decides?

Back in college, I was a bit of an activist. (It was the 60’s)

The war I was protesting was the war for our minds. 

There was a group called the “Citizens for Decent Literature.” The CDL was trying to get books banned, removed from public libraries and not recommended for reading in the public schools and universities. It was censorship, up close and personal.

A costly mistake.

Someone in the organization decided it would be a good idea to recruit some activist college students from the local university. They posted handbills on campus. One of my friends brought one in to a class on design as an example of what not to do. Somewhere in our critique someone asked if this was for real. We decided to attend a meeting as a group.

Eight of us signed in to a meeting room in a suburban motel. There were maybe 50 people in the room. We sat together in the back row. Our tattered jeans and sweatshirts were not up to the standards of the rest of the crowd. The men wore suits or slacks and shirts with button down collars. The ladies were dressed just short of Sunday, go to meeting style. They would have fit right in for having dinner with friends.

Hard looks and youngster comments

We got a lot of hard looks as we commented with intent of being heard as the speaker began to talk about the evils contained in books like Lady Chatterly’s Lover, Brave new World, Animal Farm and Catcher in the Rye. Midway through a diatribe on how stories written by perverts were warping young minds the speaker paused to direct his comments to say, “Youngsters like those in the back are the ones we have to protect.”

Who Decides?

John, a tall gangling fellow who was putting himself through school by freelancing greeting cards leaped to his feet. He yelled, “Who decides?” The speaker said, “Who decides what?” John responded, “Who decides what books should be banned? Who decides what folks need protecting? Who decides if what you're doing is acceptable?”

The speaker and his cohort all began to try to argue with John and the meeting disintegrated. Those who had come with even partially open minds left with us. Later, over coffee we agreed to attend as many of their meetings as possible, dressing to fit in a little better and always interrupting with the question, “Who Decides.” We recruited others when they came to recognize us. In the end, that Fascist leaning organization failed to grow.

I’ve never forgotten

I’ve never forgotten how a simple phrase delivered in a no-nonsense way can derail inappropriate behavior. I think it applies today in many ways. For instance:

• Automatic rifles should not be allowed in a civilian population. Who decides?

• The people of Kashmir should be part of Pakistan or India Who decides?

• Climate change is not real. Who decides?

• Equality is the right of all humans regardless of gender. Who decides?

• Every country has the right to weapons of mass destruction. Who decides?

Stop taking sides

Whenever an individual or group starts pushing an agenda that suggests forcing everyone else to comply with their viewpoint, it is time to ask that question.

If the position you are directed to adopt is one which denies the right of choice to a significant portion of the population you need to step back and ask that question.

When someone refuses to accept the evidence, you need to speak up.

At the time a convention begun in primitive times is questioned, you need to ask, “Why?”

When the fate of human kind hangs in the balance even the adherents need to question the belief.

Find the least harmful way forward

Even if you find yourself not wanting to consider the “other side” allow logic and reason to guide your approach. Strip away the emotion in most disagreements and you will find the real concerns that must be addressed.

• The American population has already decided that automatic rifles should not be allowed in the civilian population. When will Congress change the law?

• The people of Kashmir are being fought over like a toy claimed by tow bullies. Shouldn’t the people of Kashmir have the choice?

• The majority of scientists worldwide are piling up the evidence. Mother earth has already decided. We need to determine if we can placate her.

• The masculine fist still holds sway but the world is changing. Adherents to Mohammed should remember that his wife is who made it possible for the religion to grow and prosper.

• No country should be able to hold the rest of the world hostage. The solution is not having more countries able to bring down hell fire. Proliferation is not the desire of the people of the world even in the nations attempting to be “Nuclear powers.”

I don’t have the answers

I believe that each of us has the responsibility to point out the tangled thinking that causes these kinds of problems. Together we can strive to find a positive way into the future.

His consulting practice, founded in 1990, is known for on and off-line Trust-based Consultant Marketing and Brand development advice that builds businesses, careers and lives of joy.

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