Like many people, I do not love or hate Democrats, or Republicans, or Independents, or Harris, or Trump, nor am I a fanatic of any of them. I am free and can take one or leave one. [1]
As Abraham Lincoln taught us, all yields to rational open-mindedness, self-reflection, and lucidity. Lincoln said in that regard:
“I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.”
[2] All of us would do well to try to profit from Lincoln’s abstract statement of rational open-minded, self-reflective, and lucidity perfection.
But, wait, I did not provide Lincoln’s text that led up to his perfect statement of rationality. Here goes:
My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.
[*2] Oh, majestic Honest Abe, why are you conceding the ugly horror of human slavery?
And, here, “the cause” becomes relevant; to wit: To save the Union. All yields to save the Union. It’s not pretty. It’s not a competition. It’s not utopia. But, rather, it is a wise leadership decision of what must be, and what must come first.
We watch for it, and we pay attention:
If the Union broke, the Confederate States of America would still have the horrific blight of slavery. The same condition, but only in two different countries, an even worse proposition by loss of influence. Yes, Lincoln was that smart, that calculating, and that wise. Just a man, but an exceptional one.
But, wait, let’s do one more from the same letter. Here’s the ending:
I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free.
Here we see Lincoln qualify to doing his “official duty” that his role required. We notice the bifurcation of his “official duty” and his “personal wish.” My, my, my. It is almost unbearable in sublimity. This is so perfect, it should make any critical thinker or true leader want to cry. Stack it up with the Gettysburg Address and the closing to his Second Inaugural Address. [3] Doing what must be done, because wisdom decided that it must be done. [4] What a man.
So, what is our lesson?
The “primary objective.” Priorities. Focus. Clarity. Determination. Steadfastness. Discipline to role. Power of self. Strength. Confidence without stubbornness. Needs-to-Be versus Wants-to-Be. If there ever were someone to make us all incompetent, it is Abraham Lincoln. Life presents the horns of dilemmas that cannot be resolved directly—principle directly against principle—but must be resolved wisely, reconciled by time and logistics. Time tends to provide opportunities that the moment does not. Lincoln understood time. [5]
The media and special interest groups tend to the rhetorical non-sequitur, with conclusory hate-labeling. The irony that, if you don’t jump on, you’re a hater. Lincoln was strong enough to see through it and to push through it.
Therefore, following Lincoln’s example, the “cause” and primary objective is first the saving and then the prosperity of the United States of America, such as the hand that feeds the body that feeds the hand. [6] One diverse, free, and free-thinking people, with systemic justice and legal equality. I don’t think the United States of America will perish with either candidate winning or losing this time around, for the same reason that Rome was neither built nor fell in one day, but each decision tends in increments toward success or ultimate failure. [7]
The United States might fail philosophically on social issues, but it will still survive as an entity. However, the United States will fail to survive as an entity, without economic prosperity. [8, *7] Countries don’t die by philosophies, they die by economies. Countries don’t die by philosophics, they die by economics.
Now, we know that there are a fair number of people who simply hate Donald Trump because of his suggested tactical (or mean) rhetoric, or love him for it [9], and there are a fair number of people who will vote for Kamala Harris simply because she is an XX-woman, or not. [10]
Not every vote needs to be wise, but certainly, each of us has a personal duty to avoid voting foolishly.
Lincoln could have been baited away with vertical issues, but he stayed laser-focused on his primary objective. Saving the Union. One America. Needs-to-Be versus Wants-to-Be. [11, *2]
As to the anger (or frustration) of the American people, we can empathize that there are many people who are angry about a lot of things, and some things are more personal than other things. I was inclined to anger yesterday over the price of my food at the grocery store, but that is not personal in a manner as it would seem to be for zygote gestation issues for XX-women. Indeed, we understand The Mourning Bride adage, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” [*10] And I have already stated regarding personal issues, that, if someone killed my family, I would be emotionally-driven and justified to personal fury, too. [*1]
But it does not follow that, because I am justifiably furious, that my actions are thereby made to be wise.
[*1] Justifiable fury and wisdom are not the same thing, often confused, conflated and homogenized. As for me, I would need a friend who loved me enough to endure the risk and the task to “talk me down.” [*1, 12] Sometimes we need to be tempered from without, often from loved ones. [13] Wrath is a deadly vice and makes us vulnerable to manipulation, mistake and self-destruction. [14, 15] Emoting might be even worse than not thinking, because it tends to usurp wise and disciplined self-direction. [16]
And, so, timely and timeless advice for all of us: Let us stay focused, disciplined, and keep our wits about us. What feels right, and what is right, are not necessarily the same thing.
Justifiable fury and wisdom are not the same thing, often confused, conflated and homogenized.
[1] Nothing to Hate, But Hate Itself – Or, Hate Best Practices [#GRZ_44]
[2] The Lincoln Leadership Dilemma; Or, The Primary Objective [#GRZ_176]
[3] Seven Key American Principles; Or, a Culture of Breaking Culture [#GRZ_197]
[4] The Two “Master Virtues” – The Executive Summary [#GRZ_209]
[5] The Three Noble Cardinal Rules of Wisdom [#GRZ_189]
[6] The Political Leadership Narrative; Or, “Don’t Worry, This Won’t Hurt a Bit.” [#GRZ_207]
[9] Donald Trump; Or, The Mean Insult v. The Tactical Insult [#GRZ_108]
[10] The Woman Wins. Now. It’s About Time. [#GRZ_199]
[12] I Am Not Brainwashed, And Neither Are You. Maybe. But I Might be Wrong. [#GRZ_165]
[16] In or Out? Or, I Never Wanted To Be Like My Dog. [#GRZ_57]
“Non moriuntur regiones philosophiis, moriuntur oeconomicae.” (“Countries don’t die by philosophies, they die by economies.”); “Iusta furor et sapientia non sunt idem.” (“Justifiable fury and wisdom are not the same thing.”) ~ grz
The statements or opinions made in this article are solely the author’s own and not representative of any institution regarding which the author is affiliated.
© 2024 Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/justifiable-fury-wisdom-keep-our-wits-us-gregg-zegarelli-esq–d7w0e