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FROM THE MARGINS | BY PATRICK AZADIAN
Los Angeles Times Valley Edition | Glendale News-Press | March 25 2006

Dolphin grey is my new favorite color

There has been some talk about the greatest threat to humanity. Ironically, when asked what the greatest threat was in this paper's In Theory feature, many of the spiritual leaders of our community came up with a materialistic answer: Hunger.

On the other extreme, Community Forum contributor Ray Shelton countered with a controversial response: Religion.

I'd like to suggest something a little more relevant: Absolutism.

Absolutism is a theory in which values such as morality are absolute and not conditional; it's a strict form of the doctrine of predestination.

As absolutism exists, it must have its uses.

In its most benign form, it serves to make us feel good about ourselves. It draws a border between "us" and "them"; it pits the "good" against the "bad."

Gossip and self-righteousness are common expressions of this phenomenon.

Judgmental comments about some middle aged-man's hobbies, a housewife's heavy makeup, a young man's shaved head, a teenager's hair color, as well as people's individual life choices are all part and parcel of the pedestrian form of absolutism.

Benign-absolutism makes us feel good, albeit temporarily. But there is a nasty catch; it's always at the expense of others. Many of us are guilty of it.

Absolutism can also be used as a political tool, where gray areas are eliminated, thorny issues are avoided, and the electorate are fed simplistic concepts they can rally behind.

Local city elections are full of one-dimensional promises. Potential candidates often (not always, I don't want to be an absolutist) stay away from complicated issues such as accessibility to quality education for all, maintaining the character of our city while promoting economic progress, empowerment of women, keeping youth away from trouble before they become criminals, successful integration of newcomers into the mainstream, meaningful protection of the environment, as well as helping hard working people climb the latter of economic success, usually go unaddressed.

The issues that have, and will dominate the past elections have been simplistic, at best. Pictures with police officers will mean: "I am against crime." Who isn't? A photo with a prominent educator will mean: "I am for education." Raise your hand if you're against education! An unhappy face in a traffic jam will mean: "I am against traffic jams." And finally, a picture with the family will mean: "I am morally wholesome." As if holding a happy group pose for a few seconds is an achievement in itself.

But, as long as we, the electorate, buy into such superficial and absolutist campaigns, we thoroughly deserve what's coming to us.

Absolutism can also be sinister.

It was not long ago, when many pre-World War II political leaders came to power through absolutist ideologies. They didn't reach their ambitions by dilly-dallying. And once they seized power, people were automatically labeled as either patriots or traitors. No dolphin-grey paint on the menu here.

The most infamous of these leaders (unlike the History Channel, I will spare you the name in an effort not to spread his fame further) did not seize power by doubting his version of absolute truth. He was not pounding the podium one minute claiming: "'They' are the enemy," and the next minute taking a deep breath and proclaiming in a calm voice: "But then again, I know many of 'them' who are really nice." He chose to claim: "'We' are definitely superior to the rest," while not turning over to a trusted general in a serene tone and saying: "but, you know, 'we' sure have some real schmucks among us too, don't we?" (Well... Ok, maybe he wouldn't use the word "schmuck," but you get my point!)

In a pre-World War II speech, the message was absolute: "We demand the immediate expulsion of [them]... and of all those who through trickery or other shady transactions have gained their wealth... Extremes must be fought by extremes. Against the infection of materialism, against [their] plague, we must hold aloft a flaming ideal."

Absolutism was used to label groups of people as parasitical, while paving the way to the elimination of millions.

The problem with different expressions of absolutism is that, on the edges, they can all converge. One can easily digress from the benign to politics by character assassination of a candidate, and depending on how desperate the politicians are, they can swiftly move to eliminate whole groups of people from competition by mudslinging and labeling.

And in the heat of battle, no one will take responsibility for sowing he seeds of future conflict, antagonism and distrust.

All in all, I find absolutism to be a dangerous concept. Fortunately, in our neck of the woods, a little bit of historical perspective, common sense and empathy, can easily tame its sinister nature.

Copyright 2006 Glendale News Press