We should think for ourselves

By M. Scott Carter
The Moore American

June 04, 2008 03:00 pm

— I tell my kids to do it all the time.
“Think for yourself,” I say.
“Stop and listen.”
And, the old stand-by, “Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean it’s right.”
I’m not sure they get it — but I keep delivering the message.
The problem is that today fewer and fewer people are hearing that message. We no longer think for ourselves.
Consider this:
I can’t tell you how many honest, decent, God-fearing people I’ve met who honestly believe Elvis is working at Burger King somewhere because they saw it on the Internet.
And I wish I’d kept a list of all those I know who are sure that the United States government caused the AIDS epidemic or that Area 51 really exists.
If it wasn’t so sad, it truly would be funny.
Part of the reason is that today we want things quickly.
And, to some extent, that’s okay. In emergencies there should be a quick response. The cops — or firemen — should come quickly when there’s a big problem.
And yeah, your Mom should quickly make sure you didn’t hurt yourself too bad but there are also times when things should take a while to complete.
A good book should last a while.
A slow, wet kiss should take about three days.
A childhood should be long enough to enjoy it.
And an education should take a lifetime.
Anymore, we want everything quickly.
We don’t want to take the time to learn things right. Shoot, I see hundreds of people each day who don’t even want to take the time to learn.
Don’t believe me?
Just try to get a kid to read a newspaper or, even better, check the dictionary when they don’t know how to spell a word.
It may sound like a cliché, but it’s the perfect example.
Of course, we adults are just as bad, too.
Whether it’s a government “stimulus” check or having their wedding announcement published, everyone wants theirs now.
We don’t wait.
And, I believe sometimes we should.
Years ago, I read a story about a Japanese father and his young son walking down a dusty road.
The son was in a hurry.
He kept tugging on his father’s arm, trying to pull him quickly along.
The father resisted.
“What’s your hurry?” His father asked. “Slow down, talk to the neighbors. Enjoy the morning. Take a look at the beauty surrounding you.”
Still, the son refused to listen.
He continued to badger his father and to try and get to the city quicker; but his father continued his leisurely walk. The older man spoke to the elderly farmer and paused to admire the animals in the field.
Finally his son had had enough.
He yelled at his father, calling him slow and stupid and then, just as he was ready to race off down the dusty road, his father grabbed his arm.
Ahead, the pair heard a huge roar and watched as the giant mushroom cloud settled over Hiroshima.
Perhaps it’s time, again, to learn the father’s lesson; thinking for ourselves and choosing to walk just a little slower down that dusty road we call life.