by Elmo Adams

Created on: October 13, 2008

A strong case can me made that idealism fell off the truck on that last sweeping curve. I would agree with such a view without finding any happiness in it. Idealism implies hope, and we have not run out of hope, but many find their personal cupboards on short rations. Idealism is sometimes in greatest supply when times seem the most grave. Maybe we are not quite there yet. Perhaps idealism is just about ready for one more sprint.

But, for now, realism is more relevant if relevant is the word. Realism suggests the pragmatic, the "can do," the no nonsense, grab the duct tape and baling wire and get things back on track. Problem is that one can only be pragmatic when one knows how to do a task or fix a problem. Pragmatism is in such short supply that there is none to lend to realism. Learned men convene in groups small and large to see if they can identify a problem small and clear enough that they could pour some realism or pragmatism on it. But they cannot. They recess, disband, or adjourn to quiet spots where they hope clearer thoughts will condense. The numbers are working against us. Can we be realistic when we speak of a world population that numbers in the billions. A billion is a number for astronomers, not government bureaucrats. And we also speak of dollars or other monetary units in terms of trillions. If we cannot comprehend a billion, of course a trillion is out of the question.

Back to idealism. It is not down for the count. Idealism appears at times and places we would not expect. Two strong political rivals join together to help gather supplies and help for the thousands of victims of a natural disaster. Some of the world's richest men take time out and push away from the spreadsheets where they keep score and donate vast sums of money so that others might have clean water and medicine. A local church well known for its tireless work on behalf of the homeless and hungry runs out of money to do the feeding program it has had in place for years. The church custodian reaches into his own modest saving account to keep the program running. A local newspaper columnist learns of the situation and writes about it. Donations flow in to revive the good work.

Therefore it is not Realism 100 Idealism 0. Like small springs in the dessert, cool idealism hangs on. But, it does so in the personal way, or by the efforts of small institutions. It rarely present itself in a political or governmental way.

So, if realism is death, poverty, and emptiness of the soul and storehouse, then it is the prevalent mind set today. Let us hope and pray it does not remain so.

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