The events of the past weekend caused me to think about the importance of human interaction.
Beth and I attended a reunion of my University of Florida AEPi fraternity. Having graduated in 1969 and not returning to campus in nearly 50 years, who knew what to expect.
There were some universal truths. More pounds, less hair and slower mobility. Once the conversations, speeches and pictures of bygone fraternal glories started, we were transported to a time when the challenges of college life were balanced with the enjoyment of Gator football games, late night “bull” sessions and influential guest speakers.
There was something deeper going on at the reunion. We came to the realization that the bonding that took place during the turmoil of the Vietnam war, the assassinations of MLK and RFK, Watergate, Kent State – and so much more – clearly helped us all to move forward with our lives. Sharing these events with the current brothers helped to close the generation gap and establish new relationships.
Face-to-face communication is on the wane. The electronic wizardry of Facebook, apps that allow false presentations leading up to miserable or dangerous dates, talking to a computer to be sorted out before a job interview or frustrating attempts to resolve problems with a company before speaking with a human all cause alienation.
Even worse, the Clockwork Orange torture of watching Fox News or the Vaseline sycophancy of MSNBC do not compare to the old-fashioned face to face intense discussion of contemporary topics. Folks seem to shy away from “drama” as anything more than pablum is now described.
Well, my friends, life is drama. You can’t cry on the shoulder of your iPhone. You just need a real person sometimes.
We continued our Florida trip to Palmetto, to visit friends of nearly 50 years. We had not seen them since pre-COVID days. Within minutes, the comfort level of so many shared experiences returned. The relationship was renewed and there was a sense of joy at catching up with our old friends.
The stresses of life will not abate. In fact, stressful happenings seem to escalate. Politics has devolved to a gotcha swamp of wedge issue name-calling. The Ukrainian war crimes of Vladimir Putin are appalling. The ravages of inflation on the ability to put food on the table is scary for many people. The mass shootings in schools and public gathering places are no longer shocking.
Despite these events, we must believe that there is hope for returning to less electron-based human interaction relationships. Some politicians are beginning to realize that the voters want plain truth. When the Biden acolytes tried to walk back his “Putin needs to go” ad lib, he said the next day that was exactly what he meant to say. Hopefully, a few political hack heads rolled on that one.
There is more and more talk about the consequences of misbehavior. Will Smith might find that out. The Russian oligarchs might wonder what is next after their mega-yachts are confiscated.
We must take responsibility for establishing relationships. Set time at the family dinner table when all communication devices are turned off. Go back to work and get to know your colleagues. Say “hello” to people when you are shopping or at the post office. Allow Fox News or MSNBC one hour per day at the most. Fake news withdrawal will be hard but losing your addiction will be life enhancing.
Most importantly, just like our wonderful weekend in Florida, invest in your relationships whenever possible.
Roger Carlton writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, rcarlton57@hotmail.com.