The "Above My Pay Grade" Mentality

[Naga_Fireball]

In my opinion, the way modern Americans delegate responsibility upward while directing blame downward conflicts with the basic principles of accountability and freedom.

It is unAmerican for one person to tell another, that he has no fundamental right to know. There can be no freedom without knowledge in our fallen world, after all. Even the Scriptures tell us to seek after wisdom as if it was precious silver. Silver being the more overlooked and less glorious of the three most commonly minted metals of that time, it was not brilliant like gold nor did it lend the strength and malleability of copper to the tools of battle, but it was rare and precious nonetheless, easily tarnished and hidden but not easily destroyed by the ages.

Silver in the myths and legends has magical powers. Associated with the moon and sky, it summons forth images of a subtle brilliance that is missed in daylight and most beautiful in darkness. Because knowledge is luminous when it provides hope. Knowledge is power.

We must take back our power, just as the owl leaves its roost at sunset to encounter the prey. Knowledge is dangerous! It causes discontent! And it is our privilege in times of uncertainty to assert our power.

Does this mean we must be suspicious, or evil, or unjust? No, but it does mean we enter the arena of peril, the place where we are most watched and at any second may encounter the Thumbs Down of the empire, like doomed Gladiators.

Others have said it. For instance, the musical group Black Sabbath sang in their album TYR, "don't be afraid to never lose it all".

Meaning we have the option of fighting back. We can speak out, we can stand up, we can work for what we believe, we can educate others, and ultimately we can fight and die for our beliefs.

It doesn't take any kind of special training to make that statement, and some people are afraid of nothing more than empowered and aware individuals.

Of course as Christine said in her article today, individuation does involve letting go of a lot of fear. Those who enter the arena more often must be more aware of how fear is shaping their daily appearance, functionality, and behavior.

The sad truth is that most people are not patriots. Especially the rednecks in trucks covered in stickers proclaiming their toughness and shotguns to back them up. That is the hive, the darkness, the enemy.

Love requires occasionally that we enter the arena armed only with our wit and experience, and the hope of a higher power.

Love is not above our pay grade, and the Obama Foundation reminded everyone last week that the most important jobs are accomplished by unpaid people.