The word "Hello"
originates from an early African society that means: "I see you, therefore
you exist." "Hello" is the absolute, literal core of the
principle of "Quantum of Solace."
Quantum ... the most basic unit of measure.
Solace ... humanity and caring.
Ian Fleming put forth the concept
that NO relationship, of ANY kind, can exist for long without a
Quantum of Solace. The short story, "Quantum of Solace," by Ian
Fleming is incredible illumination of how merely a measure of kindness can make
the world a better place within which to live. (Fleming's "Quantum
of Solace" is a short story in the book of short stories; "For Your
Eyes Only." The only connections between the stories written by Fleming
and the commercial abuse by the movies are the titles by Ian
Fleming.)
Who would even consider, for a nano-second,
that the downfall of our society, and the world in general, could possibly have
begun with the loss of a simple "Hello?"
Over the last couple of decades,
"Hello" has gradually slipped away from all meaningful phases of
life. Not many years ago, on the Llano Estacado, everyone waved as they
passed each other, either on a highway or a sidewalk. The people of the
Llano always acknowledged the other person whether they actually knew them or
not. The people of the Llano acknowledged that other people
existed. No longer is this simple acknowledgment the norm. Some
time ago I was driving in the desolate plains of Eastern Colorado. The
roads were barely wide enough for two cars to pass. As I passed the
very few cars that were on the road, I waved to each. Not one wave of
mine was returned. Suddenly I was overcome by the thought that if I
had car trouble on that road, I was totally on my own and that no one
would offer to help a person in distress. It was a
horrible realization of a truth that no one had a Quantum of
Solace.
I believe that the polarization of the
world's people lies in not saying "Hello" to everyone that you
encounter. Saying “Hello” means that you know that that person exists and
you start every relationship with level of humanity and
curiosity. The loss of "Hello" was the beginning of
everyone "Bowling Alone." There are very few actual
conversations (a conversation is an "exchange" of ideas) that occur
today, conversations (of old), have become incongruous monologs. When one
person speaks, the other is not listening but merely forming what they will
say, given their next opportunity to speak.
The next step in society’s deterioration is
the iPhone (iPad, etc.). It is extremely
difficult to have the determination to express a complex thought on a tiny
touch screen. The afore mentioned toys
are designed for entertainment and short attention spans. I carried a Blackberry for years and when I
wanted to really communicate a complex thought, I would type into my
Blackberry; “I will get back to you when I return to my computer.” I have lost several friends and I have missed
establishing meaningful relationships because of the iPhones. Short tweets come from the iPhones as replies
to complex questions that I have asked.
The short replies are not meant to be inconsiderate, but they appear and
function as inconsiderate. Back in the
days when everyone wrote email on a computer I had a girlfriend that would say,
“Buster, your replies to me better be equal to my questions and my thoughts to
you.”
Beginning in 1989, I observed that I was
only one of few that exercised intellectual curiosity in an
attempt to have a real conversation. I experience a very few
that ask, "Rusty, how are you today?" I am always eager to
share and to learn from others, but there are few to "share"
with. In 1989 national congruency in the United
States began to vanish and this loss of solace accelerates every
day.
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