Critical Obsession Requires of Critic a Higher Standard

"Judging a person does not define who they are; it does define who you are."

Quote/paraphrase provided by Sobriety is Sexy.

Not sure who said it originally. The comment below is tangential but inspired by the quote.

I see this quote is part of Sober is Sexy, but sobriety for a critic (as opposed to the alcoholic or chemical abuser) is looking the other way. I would say that the axiom is true enough. Pointing the finger at another means four fingers are pointing back at you the critic.

Objectivity though is required. Why? Because beauty is in the eye of the beholder but then so is evil, especially if we look away. As observers do we look away or do we report the cold hard facts of human failures of ourselves and our fellow citizens of this planet.

I thank those who disclosed wrong doing and did so at great personal expense. I am thinking of Wikileaks and its sources. The critic though is required to have judgment, not just courage and to hold oneself to a higher standard (being of sound mind and good judgment).

Sad thing is that we are so numb from looking in the other direction as we strive to pay our bills and keep afloat, that we all become part of the system. Hope? Yes, but only by looking at the cold hard facts and seeing what is our part in moving past our wrongs and making things right in this country and the world. This works on the micro and macro level.

Those who will prosecute the sources of disclosures of government wrong doing are answerable to we the people. I hope they remember that as they go about the dirty work of protecting government secrets, secrets which are actually cover ups of international crime and malfeasance by those in power in the world.

I know this comment is a tangential one for those who honor their sobriety. As citizens in a democracy though we have no place to hide on being critical of those with wealth and power who abuse the privileges of rank and wealth.

 In closing then a reminder to we of the critical mind:

The end of courage and good judgment is to die with hope that we have left the world a better place than we found it!

Comment originally appeared on my facebook page entitled:

Holding oneself to a higher standard as a critic of the conduct of others.

by Rick Hilber on Friday, December 30, 2011 at 8:51pm