Since the Inauguration of President Trump, I have been reflecting on how much of our modern communication relies on texts and tweets. President Trump being famous, of course, for doing end-runs around the media with his tweets. Which of course they report. Fragments, one liners and slogans are gaining power. They have always had some appeal.
Fragments. I have become aware of how many conversations that I have are mere fragments of thought and feeling. Words, sometimes taken out of context, sometimes superficial, sometimes meaningful, but incomplete. I long for, I begin to realize a real conversation. But then, I have to be open to saying what I think and talking about how I feel and be open to really listening to another. That sometimes leads to alienation when I want to keep the peace.
For instance. Okay. You say you don’t believe in God, but just what God, or concept of God, or religious perception of God, do you mean? Or religion. What do you mean you don’t trust it? Or, you believe in spirituality, not religion. Do you believe in learning but not schools? Or health but not medicine?
Or, how are you doing? Fine. But, that is not really true. You are struggling with some health issues. I can understand not wanting to talk about it, but just some basic information would help me connect to you.
I want to know my children as adults and I want them to know who I really am. Not sound bites or another’s impression.
Being a grandparent seems to require some circumspect, fragmentary communication too. A grandparent has to be sensitive to their own children’s boundaries for their children. We proceed with caution. Fragments. No complete thoughts about concerns, or even dreams. Or the context of life and values within that context. Being human yesteryear has connections with being human today. There is a conversation. Fragments won’t do.
What seems like long ago, I listened to TV ads as we entered the heat of last stage pre-election campaigning. What do you mean you stood up for women when you voted against Planned Parenthood? What’s up? Or what do you mean “Make America great…again?” Militarily, morally, economically, what? When was it last great?
How can we settle for one liners when the world and issues and we are involved in are complex? Of course, too many words can obscure the truth of who we are and what we really think or feel too.
I know that love lives beyond words. I love beyond words. So does faith. But words can be a means to deeper connection when we are willing to take the chance of using them. I know that some things are better left unsaid, or are beyond words. But most things?
Do we not talk because we don’t want to expose ourselves, or are afraid to really know one another, or don’t want to disturb some equilibrium? Or, is brevity better because we are so busy or so very private? Or do we use fragments because we can, because we have smart phones we can dumb down.
I suppose electronic media has contributed to the “life in fragments” thing. But I don’t remember too many substantive conversations with folks back in the day either. Maybe it’s not just a now thing or even a then thing. Face to face conversation is not always easy. And connecting the dots and giving voice to how we feel is often hard. If words and thoughts are hard, at least being together matters, even if its by Skype.
I guess that no matter how good communication gets, there is so much more left to say. That’s the mystery of being human and the nature of finitude. But, let’s be more courageous about communication. Tweets are for the birds.