Conjectures of a recovering dilettante --- Welcome to Pizzaonia! Reflections from a different perspective --- Diverti Mento, John Frank Giovanni, Frank John Franco, Vera V. Veronica and all of the Pizza digogo DiVinci family invite you to join us - We discuss and share ideas that are relevant to our new emerging world. A division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network
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Viiew from the main entrance of the Pizzaonian Monasteriies, Pizzaonia
At the heart of most problems we create for ourselves and for others is when we conveniently become convinced that our vested interest is also in the interest of everyone else.
It is why so much selfish behavior is practiced by “good people.” Most of us wouldn’t think of doing harm. And how can we do harm when what we are doing for ourselves is also good for everyone else?
If what’s good for me is good for everyone else, who can find fault?
So the next time you are convinced you are doing good – think again. Make sure your not entertaining a convenient delusion to get what you want.
Why do we have such division in the United States today? Obviously, at this point there is nothing untied about our country. Not only are we divided, we seem to be enjoying the division.
If you don’t accept this, just check the television ratings. Our news networks spend most of their time reporting on what divides us. Keep in mind that none of their reporting is ever about issues. Their ratings have never been higher. The divisiveness and name calling is what we enjoy. It is a real-life game show, for all to sit back and take in - and that is what we are doing by the thousands.
So when we start talking about this extraordinary exercise in the degrading of democracy we are witnessing – beware of what our founders feared the most – an electorate that would not focus on what matters and eventually destroy itself. They may not have said it exactly like that, but it was certainly one of their major fears.
Years ago news networks were not profit centers. The news programs were considered examples of fine journalism and were the pride of their networks. No one represented this better than Edward R. Murrow. Everything, Mr. Murrow feared the most has actually happened.
None of this is lost on the candidates. They well know that they have to draw ratings. If they were not able to do so, they would never receive the nominations of their parties.
As a result we have in this critical election Mr. Trump, a self-described entrepreneurial, billionaire, who learned long ago, that attracting a television audience was the key to success in our country today.
I doubt if anyone serious about national politics would have predicted that a P.T. Barnum type, such as Mr. Trump, could ever be a candidate, and actually elected president of a major political party, much less the Republican party, which seems as confused as anyone as to how this happened.
More later.
Brother Franco, for the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network, a division of PNN, Diverti Mento, editor
Thank you for your note of last week. It is always uplifting to hear from you. I have given much thought to our conversation two weeks ago about our human need for affirmation. I have put together the following thoughts and would appreciate your comments.
I have extended my visit in Pizzaonia and should be able to spend some time with you before portalizing back to the United States. Till then...
Giovanni
Some thoughts on our need for affirmation.
As we age and perhaps gain meaningful experience, we are able to see more clearly and better understand which issues affect us most deeply. At least, I hope so.
Deeply rooted in our human consciousness is the need to receive affirmation from our peers. We also have an equal need to give affirmation to our peers, except giving affirmation is done more grudgingly. I suspect these needs are deeply rooted in our evolutionary DNA and are necessary, instinctive emotions.
Our tribal ancestors who desperately needed the tribe for survival, approval from other tribe members was necessary for them to feel secure in their environment. In a world that had little security of any kind, survival depended on the solidarity and willingness of the tribe to stay together for mutual protection and continued existence. Descent was not an option.
Receiving and giving affirmation was a tool that nature planted deep in our instinctive behavior patterns. It helped us to survive. It made the need for tribal affirmation of each individual very important. This emotional need was critical to keep the tribe together. To this day it remains is a powerful force shaping the way we behave – and continues to help us continue as a community.
However, we rarely see emotional needs such as our need for affirmation as instinctive behavior. We prefer to see these emotions rooted in personal choice and selective behavior we consciously control. Unfortunately, we do this at our peril.
If there is a more powerful motivator in human behavior than our need for affirmation, we need to name it – I cannot.
How much of what we do is rooted in seeking approval and affirmation from those who have some control over our lives? It starts as a child and continues to live with us the rest of our lives.
The liability of this powerful emotion, however, is how it deters us from original thought and action. Creative thinking instigates behavior that often conflicts with the tribal or group’s conventional thinking.
How many times has an original and often necessary idea been squelched because it will incur the disapproval of the group mentality? How many of us have let the moment pass us by because we did not have the courage to speak out.
It is ironic that what can ensure our survival can also be the cause of our demise.
Brother Giovanni commenting from Pizzaonia for the “The Pizzaonian” – a division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network, Diverti Mento, general manager