As a thirty year educator, an officer in one large sports organization, and someone who has participated on many committees, I think I have spent a TON of time with other well meaning people doing one thing; admiring the problem.
Let me explain. It seems that any time there is a problem that affects a large population of people in the community or system, committees are formed, some blue ribbon, some exploratory, and some just plain old committees. They always start out with good intentions. Everyone wants to solve a problem as quickly and as effectively as possible. Members are recruited, meetings are planned, agendas are sent, goals are set.
Most of the time is spent discussing the problem, why it happened, how it happened, and even whose fault it is. Everyone gets their say. At some point, people start proposing solutions to the problem. That’s usually where committees get stuck. It seems that any solution requires something that can’t be done, is too expensive, offends someone, or is perceived as ineffective. Round and round the discussion goes, and the admiration of the problem begins.
The phrase means what was just described; all that discussion devolving into repeating how awful the problem is and how we can’t solve it. Why?
Because no one usually wants to tell the truth about what the problem really is and the difficult solutions that need to be tried.
And so nothing changes.
I think we might be in a place in our country and our world where we can no longer sit around and admire the problem of what is going on instead of solving it.
But it won’t be easy. Hard things need to be said and done. Here are just a few:
- Our school system has opted in to indoctrination over education. It is being run by sell outs who have only the advancement of their careers in mind when they make decisions. They are controlled by the teachers’ unions and the political class. They need to be removed. Parents need to get off the sidelines and either get involved in the public schools or get involved. They need to speak out at Board and PTA meetings.
- Colleges and Universities who train students to be mindless social justice warriors and who ban free speech need to be “canceled.” Parents need to stop spending money on expensive tuition, forcing their kids into student loans for degrees that don’t lead to good jobs, and using the names of these schools as cocktail party conversation. Yes, children’s egos will be bruised and they may not go to their “dream school.” But, in the long run, isn’t it more important that our young people get to debate ideas openly and work toward fulfilling and good paying occupations? The answer is yes. And they will appreciate it later.
- Stop allowing your children to act like disrespectful jerks and teach them manners, conversation skills, and that you, the parent, are in charge. Teach them how to listen to different ideas and perspectives and to state their ideas and opinions with facts and civility. Help them understand that shouting someone else down, calling them names, and destroying property are not the way to get real change.
- Be prepared to make politically incorrect and even “offensive” observations. I don’t mean to openly seek to insult people, but we all have to be honest about our thoughts. Sometimes that will get messy, but we can’t keep hdiing behind niceities when real action is required. Think of it like family, sometimes you just have to tell the truth as you see it to clear the air.
- Quit allowing others to shut you down with lables such as racist, xenophobe, conspiracy theorist, etc. Laugh at them when they call you names and realize it is their only way to “refute” your argument since they have no facts. Understand that this might impact you at work or in your social circles. You cannot be afraid to be disliked or even demoted or fired at work.
- Find groups that are focused on real action to make change in government, in education, etc. It will take time and commitment, but nothing happens without hard work. If all a group does is meet and complain, they won’t accomplish anything.
- Become educated. Read current news, history, research, economics, etc. And educated citizen is a citizen who can make judgements in an informed way.
- Get out of your echo chamber. Talk to people who don’t think like you. Do it in person, not over social media. One of the disastrous results of the fake pandemic and shut down is that it has kept people from having meaningful interactions IN PERSON. When you meet someone in person, it is harder to dismiss them and for them to dismiss you. Reach across political, racial and economic lines to do so.
- Organize political non-violent protests. Get your ideas and opinions heard.
There are other actions, and I encourage you to sit down and make a plan. Work with other like minded people. And when you do, make it clear that admiring the problem is not the end goal.
