Focus, Focus!

When I consider all the circumstances, policies, biases, and laws begging for transformation, I'm totally overwhelmed.  There's no way any one person can contribute to "fixing" all the broken places and righting all the wrongs.  It's impossible even to keep an eye on all the emerging crises waiting their turn in the 24/7 news cycle.  Still, there's always a strong pull to make all things "better."  And the minute I consider narrowing my focus, a bright, shiny cause will capture my attention.

 

Just yesterday Malcolm Gladwell (NY Times, author of "Blink" and "The Outliers") was on Fareed Zakaria's GPS,  advocating the elimination of a sport that "destroys the human brain."  That sport is college football.  Although I won't be taking up space on Mr. Gladwell's soapbox, he did make a compelling case for doing away with this "anachronism."  He pointed out the irony of a serious academic institution—whose purpose is to develop and enrich the human brain—sponsoring an activity that can, and sometimes does, destroy the human brain.

 

You might have read more than I have about the degenerative brain disorder known as CTE.  I didn't realize the condition can be diagnosed with certainty only in autopsies.  Talk about too late.  Nevertheless, strong indications of its existence can be seen in former football players (some in their 40's)  as they exhibit symptoms similar to Alzheimers.    

 

Gladwell talked about a University of Pennsylvania football captain who committed suicide by hanging himself in his dorm room.  He had shown no signs of depression; however, the autopsy revealed that his brain, with CTE,  looked like that of an 80-year-old with Alzheimers.

 

So, Malcolm Gladwell's thoughts on effecting change are (a) for students to boycott games and, I believe, to demonstrate at the stadiums, and (b) for donors to be convinced to discontinue supporting schools with football programs.

 

It was fascinating to watch Gladwell's own brain working at top speed as he talked about CTE.  Very persuasive.  To me.  But in this culture—are you kidding?   Best to get new gun safety laws in place first.  

 

Meandering into this subject I said that I can't embrace every cause and help right all the wrongs.  So, I do intend to narrow my focus a bit at this point.  The causes I'm most passionate about are big, individually and collectively.  And they're interconnected and overlapping in some cases.  Other issues will be on my radar screen, and I will do what I can when I can to keep up.  But most of all I will focus on voting rights, women's rights, and gun laws including repeal of "stand your ground." Not least, I want to promote openness— and listening to one another—as we move toward better interracial understanding.   

 

That's a lot to chew on this muggy Monday morning.