The Art of Looking Busy
In recent months, our public conversations have been loud - full of condemnations and announcements made in the name of “values.” We seem eager to prove that we stand on high moral ground. Behind all that noise, the silence on more painful issues such as children being harmed, systemic failures, the quiet injustices - says something uncomfortable about who we really are, and what we choose to notice. Lately, everyone seems very busy proving how moral we are. Announcements here, bans there - all to show that we’re a nation that stands firmly for “values.” It’s quite impressive, really. If public statements could fix society, we’d be perfect by now. When it comes to symbolic issues, for example, whether alcohol should be served at official events, the machinery of morality runs perfectly. Meetings are held, declarations are made, and everyone gets to pat themselves on the back for protecting the nation’s soul. Crisis averted. But when it comes to things that actually matter, like c...
