TOYLAND

The other day I read in the newspaper that a significant protest was underway at the gates of Disneyland. For many, it seems, a trip to the Magic Kingdom was critically important and they passed on The Woman’s March, canvassing for voters and a host of other causes they deemed were not as important as a care free ride on the teacups. I am all for escape in hard times but I had to reflect on the infantile nature of American “culture.”

it does not take long to see how we are constantly encouraged to think and act like poorly mannered juveniles. A tsunami of disinformation and distraction coupled with our fast opinion industry makes clear that is no longer our job to think for ourselves. A talking head will tell you what you should think and how to act and the result is that many of our country fellows now think of America as a vast amusement park …a place where we are expecting to be entertained. Increasingly, it is not our job to care, to weigh alternatives and take individual action to solve social problems. We are finding it harder and harder to ask what might happen if most if us gave a damn.

This state of affairs is utopia for those who crave power. Childlike, we see immigrants not as a refreshing boost to our economy and culture but as a bunch of brats from another neighborhood that want to play with OUR toys. They want our jobs and our hospital beds and they might break a few of our cherished playthings. Racism is the height of childish thinking on a number of levels. again this requires the abandonment of adult reasoning. Some of our leaders say things that sound like, “I’m better than Them’ or ” I know you are but what am I.” It is the thinking we would expect from a 5 year old.

Let’s not forget the classic tantrum. When things do not go our way we stomp and kick and pull our hair until we get what we want. Now, in the midst of a pandemic, racial violence, economic and natural disaster we have assigned a poorly behaved child and his puerile playmates the job of making it all right.

When I read about the “Greatest Generation” almost every story has a coming of age element; a story that tells us that 18 year olds had to, “grow up in a hurry.” It is a timely story for today. We need to grow up. Part of our maturation will include a new focus on education, a willingness to listen to experts and a concern for our fellow citizens. We need to close the gates of our cultural Disneyland and decide what is truly important.

It is time to leave the nursery and go to work.

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