Cognitive Dissonance

We had a mock election today, and my students ended up talking about Donald Trump's inexplicable appeal at one point.  What disturbs me most about this man is the sheer cognitive dissonance.  A teacher later pointed out a comedian who roasted him for "not accepting donations" when his website has a donate button.

The thing is, I think you could point to that button while standing in front of him, and he still wouldn't see the contradiction.  I don't mean he'd bluster.  I mean that I think he genuinely would not see the conflict between not taking donations and taking donations.

There are lots of instances when we do that, of course.  Less blatantly, and most of us less racistly.

But I continually think that the duty of art and comedy is to point out these contradictions.  The cognitive dissonances we have resolved back into the harmony of our minds.  The discords we stopped hearing.

That's what's going on in the parable of the forgiven debtor who could not forgive one indebted to him.  The debtor probably really doesn't seen the contradiction.  God's forgiveness is free, but why should mine be?

I wrote yesterday about how forgiveness is free in The Sound of Music, and It's been a beautiful show to live with for just that reason.  Because there is no one who stops and says, "Wait no, you forgave me but I can't do the same."

The story is about self-awareness and gratitude.  But gratitude not in humbling words to those who have helped us but a corresponding desire to go and do the same for others.  When someone does us a favor, it shouldn't just make us want to thank them or even pay them in particular back.

It should make us want to go out and help the next person we meet.  Not to be clear of the debt, not to be even with the universe.  To add more positive to the universe, as someone added positive by helping us.