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Ashi

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Yesterday was a fruitful day for me. It was a time of reflection (so reflective, I was soaked in my own thought and forgot to bring my tripod... to a night photography session).

 

Everyone has heard of the saying "pen is mightier than sword." And throughout the history we have witness that effect: how Jane Austen redefined marriage as a function of love (rather than a function of family duty), Charles Dickens showed the uglier side of Industrial Revolution (and none of the revolution fought with weapons redefined humanity more than IR), John Locke's words take the world into the Age of Revolution, and Karl Marx advised government to take active role in welfare for its own people. (I was going to add Adam Smith and his Wealth of the Nations, but ironically, we live in a capitalistic society but not many realized Smith also talked about government's role and it's very different from what people think of capitalism today, so I leave it out.... Maybe Smith's pen is less powerful...)

 

But moral has always been a tricky issue in contemporary literature. Ever since circa 1950's and 1960's, the literary movement derailed from the moralistic model and to the one that's more amoral and more experimental in structure. Whether that's an effect of WWII, Rock 'n Roll, or Beat Generation, or a combination of those, I don't know. All I could observe is, the society has already crossed the border from that of an amoral society to the one that's immoral.

 

If I have the endeavor to become an intellectual (which I do, to honor a legacy of an online friend), I have to exhibit not only knowledge, but also be a role model of the society, which includes, but not exclusive to, being a moral compass (and I am doing it with the secular/non-religious/intellectual method). How do I do that in a society which morality is an unpopular subject? (certainly less popular than money *tongue in cheek*)

 

To me..., back in the days, the consciousness of using fiction as the medium of delivering moral started when I was reflecting on my own reading of Albert Camus's The Plague. We live in a society where it is extremely unpopular to tell people what to think, because here in Western society we value freedom above everything else (i.e., give me freedom or give me death). Nobody likes preachers. In fact, as part of modern literary movement, we go as far as refrain using italicized text or any emphasis method which is offensive to reader's intelligence (though use it judiciously can be effective, though more often used in exposition/editorial rather than fiction). And using allegory/allusion/humor/satire as a way of delivery the pesky topic of moral (I refrain from doing it, but sometimes it is necessary) has been my choice since. (btw, if you have a better way that's more diplomatic, please let me know, because so far I have been failed miserably as an intellectual)

 

Camus also wrote many essays on top of his fiction career. Though this blog is also one of such that try to advocate certain view point; however, this form of advocacy is somewhat archaic and proven to be less effective in today's highly educated society. The essay form of advocacy has the pro of being direct, but also the con of backlash from opponents, and can easily be dismissed as being subjective (because it is subjective..., given its editorial nature). I, personally, advise against using essay form of advocacy except for political campaign, but that's just my opinion. I am risking myself sounding like a preacher for the sake of efficacy, and I have very little time to embed all these ideas gracefully into a story, so here they are..., very directly argued rather than being literary and diplomatically delivered.

 

Though I am not religious, but think about it, many founders of religions used allegories as way of delivering teaching of the way, rather than pedagogy. Native Americans also taught people the way through storytelling oral tradition.

 

And I encourage everyone to consider that, as writers, we have duty to our society, because we are given a weapon much more powerful than a sword. Remember it wasn't the existence of WMD that started the last Iraqi war.... It's a speculation of the existence of WMD that started it. Hitler waged a war against the world by manipulating patriotism of his own people. A sword only kills one at a time, but words can kill much more, effect much more enduring and detrimental. But words can also create positive effect and enlighten people. Choose words wisely.

 

And think about how popular media shape the society today.... I had a debate with the late online friend aforementioned, whether sit-com is based on real American way of life or not. His rebuttal was the sit-com was just BS (he was very American). But being a younger generation than he was, I saw the transformation of this society that mimics the sit-com way of life with my own eyes. And since many sit-coms are set in New York, written by mostly contemporary Jewish Americans (as oppose to traditional Jewish, as they have very different modes of life), how many of us non-New Yorkers are already assimilated with New Yorker's way through the work of invisible hands? Does life mimic fiction or does fiction mimic life? Don't you guys think media is greatly responsible for the acceptance of homosexuality through popular media?

