The Return of the Narrative to Our Discussion

I write specifically this morning to speak again of the Narrative--that pursuit of a relentless story that doesn't have any factual grounding in reality.  The big difference is that this time I'm going to thank the people behind this video for showing us why we can't call the Narrative a particularly partisan tactic.  

An antiabortion group decided to propagate the video at the above link, which apparently shows a medical director for Planned Parenthood discussing the sale of organs from aborted fetuses.  The video was ignored by the mainstream media and then hit the spotlight again when the "truth" came out concerning the video--the medical director for Planned Parenthood was actually discussing the total value of these organs for "medical research purposes."  

I can't put too much stock in something like the video (which I won't put here because it's crass and I have no time to subject you, dear reader, to such things) you'll see if you click the above link because I have watched pro wrestling for way too many years and put a lot of stock into my ability to spot a "work" when I see one.  That's what the video feels like--a hacky attempt at putting together a "narrative" that fits the antiabortion side of the debate.  The "Pro-Life" movement has said for ages that the "Pro-Choice/Pro-Abortion" side is a "cult of death," and there's nothing that conveniently fits that narrative more than a video of a medical professional sipping on wine and eating expensive food while talking about price variables for the organs of unborn children.  

I suspect there's more to the video than necessarily meets the eye.  The question is if the anti-abortion activists will turn to the notion of "well, this may not be the ENTIRE story, but let's not forget The Narrative" if and when the same video is exposed as something less than the entire story.  

Turning the tables to the more political side of the spectrum--the other Narrative present this past week is that billionaire Donald Trump is Not A Viable Candidate for President, and will Never Be.  The discussions of Trump in the media and other outlets are becoming more and more heated, with every word he says being vilified as if he were the absolute worst person in the world.  First it was his comments on Mexicans and their alleged "criminal" nature, then it was Trump's rather tactless remarks concerning P.O.W.s and Senator John McCain.  The biggest point of intellectual honesty in this new Narrative is that the Huffington Post will no longer discuss Donald Trump's candidacy as part of their "News" section--they're going to treat it as entertainment because he's a "sideshow" act.  I have to give the Huffington Post credit for intellectual honesty here--they're at least being honest in their hit job of Trump and his candidacy for President.  The other news outlets, not so much.  

I think the attacks on Trump have intensified in large part because those who work in these outlets see Trump as a legitimate threat to the presidency and the current progressive movement.  Even though he's bereft of tact, and even though he continues to provide the opposition with clickbait-worthy headlines, he's still leading among Republican voters.  And he's angry, which is the general emotional state of a good number of people on the Right and those who espouse conservative views.  Worse still--Progressives and Conservatives alike view him as a threat because it's going to be really hard to buy out a man with enough working capital to allow him to refuse checks from special interest groups.  I take no sides on Trump's campaign, dear reader--I just point this out because I want you to be able to see the Narrative at work, be it one side or the other.  

The Narrative is a powerful tool, and it's something that is now being used on all sides of every debate.  Some parties are just more honest about when and where it's used than others, and I want those of you who come here to read my ramblings and philosophical thoughts to be able to spot its use when it pops up.  We used to actually engage in substantive debate over issues; now it's just smear tactics in pursuit of the Narrative.  I may not be able to do much, but I can at least point out this farce of an argumentation tactic when I spot it and present it to you when I see it so that you can honestly and openly make an informed decision when you support one position or another.  

Again, this is just the work of a Neutral, trying to show you how both sides can use tactics to manipulate a debate.  The rest is up to you. 
 

On Determination and Hard Work

Last night at Sassy Ann's in Knoxville I had the privilege of doing a bit of time during the open mic for comedian J.C. Ratliff's album release party.  His debut comedy album, "Hope is a Virus," was recorded in the same room almost a year ago so it was fitting that he return for everyone to revel in the presence of the album's physical copies.  

Since my first time up with a mic at Twisted Mike's Taproom, I have become quite appreciative of the hard work that it takes to be a comedian, and to "make it" in a business that requires you to live on pennies a day for the purpose of making your dreams come true.  Crafting jokes to be told in front of an audience is brutally hard work, and people like J.C. Ratliff make it look easy only because they spend hours perfecting their craft.  I had a chance to glance at one of J.C.'s notebooks last night and it was scrawled with idea after idea, some with post-it notes haphazardly slapped on the sides of a page with more writing.  "I write a lot," he dismissively said when he noticed my eyes bug out.  

No kidding, J.C. 

On reflection of this culmination for several years' worth of work, I think it draws back to the idea of when I first started my law practice.  No one told me how to do it and there was no easy formula for getting started and running a viable business.  I had to learn everything I know now over the course of five years, suffering from numerous failures and making numerous advances to get to where I am now.  Some months it felt as though I was continually taking two steps back for every step forward I advanced, and there were times that I wanted to abandon the entire practice and go get a nine to five so I didn't have to listen to peoples' problems anymore.  

But I persisted.  I knew in my heart of hearts that this profession--as much as I loved and hated it--was what I was born to do.  I knew that when I was in court or researching a novel argument, I was in my element, experiencing a feeling of satisfaction unlike anything else I'd ever done for a job.  I knew that when I stood before a judge as the proverbial "voice of the voiceless" I was doing something that needed to be done, and giving people something they needed in a time where they were hurt the most.  No matter how much I wanted to quit at times I could not as it was imperative to myself personally and professionally that I succeed in the profession to which I had devoted my life, cost me one marriage, and left me with a degenerative eye condition.  

I suspect J.C. Ratliff is the kind of person who understands the same principles.  He wanted to do something that few others have done, and he worked at it to a near obsessive pace.  He continues to slog away at his profession, crafting ideas that will make a room full of patrons laugh--even if the humor is uncomfortable for them to stomach.  When it came time to create, record, and distribute his album he worked out the plan to do it, gathered the funds to do it, and then executed on his plan as best he could, using his life's experiences to make sure that his plan succeeded no matter what.  

We've reached a point in our society where we're told that it's okay to accept failure as part of society now--that the "1%," "racism," "sexism," or any other combination of circumstances beyond our control.  Some of these matters may be actual factors blocking people from achieving their goals in life, and it's a shame if that's something that stops you from doing what you want or achieving what you want.  

In times like these, I support people like J.C. Ratliff--those who have an idea and then execute on it, refusing to take "no" for an answer and proceeding forward until they achieve the goal they set.  

Sometimes you just have to be determined enough to never stop until you get what you want.  

If you're keen on buying "Hope is a Virus," you can do so through CD Baby, iTunes, or Ebay if you want to get a few extra free items with your purchase.  I'm not linking you to iTunes because if you're reading this you're intelligent enough to know how to download an album on your phone and J.C.'s going to get paid more if you buy a physical copy from one of the other outlets.