Words, Action, and Reality

President Obama said there should be increased vetting for visitors from certain Muslim majority countries. 

Those are words.

President Trump enacted a temporary ban on those same countries in order to develop enhanced vetting.

That is action.

Why are people so upset by one and not the other?

Perhaps because whether one disagreed or agreed with the principle behind the words, they were yet just words.  If one disagreed, it was easier to ignore, especially when the narrative of the beloved speaker of the words was that he held a utopian, open border, love for all view of the world.  And if one did not disagree, if one believed that a balance needed to be struck between easy entry and safety, maybe it is now easier to find the disagreement when the action is taken by one whom is not beloved, but already hated.

Perhaps because when we see the words in action we must face their reality and in so doing we face ourselves and the messiness of reality generally.  When it is just words, it easier to ignore the complexity of issues because one does not see the reality of the words in action.   Now we must look at the many complicated issues raised: is this to protect the country or some other reason?;  How can it be a “Muslim" ban when 40 other Muslim majority countries are not banned?;  If we do not enhance vetting, how to we keep people with sinister motive out of our country?;  Should we keep them out of our country?;  Should we open our borders to everyone?;  How would completely open borders affect our natural resources and our citizens?;  Do we care? These are just a few of the many questions we must now face – we must look ourselves in the eyes and understand our own positions.  Understanding requires a lot of effort. 

When the suggestion of increased vetting was only words, it was much easier to ignore what that would mean in the real world.  One could pretend that one believed in that utopian world where no one is ever sad and where one’s every action is one of love toward all.  Increased vetting, restrictions, and safety are complicated issues that do not exist in some utopian dream.  When one thinks he or she is someone filled only with loving goodness and when one then realizes that the complexity of real life makes such perfection impossible, it is hard for one to face him or herself in the mirror and realize that neither the person nor life itself can achieve the perfection believed. So, people become angry, often at the actions that resulted in the shattering of their dream, and often at the actor.  But that is life: it is complicated.  Issues are also complicated, not black or white but filled with shades of grey.  With only words people can go on about their business assuming that all is fine, everyone is happy and that they will never take an action, no matter how justified, that would make someone else unhappy.  But, because we are not simply beings in an intellectual exercise, we must move beyond words and act in the real world.

There are words and there is action and we need both in this world.  We need words in the form of dialog, not hateful epithets thrown at those whom we think do not agree with us.  We need to take the time to hear the words of others and fully understand complicated issues.  But reality is not just beautiful words and esoteric discussions.  It is also a place of action.  And when issues are complicated, the action they require is also complicated, and before totally condemning an action or an actor it is important to at least try to understand the action and see the many facets behind that action as well as both the pros and the cons of the results it achieves.  

While screaming in the streets is certainly permitted, it is not the way that we accomplish things.   We have a system of laws and checks and balances in this democratic republic.  People vote and through their votes have a voice in the laws and the actions taken by our country.  Nothing will ever be accomplished if our only form of dialog is screaming hate at those whom we think do not agree.   The world is not black or white and neither should be our dialog.  Facing reality is not easy.  It is much easier to live in a world of words where one’s positions and arguments all result in good and everyone is happy.  Reality is much messier. And complicated.  And it benefits from both dialog and action.