I have an adorable, yet ornery and temperamental six-pound Yorkie named Benjamin Matlock who we all refer to as Benji. He is a funny character, especially when he alerts me that he wants to go outside by either whining or snorting like a bull getting ready to charge. Once he does that, I just have to say the magical word “outside?” and he begins to leap in the air with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. It is a cute sight, but the only problem is that he does not always have to go outside. In fact, more often than not, if I let him out, he will turn right around and come in the house. And as he reenters he pauses to look at me as if to say, “I don’t know why you listen to me. You know I don’t really want to go outside.”
When he does this I often wonder how can he appear to be so happy at the idea of receiving what he clearly does not want. How can an animal be so detached from his true feelings? But as I ponder this question, I realize that this behavior is not unique to dogs. Nearly every time he turns around to come in I think to myself, “this is exactly how humanity is.” Often we are jumping up and down asking for something we do not really want. For instance, maybe there was a job you thought you wanted, but once you got it you realized you hated it. Or perhaps it was a relationship you just knew you had to have, only to find out the other person was not who you thought. Sometimes we pray and ask for things, but once we get them we want to turn back around and run in the house, leaving that thing outside.
This is not only true on an individual level, but on a national level too. Countries, for instance, both historically and presently, can manipulate their citizenry into wanting particular laws that in fact the citizens do not want. This is particularly so in times of crisis, or perceived crisis. Citizens are far more open to harsh laws when they feel threatened. Like Benji, they jump up and down demanding particular policies and laws, but their excitement is a façade, fooling even them. What they want is not their own desires to be fulfilled, but the desires of the ruling class.
Therefore, I am learning to be more careful with assessing my desires. What we can learn from Benji and other four legged creates like him, is that our excitement for something should not be the only gauge in determining if we truly want it. Excitement is fleeting, and can be manipulated. We must have other gauges. To be sure, even with multiple gauges, at times it is a matter of trial and error. Ultimately, though, there must be a degree of reflection to make sure we are not just jumping up and down like a little dog.
–Until Next Time–
Palooke
Kinda reminds me of how my little child often asks for food just because she sees mommy and daddy eating it, only to waste it and say “all done.”
It’s kinda scary to think about how humanity is easily manipulated in the way you’ve discussed. Sometimes we are so easily roused that we’ll follow any hype, only to turn around after the dust settles and wonder, “what in the world was that?”