{"id":7412,"date":"2017-05-14T08:31:20","date_gmt":"2017-05-14T12:31:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=7412"},"modified":"2017-05-14T08:33:36","modified_gmt":"2017-05-14T12:33:36","slug":"the-pendulum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=7412","title":{"rendered":"the pendulum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oh, how the pendulum swings\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

First to one side<\/em>
\nThen to the other<\/em>
\nExtreme on both ends<\/em><\/p>\n

One goes higher<\/em>
\nThe next goes faster<\/em>
\nBoasts of higher and faster swell<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, how the pendulum swings\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Constantly in motion<\/em>
\nNever staying long in the opposite ends<\/em>
\nSeemingly most stable in the middle<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, oh, how the pendulum swings.<\/em><\/p>\n

I had a great conversation with a new friend the other day; I loved it\u2026 instantly authentic, lots of truth, active listening, deep topics, no offense, with the highly valued bonus of great wit and exceptionally well-timed sarcasm\u2026 yes, my kind of conversation.<\/p>\n

We discussed the challenge of current political climate \u2014 a climate full of falsehoods and \u201cfake-ness,\u201d minimal truth, limited listening, all sorts of mountain-out-of-molehill topics, and ample offense\u2026 with unfortunately, no added wit nor sarcasm.<\/p>\n

And we talked about the political pendulum.<\/p>\n

Some find relief in the recent pattern of 4\/8 years of one ideology more promoted and accepted, then 4\/8 years of an opposite ideology, with the political pendulum swinging back and forth from the extremes. The idea is that if a person can persevere through the presidency and prominence of one for a limited number of years, the pendulum will soon be back to a place more desired to that individual\u2026 granted, again, for only a limited number of years. The pendulum never lasts at the extreme.<\/p>\n

On one hand, that gives people peace, as no one person or party can be \u2014 will be \u2014 in control for all time. On another hand, the idea is great cause for concern, as each time the pendulum seems to swing \u201chigher and faster,\u201d so-to-speak. Each polar opposite end vows to pick up the steam. And because they focus seemingly most on the sins of another as opposed to the sins of self (both which exist),<\/em> they justify all sorts of less than honorable behavior. The extremes justify:<\/p>\n

\u2026 falsehood and fake-ness\u2026
\n\u2026 minimal truth\u2026
\n\u2026 limited listening\u2026<\/p>\n

They also justify:<\/p>\n

\u2026 disrespect\u2026
\n\u2026 obstruction\u2026
\n\u2026 and devaluing of relationship.<\/p>\n

Add arrogance, too \u2014 even subtly or unknowingly \u2014 as it\u2019s way too easy to feel we are so wise and omniscient, forgetting the need and benefit to submit both our thinking and emotion to divine wisdom. No, none of us have this all figured out.<\/p>\n

The problem with the pendulum is that as the weight swings to the polar opposite side, unethical behaviors are justified. And the behaviors seems to keep getting worse, as we hear popular refrains, such as, \u201cWell, they<\/strong> did this, so we must<\/strong> do this.\u201d<\/em> The focus seems always on the sins of the other.<\/p>\n

Oh, how the pendulum swings\u2026<\/p>\n

And yes, that\u2019s concerning.<\/p>\n

Respectfully\u2026
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Oh, how the pendulum swings\u2026 First to one side Then to the other Extreme on both ends One goes higher The next goes faster Boasts of higher and faster swell Oh, how the pendulum swings\u2026 Constantly in motion Never staying long in the opposite ends Seemingly most stable in the middle Yes, oh, how the … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “the pendulum”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-issue"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7412"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7418,"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7412\/revisions\/7418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}