Answering Mr. Vinegar

In a writing class I took from Marilyn McEntyre, she mentioned we all have different “personas” within us. She encouraged us to experiment with writing from the perspective of each one.  Maybe it’s a familiar concept, but it was new to me. 

Reflecting on Marilyn’s invitation, I realized the “voice” I usually seek to embody when writing is a thoughtful and patient one. It looks for grace and wisdom in a variety of situations – I could call it the “Mr. Nice Guy” voice.  But the more I thought about it, I realized it was not the only voice within me.  I can summon up a “bad boy” voice –- one that’s skeptical, judgmental, smug, and cynical.  (What some psychologists would call a part of my “shadow side.”) As I began to become more aware of it, I found it to be quite amusing.  I’ve given that voice the name of “Mr. Vinegar.”

Recently I’ve been hearing from Mr. Vinegar just as I am finishing writing one of these blog posts.  I usually ignore him. But this week, I decided to let Mr. Vinegar have a conversation with Mr. Nice Guy. 

Here’s what the conversation sounds like.

MR VINEGAR: “Well, Steve, everything you write is so pleasant. One week you have a nice epiphany while contemplating an oak tree.  Another week maybe it’s a little birdie on a branch.  Another week it’s all about some amazing spider web.  But you know, Mr. Nice Guy, the world we live in is a mess.  There’s the war in Gaza and Israel, a war in Ukraine, the breakdown of our politics, the rapid creep of Artificial Intelligence into our lives, global warming, personal tragedies everywhere you look…Why do you avoid these topics? Afraid?” 

MR NICE GUY: “Well, Mr. Vinegar, that’s a good question.  I’ll tell you why I do what I do.

“I think there are many troubling events in the world.  I worry that Russia will overcome Ukraine and we’ll be back in a Cold War that will destabilize a peace in Western Europe we’ve taken for granted for 80 years.  I see the immense tragedies in Gaza and Israel – friends on both sides are frantic with concern – and I don’t think anyone knows when or how it will get resolved.  I truly believe we need to show respect for all sides in our political discussions, but I am deeply concerned that we may re-elect a man who delights in ignoring and mocking the rule of law and being a corrosive personal force.

“And A.I.? That worries me more than almost anything else. It will certainly have some beneficial effects.  But it’s creeping into our lives and millions of people will start depending on it. Many will find it irresistible to use for selfish and destructive ends.  Kids aren’t going to know what it’s like to have to labor over writing an essay or a poem.  Our “entertainment options” are going to become wild and warped.  Unscrupulous political leaders, countries, and crime cartels are going to find A.I. to be an unprecedented weapon to use for their own purposes.  It’s the end of an Age of Innocence. We won’t know what news report, what video, what photo, or what information sources we can trust.  We will become increasingly enfeebled, dependent, and distrustful.

“And global warming? It’s very sobering.  Especially for the poorest people on the planet who don’t have the freedom and resources to adapt.

“So yes, Mr. Vinegar, I see and worry about these things.  But I don’t write about these topics much because there are many others more qualified than me to do that, and I avoid the debilitating effect of constantly focusing on bad news and crises.”

MR VINEGAR “What you just said – did that feel a little risky?  Is it hard to talk about the scary stuff?  Afraid you’ll lose some readers?”

MR NICE GUY: “Maybe.  But here’s the deal. There’s so much going on that can get us down.  To face and endure the challenges before us, we need to be grounded in genuine, personal experiences where we find glimpses of grace and reasons to hope.  We need to be reminded of the importance of the many people in our lives – past and present – who demonstrate integrity, wisdom, and compassion.  We need to tap into the insights of our spiritual traditions that have helped guide people for centuries as human life has evolved. I’m not going to write about issues unless I have something hopeful and constructive to say.”

MR VINEGAR “Well, OK, that’s your choice.  But just don’t let yourself become a pleasant waste of time.”

MR NICE GUY “OK, point taken.  And now that you’ve had a chance to speak out, can I finish writing this?”

MR VINEGAR “Of course. But I’m not going away – I’ll be back. I have too much fun prodding you.”

*****

                  I remember hearing a Jewish story about a rabbi in a small village.  An old man would show up at every event where the rabbi was speaking. He would pester the rabbi with skeptical questions and criticize him time after time.  When he died, no one was expected to show up at the cemetery when he was buried. The gravediggers were surprised when the rabbi showed up. They asked him, “Why are you here? We expected you’d be glad this man is gone.” 

                  “I’m going to miss him,” said the rabbi. “He was the one person in town that kept me honest.”