SATURDAY THOUGHTS: INFORMATION

Current events, concerning abolishing DEI initiatives and programs, the releasing or concealing of information, the censorship of History, book banning, the ending of Black History Month observances, and the attempted erasure of the lived experiences of individuals, reminded me of an incident that occurred a while back, while I was waiting at an airport gate.  

A young musician I’d known of, but had never had the honor of working with before, asked me a question about my musical work history. Frankly, I was touched that he cared. (In some circles, you do kind of feel like you’ve reached old geezer status. DO you even have a story? Is it relevant?)

Given his age, he could have been my son. His respectful manner had not been lost on me. He said he’d always been curious about origin stories, and thought them to be better, if told by those who were the actual subjects OF them. “I like firsthand stories”, he said. “I don’t know when I’ll get this opportunity again.”

 Before I could answer, someone who was sitting across from us, attempted to control the content and length of my answer. “Now, wait a minute. We don’t need to hear everything. You don’t need to tell the whole story”, she injected sarcastically. 

I just looked at her quizzically, and laughed, “Who is WE?” 

I shrugged it off, and turned back to the young musician. “Would YOU like the whole story, or the redacted version?”, I asked.

“Oh, no, Miss Vanessa”, he laughed, “I want the WHOLE story, please. Don’t leave anything out.”

The eavesdropper was a bit deflated. While her behavior hadn’t been earth shattering, I DID file it for future reference. Why had she been so triggered to chime in? Clearly, she’d been focused on our conversation. Had she heard the story before, and been bored or infuriated by it? Why would him, learning more about me, bother her? Had she relayed a different story to him? Was I about to make her a liar? Did she loathe the sound of my voice? What was her problem?

What my better angels wouldn’t allow me say to her, was all cued up in my head, but I didn’t let any of it fall out of my mouth. I’d actually been enjoying my conversation. It helped pass the time, and I wasn’t about to derail it by turning my attention to her, nor her increasingly noticeable pattern of bullying, complaining, snippiness, and criticism. 

She would have been offended, had I checked her (because clapping back isn’t my usual M.O.). The shock of mild-mannered me, giving back the energy she was giving, would have caused her to backpedal, and suggest that she was just joking—and I would have looked like the overreacting bad guy. Trying to censor me, and bursting into our conversation however, in her mind, wasn’t the least bit rude. She was visiting her unspoken issues with me, onto someone else. She wasn’t interested in what I had to say, so why on Earth would anyone else be? Had she figured she was rescuing him by shutting me up, or was it her knowledge of my answer that was worrying?

It occurred to me that there’s a contingent of people who want to control how you appear to, are respected by, or are perceived by others. Telling your own story, getting to know others for yourself, and even random, one-on-one conversations, go a long way to counter and quash that. We really do forfeit meaningful working and personal relationships, stifle our own knowledge, and narrow our horizons, by relying on the bigoted, ignorant, bitter, or envy-driven opinions, demands, and pronouncements of others.

Access isn’t a right. It’s a privilege. When truth and facts are freely shared, it eliminates guessing, rumors, and misinformation. It fills in blanks. It enlightens and educates. It changes hearts and minds. 

Do we have to know everything? Of course not, but it’s the fierceness with which people try to ban, abridge, whitewash, and control information, that’s problematic—and sparks curiosity that, to the dismay of the censors, releases even more hidden gems.

Sometimes, I wonder if people who want to control others, only knew the restraint that others employ. Do they know the extent of their words or actions, that others choose to ignore? Can they conceive the number of times that the self-control of others, has spared them embarrassment? Do they have any idea how dangerously close they’ve been to getting their feelings hurt, and faces cracked? Do they think they’re the only clever, quick-witted ones? Do they really think they have the power to stifle communication? What would truth-telling and sharing, in open forums, mean for them? What would it expose? 

What is it about their entitlement? Why are they always seeking to lord over others, and dictate narratives? What IS this attempt to impose THEIR criteria, rules, and limits on even things that don’t concern them? Why are they affected? What makes them think they’re justified in interrupting the flow of even the most banal or basic information?

Where does nerve, that big, even have room to grow? One person, or group of people don’t want a thing known, discussed, or taught, and so everybody is supposed to be in the dark? Why?

It makes no sense—considering that information is everywhere.

#eachoneteachone

#blackhistorymonth