PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

June 30, 2024

SPIN (Perspective)

Today’s American professional political discourse would seem be dominated by commentators giving their spin of the events of the day.  I am amazed how two persons can look at the same event and come out with such diametric views.  When I look at the episode under discussion, I wonder where either party got their perspective.  What they are giving would seem to be spin, not an objective analysis of the episode.  The quest for truth would seem to be lost.

Spin in the public arena is not something new.  One can find a multitude of instances of it throughout history.  It is at the heart of propaganda. Spin is a critical element in justifying one’s own beliefs and behavior and criticizing others.  The religious leaders of Jesus’ day used it to have Jesus eventually crucified.  It seems to me that when reporting the news, reporters would serve the general public more if they focus more on facts and data using nouns and verbs rather than interpretation and analysis using adjectives and adverbs.

If truth be told, all of us look at and interpret the world with our own spin.  We might call it perspective, outlook, or viewpoint.  However, when all is said and done, it is still our spin.  We tend to gravitate toward others who have spins similar to our own.  We can tolerate some differences.  Nevertheless, there are limits beyond which we can not go.  We seek to affirm goals and outcomes which validate our own goals and objectives.  Very often the most important goal is simply to “win.”

In 594 B.C.E. Solon was selected to be extraordinary archon of Athens to end the civil war that raged and to find solutions to the problems that plagued the city.  Solon had to find a way to address the conflicting interests of the aristocrats who wanted a return to the status quo, the hoplites who wanted a political voice, and the mass of the people who were looking for a cancellation of debts and land redistribution. The archon’s guiding principle in seeking solutions was not the self-interest of the various parties, but what was in the city’s best interests.  Today, Solon is known as the “Father of Democracy.” (The Long Shadow of the Ancient Greek World, The Great Courses)

In his letter to the Galatians Paul writes, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-28).” In this text Paul is reminding his readers of what they have in common rather than what separates them.  It is from this perspective he invites the Galatians to deal with the issues that face them.

Solon approached his task not from the perspective of what separated the various groups, but what they had in common: people who resided in the city of Athens.  One of the issues that plagued Athens was the poor quality of the soil.  Farmers were not able to produce crops and the rich used what little there was for export.  Solon suggested a long-term solution: plant Olives.  The growing conditions were ideal and they would produce an excellent export.  Unfortunately, this was not a short-term solution but a long-term one.  Thus, it was rejected by all.  Fortunately, the Athenians saw the error of their ways and today Greece is known for its olive production.

How might the political dialogue today be changed if the participants would look at the world not from the perspective of their own self-interests but what is good for the country, both now and in the long run?  One of the chief functions of spin is to reinforce and support one’s self-interest.  Would this still be necessary if everyone was working for the common good and everyone had something to contribute.  Then there would be neither Republican or Democrat, neither liberal or conservative, neither red state or blue state, for all are one as residents of the United States.

(Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)