Let's make thinking cool
This post is not intended to be an endorsement or a criticism of any particular political (or other) philosophy, it is just an observation that I've made about our culture lately. I'd be interested to learn if you agree or not.
In the aftermath of the last election, one that Republicans should have (based on the condition of our economy) cleaned house in, the GOP has been scurrying to figure out "what went wrong?" Was it that Mitt Romney's message didn't resonate? Was it that Americans really did want to keep piling on more debt and social programs to our national government? At the end of the day, the answer as to their change of strategy, which came from perceived front runners, was a little shocking for me. I'll summarize:
"We need to make conservatism 'cool.'"
I know that is grossly oversimplying what they are saying, and part of me wants to say "No! your positions are valid and that's enough!" But then again, isn't that what Mitt and Paul tried to do? They spent several months presenting facts after facts about the state of our fiscal house... they appealed to our sense of reason.
And it failed.
Meanwhile, the opposition was making it a point to be on popular TV shows, getting advocates that touted the benefits of their key programs to people in their key demographic, and doing what all politicians do well... which is make promises they didn't intend to keep (like the promise not to raise anyone's taxes who makes under $250K a year). I'll admit, I'm a somewhat biased observer, but what I saw out of the Obama/Biden platform (which won by the way!) was a campaign short on substance and high on emotion and branding. And it was that strategy that triumphed.
They didn't really have to get people to buy intellectually into socialism... they just sold it really well.
That is not to say that there are plenty of thinking liberals out there that know why they agree that the current path we are taking is good for America. However, at the end of the day it wasn't that group of people that won Obama the election. But let's be honest, it isn't that same group of thinking conservative people that vote GOP that got Bush elected in 2004 either. This trend of appealing to the heart over the head isn't a new strategy... remember the swiftboat ads? Remember "Compassionate Conservatism?" Remember (if you're old enough), Ronald Reagan's one liners? Remember "it's the economy, stupid?" (I guess two can play at the one liner game)
How many people, conservative, liberal, socialist, or Libertarian (or "I don't care-ean") can really articulate their positions on important issues like the role of government in our daily lives, how much should we really be taxed, who is best equipped to run health care in America, gay marriage, the Second Amendment, foreign policy and terrorism, and the such? I'm sure we have opinions and thoughts. But seriously, who has time to think about all that?
So we move with whatever we like... what appeals to us... what's cool.
We can do this with little consequence with fashion, restaurants, places to go on a Friday night, and vacation destinations, what car you buy, even where you go to college (or who you root for). Those don't really impact our lives too much (maybe other than the fashion one... because those pictures will come up later in your life :-) )
However, there are important issues that we should probably marginalize "coolness" in favor of more prayer and thought. Such as: which influential people are you allowing to speak into your life? I'm blessed to be a member at Buckhead Church and love listening to Andy Stanley; but I fear sometimes that some people follow him because it's "in" to like Andy versus really evaluating what he's saying. Fortunately, Andy is very grounded, but there are other church leaders (or leaders in general) out there that are equally "cool" that are not. Or: I talked about who we choose as our government leaders... Or: who we choose to ask out... are we (guys) asking girls out based on their love for Jesus and character and not just because they're cute & fun, and (girls) responding to those advances because the guy is solid and loves Christ beyond what makes a guy cool to you.
I don't think we need to take emotion out of the equation... it greatly informs our decision making and can be a good gut check; but the writer of Proverbs says that it can lead us in the wrong direction so it should be informed by a well-thought out, informed, set of convictions and values that we process everything through. My values system is informed by my faith in Jesus Christ and the teachings of scripture; along with reading and studying under wise people that hold the same world view (and some that do not, but whom I respect and can disagree with on certain things). However, I believe that if we (meaning we as a nation but also as people) are to be great again, then perhaps its not liberalism, or conservatism, or Andy Stanley, or Chris Christie, or Malcom Gladwell, or Barak Obama, or Francis Chan that should be cool...
Perhaps overall we should make thinking cool... and use our brain.. and think about what is wise versus what is popular. And see God as cool.. and listen to Him over the other voices shouting at us.
Heck, we may continue to pursue the same direction as a country... we may not. But it wouldn't be because one was sold more effectively.
