An introspective moment = Lakewood's "hamartia"
As a retired HS English teacher, I've always been enthralled by Greek tragedy. One of its key elements was that most of the key characters had an essential "hamartia"
"The term hamartia derives from the Greek ἁμαρτία, from ἁμαρτάνειν hamartánein, which means “to miss the mark” or “to err”. It is most often associated with Greek tragedy, although it is also used in Christian theology. Hamartia as it pertains to dramatic literature was first used by Aristotle in his Poetics" - Wikipedia
Usually this tragic flaw was "hubris" or inordinate pride but if you think about it, not telling the truth, either to others or oneself was tied in with pride. We as a country and a community are inundated by lies, some by omission, others by commission.
This lies at the heart of our distrust of law enforcement - some cannot be trusted to tell the truth. Politics has as its engine the driving force of disinformation, just another euphemism for lying. It seems that in order to participate in politics, one has to either be a passionately false sycophant or just plain false.
The Biblical commandment: "Thou shalt not bear false witness" is essentially a sanction against lying and is at its core articulated in some degree with the other remaining nine commandments. Excessive lying will usually lead to another element of Greek tragedy and that is "peripetia" (a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances). Have you heard the phrase, "Oh! how the mighty have fallen?"
They (the mighty) may not see their fall in the present but it will surely happen in their future. Another connection I see and I was overwhelmed by it when I was a NYC photojournalist covering Bronx politics, is how the Biblical admonition, "The love of money is the root of all evil." Surely lying and money are bedfellows and not strange ones either. Actually they make for very good companions.
Is this what is happening in Lakewood? I haven't been here long enough (only 6 months) to have any personal experiences to speak of but I sure have heard a LOT of second hand accounts.
If you're reading this and you are a member/participant in Lakewood politics, do yourself a favor.
Don't be a tragic Greek figure.
