Hypocrisy
Former Georgia congressman Newt Gingrich spent much of his career preaching about family values, yet he was married three times and asked his second wife, Marianne, if they could have an open marriage so he could “play the field”. He criticized others for not upholding the credos he blatantly disregarded in his personal life. People were supposed to follow his stated ethics while ignoring those same standards for himself. This is an extreme case of hypocrisy. He publicly criticized his political opponents for not following the ideals of family values while he lived a life of debauchery and unethical behavior.
And even though Mr. Gingrich stands out as an obvious case study in hypocrisy, we can open any newspaper or listen to any media broadcast to find much of that same behavior in the general public. Plus I believe we can all look in the mirror, as my guess is that everyone indulges in some form of hypocritical conduct. This is not a criticism as much as an observation of human nature. We all express ideals we espouse for how we believe people should behave, yet when it comes down to following those tenets, everyone will, on occasion, find a way to justify deviating from that path.
In almost every case, hypocrisy and justification are partners. Even if that justification is made unconsciously. We are, at times, aware that the hypocritical patterns we indulge in are not in the best interests of those around us but are based on self-centered actions. And so we fabricate ways of justifying that behavior. For most of us, including me, this is an uncomfortable thought. Hypocrisy is a word we usually use to call out perceived bad conduct in others and applying it to our own life is not something we like doing. This all comes back to being Mindful.
The meaning of Hypocrisy is rooted in the ancient Greek terms of jealous or acting out. Over time the definition, as noted in Wikipedia, has changed to describe: Today, "hypocrisy" often refers to advocating behaviors that one does not practice. However, the term can also refer to other forms of pretense, such as engaging in pious or moral behaviors out of a desire for praise rather than out of genuinely pious or moral motivations.
In addition, Carl Jung described hypocrisy in the following words: Every individual needs revolution, inner division, overthrow of the existing order, and renewal, but not by forcing them upon his neighbors under the hypocritical cloak of Christian love or the sense of social responsibility.
This is a pattern we see over and over in modern society. Many of us scratch our heads in bewilderment when we hear so-called religious devotees praising cruel and abhorrent laws being enacted by the current US government that are anathemas to what we believe are covenants of basic decency as prescribed in the Bible. But this all comes back to justification. If a person believes they have a mandate from an omniscient being to cleanse the earth of undesirable elements, they will gladly dismiss anything in religious teachings or in the laws governing our nation that do not fit their inner narrative. This is their justification to further their own vision of an ideal society. In most cases such as this, people are acting unconsciously in terms of the hypocrisy in which they have immersed themselves.
I want to mention one other small but very distinct example of blatant hypocrisy (out of the millions of examples all around us). While recently staying at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas there was a sign on the bathroom counter telling guests about the hotel owner’s environmental concerns. The sign asked people to hang up their towels if they didn’t need to have them washed out of an ostensible concern for the environment. The owner of this hotel is Dr. Miriam Adelson who has donated millions and millions of dollars to the campaigns of politicians who advocate for the increased use of fossil fuels and the rolling back of any and all laws protecting the environment. This absurdist hypocritical note in the bathroom of this hotel is almost beyond comprehension.
But, as noted previously, it is easy for me to point fingers at those who cannot see their own contradictory behavior while I indulge in many forms of the same traits. As a devoted environmentalist, I rail against the continuing destruction of our environment, calling for committed Cooperation between entities to curtail our descent into the dystopian nightmare of climate change. And yet, I drive a car, I turn on our natural gas heat during the winter, I travel on jet airliners, and I buy items that are manufactured in distant lands. I find ways of justifying this behavior in order to maintain a certain level of comfort.
In the end, at least to me, I believe it is a matter of degree. Though perhaps this is another way of justifying my own behavior. I’m trying to modify the ways in which I approach life in this hypocritical world by attempting to remain mindful of my tendencies. My goal is to continue to examine ways in which I can beneficially maintain a level of comfort while working to limit the inclusion of hypocrisy in my life.
I will leave you this week with a quote from the Quran that is very relevant to the definition of this week’s offering:
"And of mankind are some who say, 'We believe in God and the Last Day,' when they believe not. They think to beguile God and those who believe, and they beguile none save themselves; but they perceive not. In their hearts is a disease, . . . . A painful doom is theirs because they lie. And when it is said to them, 'Make not mischief on the earth,' they say, 'We are only peacemakers.' Behold they are indeed the mischief-makers, but they perceive not." Chapter 63 - Quran
‘The bull bellows and stamps the earth. Damned earth! Damned earth!” (This is anonymous. I just made it up)
I think there is truly no choice in this life when it comes down to conformity regarding our daily lives as it pertains to “saving” the earth. We all must contribute to the destruction of our planet, whether it’s fairly insignificant or on a larger scale. I feel we all have a desire to do the right thing, but our society does not allow a way forward that is sustainable on a large scale.
As Tobin has stated, many of us want to limit our impact on the planet, but the system is rigged. The true hypocrisy in life comes down to the fact that we all know and understand the impact our lives have on this world, and desire to change, but that change would come at too high a cost, so we pretend everything will be alright if we collectively change our ways, which will never happen. In my mind our fate is sealed.
Hey Carl,
You sound like me on a bad day (or maybe just a regular day). See my post on How Do I Stop Caring? https://thecagedmind.com/stopcaring/. I go back and forth as to whether I should continue to do what little I can or sequester myself in a bubble and do what I can to enjoy (sort of) the remainder of my time on this planet. I keep thinking I’m going to disengage and tell the world to go stuff it. Mainly because I so tired of people giving lip service to wanting to help, but when it comes down to it, creature comforts and a general malaise leads to apathy. But then something pops up where I can actually help and I jump right back in carrying with me a naive modicum of hope. This is my pattern and I can’t see this changing at my 74 years. Too entrenched in habit. But thanks for posting your thoughts.
I agree to a large extent with Carl Fraley’s comments.
Strictly speaking to exist, to be here at all means that a footprint, a disturbance in the cosmos is effected. Therefore to make a black and white distinction as if leaving little to no residue of one’s life is the ideal, – seems a mistake to me. Still everything matters, a human mammal who has no filter, no internal governor that indicates how much is enough, is an enemy in disguise. How much can this planet take? Certainly not much more for much longer. We are already feeling the greased slide toward catastrophic weather extremes.
A comment more directly about hypocrisy. The topic is a good example of the language games that everyone plays. Words are useful because a single word is as useful as a Swiss Army knife. Used in all kinds of contexts, with many tonal variations, “hypocrisy” serves to communicate many shades of meaning. What about the person who sincerely holds to their ideals, and then crosses the line in small ways from time to time. And what of the person who appears to follow the norms necessary for social cohesion, and yet directly inquires of his spouse if she’d be ok with an open marriage? Both persons would be described as hypocritical, yet each is world’s apart from the other.
Values need not all be deeply ingrained, and sometimes the desire for physical pleasure is ascendant, at other times a desire for ego-gratification is dominant so we signal our authenticity by the vehicle that we drive, or perhaps by uttering flattering words to someone we secretly hold in contempt.
So much more is connected to this paradox within us, this bias for self betrayal. I do agree with you though that “mindfulness” is a great help. To see ourselves in a situation of contradiction helps us to moderate our words or actions even when we are unable to change direction entirely. In my experience mindfulness is cultivated by seeking a diversity of associations, gender, class, occupation, etc. The more difference the better. Others reflect back to us as if a mirror – our true self.