But more than that, it'd have a huge impact on how we live our lives. And that, is what will make us great.
In the aftermath of the last election, one that Republicans should have (based on the condition of our economy) cleaned house in, the GOP has been scurrying to figure out "what went wrong?" Was it that Mitt Romney's message didn't resonate? Was it that Americans really did want to keep piling on more debt and social programs to our national government? At the end of the day, the answer as to their change of strategy, which came from perceived front runners, was a little shocking for me. I'll summarize:
"We need to make conservatism 'cool.'"
I know that is grossly oversimplying what they are saying, and part of me wants to say "No! your positions are valid and that's enough!" But then again, isn't that what Mitt and Paul tried to do? They spent several months presenting facts after facts about the state of our fiscal house... they appealed to our sense of reason.
And it failed.
Meanwhile, the opposition was making it a point to be on popular TV shows, getting advocates that touted the benefits of their key programs to people in their key demographic, and doing what all politicians do well... which is make promises they didn't intend to keep (like the promise not to raise anyone's taxes who makes under $250K a year). I'll admit, I'm a somewhat biased observer, but what I saw out of the Obama/Biden platform (which won by the way!) was a campaign short on substance and high on emotion and branding. And it was that strategy that triumphed. They didn't really have to get people to buy intellectually into socialism... they just sold it really well.
That is not to say that there are plenty of thinking liberals out there that know why they agree that the current path we are taking is good for America. However, at the end of the day it wasn't that group of people that won Obama the election. But let's be honest, it isn't that same group of thinking conservative people that vote GOP that got Bush elected in 2004 either. This trend of appealing to the heart over the head isn't a new strategy... remember the swiftboat ads? Remember "Compassionate Conservatism?" Remember (if you're old enough), Ronald Reagan's one liners? Remember "it's the economy, stupid?" (I guess two can play at the one liner game)
How many people, conservative, liberal, socialist, or Libertarian (or "I don't care-ean") can really articulate their positions on important issues like the role of government in our daily lives, how much should we really be taxed, who is best equipped to run health care in America, gay marriage, the Second Amendment, foreign policy and terrorism, and the such? I'm sure we have opinions and thoughts. But seriously, who has time to think about all that?
So we move with whatever we like... what appeals to us... what's cool.
We can do this with little consequence with fashion, restaurants, places to go on a Friday night, and vacation destinations, what car you buy, even where you go to college (or who you root for). Those don't really impact our lives too much (maybe other than the fashion one... because those pictures will come up later in your life :-) )
However, there are important issues that we should probably marginalize "coolness" in favor of more prayer and thought. Such as: which influential people are you allowing to speak into your life? I'm blessed to be a member at Buckhead Church and love listening to Andy Stanley; but I fear sometimes that some people follow him because it's "in" to like Andy versus really evaluating what he's saying. Fortunately, Andy is very grounded, but there are other church leaders (or leaders in general) out there that are equally "cool" that are not. Or: I talked about who we choose as our government leaders... Or: who we choose to ask out... are we (guys) asking girls out based on their love for Jesus and character and not just because they're cute & fun, and (girls) responding to those advances because the guy is solid and loves Christ beyond what makes a guy cool to you.
I don't think we need to take emotion out of the equation... it greatly informs our decision making and can be a good gut check; but the writer of Proverbs says that it can lead us in the wrong direction so it should be informed by a well-thought out, informed, set of convictions and values that we process everything through. My values system is informed by my faith in Jesus Christ and the teachings of scripture; along with reading and studying under wise people that hold the same world view (and some that do not, but whom I respect and can disagree with on certain things). However, I believe that if we (meaning we as a nation but also as people) are to be great again, then perhaps its not liberalism, or conservatism, or Andy Stanley, or Chris Christie, or Malcom Gladwell, or Barak Obama, or Francis Chan that should be cool...
Perhaps overall we should make thinking cool... and use our brain.. and think about what is wise versus what is popular. And see God as cool.. and listen to Him over the other voices shouting at us.
Heck, we may continue to pursue the same direction as a country... we may not. But it wouldn't be because one was sold more effectively.
But more than that, it'd have a huge impact on how we live our lives. And that, is what will make us great.
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