The American Atmosphere

Post #291 - Depends on you.

FS4261ct24 - 6 x 4.25 inches - collage on paper - Cecil Touchon - Brooklyn Papers

What was on my mind this morning? I was mostly thinking about what it is, from a practical point of view, to be an American, an American citizen and the idea of the American dream. I would like to explore what this is to me in more detail, so I can question myself enough to gain a clear understanding of my thoughts on the topic and which ones need more refinement.

As artists we need to always be questioning ourselves and what we think about things. Otherwise we just become puppets of propaganda.

This is election season and so, here in the states, we are currently surrounded by continuous questions and proposed answers on the topic. For myself, I keep coming to the idea that each one of us has to be self-governing.

I feel like laws are only needed for stupid, selfish or greedy people who can't figure out the obvious like the need of putting up a stop sign at an intersection to insist that everyone stop and look around and make sure they don't run into somebody or that somebody doesn't run into them.

It is perfectly obvious that you should stop but for some reason people need a law to insist that they stop for everyone's mutual safety. This doesn't stop some people from running through the intersection but at least it establishes who is at fault in case of an inevitable disaster.

SIDE NOTE: A stop sign is not a political statement. It is not democratic or republican it is a practicality like most things in life. Most things are not political when you think about it even though people want to politicize things like face masks back during the pandemic. Is there something political about public safety? Spoiler alert: The answer is NO. Have you every seen people having protests around a stop sign because it was put up during this or that administration? I never have. That is because it is not political.

I have a saying:

‘The fate of a nation rests on the shoulders of each individual.”

By that I mean that any nation depends upon the small daily actions, attitudes and assumptions of each citizen. We all depend on each other every day - we depend that we all are doing our part the best we can to keep our joint project going in the right direction.

What you do in the privacy of your own home is your business. We are all anarchists in our own domains but when you are interacting in public, if you are in America you need to act like an American, treat others around you like an American with the same respect, dignity and consideration you expect for yourself.

I ask to myself; What is it to be an American? What is my obligation to my family, my community, my nation and to the world at large? It is mostly about being a good hearted human, cultivating an understanding of the greater good and how to contribute to it. Most of the time it is just about being peaceful, having a good attitude, being honest with yourself and others, being an enemy to no one and a friend to all.

An Enemy to No One and a Friend to All

A community is built around an atmosphere. Atmosphere is something you can’t see but you can feel just like a scent that is unseen but permeates the air. Developing atmosphere is about not adding pollutants like fear, anger, paranoia or resentment but rather radiating an attitude of trust, tolerance, peacefulness, fairness and respect.

Through these various qualities - positive or negative - we generate an atmosphere and it spreads subconsciously to everyone around us. Ask yourself; ‘What am I contributing to the atmosphere around me? If you pay attention it will become obvious. Once obvious then you have to ask; ‘Is what I am bring to the picture improving or polluting the atmosphere around me?’

We have to be conscious about what we are doing and how we do it. What is our attitude? Our assumptions? Be awake to yourself and you surroundings. Don’t walk through life asleep, we all depend on all of us being awake. So wake up. Make a positive contribution to the atmosphere. Your country is depending on you.