I believe the premise of this essay and am not a cynic. I am, however, a recovering alcoholic. Over 19 years sober. Anyone with my disease or familiar with my disease will know where I am going with this response. Not only does the now well known program I use make the case for expanding a “spiritual” experience along the lines of theories by William James and C. G. Jung — many addiction (I am projecting culture/”violence” as an addiction) solutions exercise some variance of generating a shift in the psyche. Perhaps there are individuals who have changed their addictive behaviors using self knowledge and will power. My hat is off to them.
The problem with this response is that if it had some merit then I would fall flat on my face if someone asked, “Then what is it you propose to do?”. Certainly it doesn’t hurt to admit the problem and offer alternatives, I’m not criticizing the premise of this essay. Unfortunately I know one path that generates a moment of epiphany sufficient for change — and that one involves pain and a moment of complete defeat. The doctor says one will be dead soon without cessation (by way of example) of smoking tobacco, consuming sugar or continuing riotous living. The courts intervene and assign a prison sentence for repeated theft.
I want to quit “learning the hard way”, I’ll wrap up by pasting in lyrics of a song written by James Croce about 50 years ago:
Yeah, I’ve had my share of broken dreams
And more than a couple of falls
And in chasin’ what I thought were moonbeams
I have run into a couple of walls
But in looking back at the places I’ve been
The changes that I’ve left behind
I just look at myself to find
I’ve learned the hard way every time
’Cause I’ve had my share of good intentions
And I’ve made my share of mistakes
And I’ve learned at times it’s best to bend
’Cause if you don’t well those are the breaks
Should have listened to all the things I was told
But I was young and too proud at the time
Now I look at myself to find
I learn the hard way ev’ry time
But in looking back at the lessons I’ve learned
And the mountains I wanted to climb
I just look at myself to find
I’ve learned the hard way ev’ry time
