What right do I have to criticize
others? Is it helpful? Is it the best use of my own time? Granted, it’s easy to do, but I wonder
how helpful it is. I also wonder
if it’s just another way to keep us from our Purpose. No, I don’t wonder.
I’m sure it is. Here are
some questions I am considering:
·
What is criticism?
·
Why is it so popular?
·
What do people gain from it?
·
Is there ever a place for it?
·
Is there a cure for it?
First, what is criticism? In www.dictionary.com,
it says:
1. the act of passing judgment as to the merits of anything.
2.
the act of passing severe
judgment; censure; faultfinding.
artistic work, musical performance, art
exhibit, dramatic production, etc.
5.
any of various methods of
studying texts or documents for the purpose of
dating or reconstructing them, evaluating their
authenticity, analyzing their content or style, etc.: historical criticism;
literary criticism.
I think in contemporary
society, most people use the first two definitions and completely disregard the
final three. The last three mean
analysis. The first two mean to
tear down. Analysis requires
thought. Tearing down requires no
thought. In fact, thoughtless
(rudeness and lack of analysis) are almost required to tear others down. Analysis requires courage. It requires inner peace. Most of all, it requires an open
mind, even if it means some of my ideas or beliefs may be wrong.
Criticism that tears down
requires only rage and the inability or, more accurately, the unwillingness to
learn and grow or to listen and accept.
I see this in myself when it comes to political discussions. And I will never believe that it’s
necessary for ordinary citizens to own assault weapons, no matter what the NRA
says about their rights or the 2nd Amendment. I realize I have my own room for growth
here.
Criticism isn’t just
reserved for the political discussions or the right to bear arms. We use it for entertainment of all
kinds, sports, the media, religion and most of all, other people’s work.
I’ve used the example of
Justin Bieber before. I like some of his songs. Others I can take or leave. I saw the movie about him and I thought
he was a talented young man.
But I’ve seen people hate him with a fury that should only be reserved
for one’s worst enemies. People
hate him, I use the word “hate” intentionally, as if he had personally wronged
them. They say he has no
talent. They question his
sexuality. I’ve never seen a careful analysis of his music. Why? I think the real reason people hate Justin Bieber is because
he’s popular and he has done things most of us can’t or won’t.
I think the same is true
of anyone who puts him or herself in the spotlight. Eventually, the target’s personal life is examined and
here it may be found wanting, as are most people’s personal lives. But what business of it is mine
and how does it affect my life if Justin is rude to someone or Britney has a
meltdown or Tiger has an affair?
Unless I can directly help these people, why do I even need to
know? Why do any of us need to
know? The most I can do is pray
for them. Otherwise, I have far more
important things to consider.
Sometimes I think we build
people up simply for the sake of tearing them down. I also think there is something more sinister going
on. I think there are forces,
political, economic and spiritual, that want nothing more than to see us obsess
over and criticize celebrities and sports figures so that we don’t have to
think about why are here on this planet.
What do we gain from
criticizing? It gives us a sense
of power. Our anger makes us feel
alive. It makes us right and it
makes someone else wrong. And if a
lot of people agree with us, all the better. That proves I’m right.
That proves I’m not alone.
Congratulations! I just
joined a mob.
In an online article,
there is this more well-thought-out critique:
The Daily Beast’s Rawiya Kameir
writes:
“The instinct to direct society’s collective vitriol at a more-or-less
harmless teenager is not about him or his antics, but about the fallout of
celebrity culture and the myth of capitalism, wherein one’s success is directly
tied to one’s worth. The non-Beliebing public doesn’t hate him because he posts
too many selfies on Instagram, but because he signifies something far more
insidious than the pop culture machine: he is publicly young and rich and
otherwise privileged in a time during which growing social and economic
inequalities are cleaving the fabric of everything we once believed in… It’s
easier, and maybe more enjoyable, to hate something you can see but can’t
touch. This is how one copes.”
Is there ever a place for
criticism? For the man or woman in
Purpose, no, there isn’t. But
we’ve made plenty of room for it anyway in this fallen world of ours. This is because most people aren’t in
their Purpose. When I’m writing, I
rarely have the time, energy or even the interest in criticizing someone
else. I have too much work to
do. The only person’ work I’m
concerned with is mine. I have
more than enough work to do and plenty of room for improvement. This keeps me from obsessing about
someone else.
There is, however, a
place, and even a desperate need, for thoughtful analysis or critique. If someone wants to give me a
well-thought-out discussion as to why the San Diego Chargers aren’t as good as
the Chicago Bears, I’m willing to listen.
What I don’t want to hear is, “The Chargers suck!” And, again, since sports is not
part of my Purpose, I’m not interested in someone’s rage about something that
ultimately is not truly relevant to most people. I don’t identify with sports, movies, television,
celebrities or politics. I’m here
to do a handful of things and do them well. I don’t have much time for anything else.
Finally, is there a cure
for criticism? For me, someone who
can be and has been very critical, only this: Find my Purpose and Get Started and Keep Going. That’s the only thing that works for
me.
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