 

Given I already talked about the power, it's only right that I also talk about the responsibility of the writer. The effect of second coming of yellow journalism is just as detrimental as the first time around, except this time we have the Internet.... I should also forewarn the the potential danger of cultural imperialism, which is a related to ethnocentrism, which is responsible for many wars throughout history. With the advocacy of anthropologists of its destructive nature to other cultures around the world, it is usually part of the American college curriculum to include cultural awareness. I was taught to consider point of views that encourage pluralistic way of thinking (as oppose to ethnocentric way). Given our society values freedom above all else (though at times I want to say money...), it is only democratic every culture can have its voice. One would expect cultural imperialism really should be bygone history with the formation of the Common Wealth... (though the Common Wealth was formed through practicality, but one should at least thank the Queen for at least considering from the humanistic point of view)

 

I do not expect a moral renaissance with this essay, but I'll end this tirade with a quote:

 

"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything."

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To be a moral compass is to live a moral life. To portray morality as desirable or noble in literature is to uphold this life.

 

How often have we heard, "Show, don't tell," as an admonition to writers, referring only to their writings? Can we not apply this to our own lives?

 

A writer here stated, "My riding informs my writing, and my writing informs my riding.*"

 

 

 

 

*Special thanks to Sasha Distan for this

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To be a moral compass is to live a moral life. To portray morality as desirable or noble in literature is to uphold this life.

 

How often have we heard, "Show, don't tell," as an admonition to writers, referring only to their writings? Can we not apply this to our own lives?

 

A writer here stated, "My riding informs my writing, and my writing informs my riding."

 

Thanks for the feedback, rustle.  The "show, don't tell" is definitely wonderful, and I believe some of us do that already.  I am not usually direct about it nor believe in constant intervention, but once a while the time will arise....

 

One can be moral/proper and still have fun.  We shared a great time while my online friend was still living.  Sometimes he said the most inappropriate things, but I know underneath it, he was still a great person.  A great character will always shine through and that's the extra bonus you get for being proper: being beautiful on the inside (some people will see that inner beauty, though not all, but it's okay).  And nobody can take that away from you.

 

I only gave the very general term in this blog because morality is really subjective and it's not my job to define morality, but to bring the topic up so people can reflect on it.  I only want people to be responsible for their own words, and nothing more.  Morality of the society is a collective effort, and hopefully the ripple effect will spread.  So far I see immorality spreads faster in general (in the world, no specific target group).

 

The next story I am planning, the protagonist will be very morally questionable (though not at the beginning of the story, it's my intention to show how easily a character can change from good to evil through natural progression).  And it's through such exhibition, I hope readers can use the MC as a way to self-reflect.  I'll refrain from being morally self-righteous though.  I still want the story to have some entertaining value, not a dry after-class special (though I like watching those specials....  I was a weird kid).  So..., there, a shameless promotion.  No, it's not immoral to self-promote....  :P

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Thoughtful and thought-provoking blog, Ashi. The only point I'd pick up on is "Nobody likes preachers" - maybe someone should have a word with those Bible Belters, or some of the radicalisers .... :)

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I seek not human morality but my own, for the morality of men tends to have a double standard to it. "I'd never do that, except when i did... but that was an exception because they made me..." and so on.

:gikkle: I bet you didn't expect me to read this after my declarations last night.

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Words define thoughts and thoughts define words. The world is not about morality, but power and who has the ability to manipulate words can rule so the world is in a non stop loop of destruction.  

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While we may equate morality with generalities or absolutes as in do not harm others, or help someone in need,morality is a personal concept of defining and trying to a in a manner that promotes goodness rather than harm to fellow beings. It is however a personal concept because it is complex and each of us will have a different understanding of what constitutes goodness or harm. 

 

Some would define any killing as immoral, others could equally argue that killing as in the killing of a Hitler is moral as it prevents the killing of millions of others. Either way i believe that morality begins with interaction with others as it is our daily interactions that inform us of the needs, foibles and context of our own lives and the lives of those around us. So i believe that morality can not be just an abstract or theoretical construct but must be played out in our everyday lives often through small gestures.

 

So let us all go forward with small kindnesses and if we can not make a better world we can at least bring a smile to someones face.

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