Ceasefire

Today the gentle winter rains have come and I’m buried in stacks of old Orff Echo magazines searching for articles and certain ads from the past 30 years or so. A little documentation project, dipping back into a world I’ve inhabited for decades. So interesting to see photos of some of the people I just re-connected with at the recent Conference looking oh, so young! In some ways, alluringly attractive, in others, not the fuller seasoning of our more aged faces. 

 

Pausing for lunch, I noticed that I feel released and relaxed in a way I haven’t for awhile. As if some toxic poisons have been flushed from my system and I’m back in the full presence of whatever this moment offers. The glistening leaves of the tree outside my window, the soothing sounds of Frank Sinatra singing the Jobim songbook, the little pleasure of a bit of cold brew coffee with oat milk. How did this happen?

 

The answer is simple. I’ve been a full two weeks away from even the tiniest snippet of news, a welcome respite from seeing that face or even hearing the name—well, many faces and many names. We have convinced ourselves that we must “keep up with the news” but are not wholly aware how much wear and tear it is on our tender psyches. A constant assault on our brain stem, releasing some of the chemicals that we need for real emergencies, but like a non-stop drip that never stops when the danger is passed because the danger is never passed on our 24/7 news. We were not built to withstand this kind of relentless attack, to live in perpetual fear. It feeds our anxiety, our cynicism, puts us in a survival mode and why? So some people can prey on us for their own power and greed while they’re drinking martinis on their super-yachts.

 

I heard a story of a politically liberal man who spent a few weeks in the hospital where the only thing on TV was Fox News. When he came out, having been given that steady intravenous drip of propaganda, his political views had changed overnight. It took a few weeks of a no-news de-tox program for him to come to his senses again. That’s a powerful story. 

 

But it’s not only the purposeful misinformation and disinformation on Fox News and social media. Even the groups and people I wholly support in their views of social justice keep lifting my hopes up with their false claims of “Dropped the hammer! This changes everything! Supreme Court miracle!!” and then dashing them down. It’s yet another toxicity to the system. 

 

And so to restore some sense of sanity and civility, I propose a one-month cease-fire for the entire month of December. No news reported except weather and cultural events. Even leave out sports so you’re not bummed out when your team loses. Neighborhood support systems to come up with fun alternatives and listening ears when you’re shaking from cold turkey withdrawal (don’t worry—it will pass soon.). First pass a law that no new laws can be passed during that month—otherwise, the power-mad will have a field day knowing no one knows what they’re doing. 

 

Then in January, re-convene from our new perspective and get to work, putting up guard rails against purposeful mis-and dis-information. Fining news agencies that break agreements, removing people from social media who transgress, returning to the 6 o-clock news and shut down the 24 hour madness. Most importantly, training people to make intelligent critical analysis of what’s reliable and what’s not and train all of us to break our addiction to the news out there and pay more attention to the news right here. What you see out your window, what you feel inside of yourself, what is going on at your school or workplace. 

 

Of course, no one will take this seriously, but why not? Nothing else is working and there’s ample evidence that we are in the throes of some serious destructive behaviors both caused and pumped up by the media. We have nothing to lose but our stress, anxiety, fear and hopelessness. I’m here to testify. My little two-week withdrawal is cleansing my system and it’s a wonderful feeling. 

 

Think about it.