(Readers: The blog centers around the author’s prediction that the US will experience a 5^th revolution by 2020-2025.  Some early vignettes precede the revolution; later vignettes follow the revolution.  Many characters appear regularly.  More about the blog and the author.)

Scene: Jordan and Gelly continue conversation about why “race” is not the issue.  Conversation starts segment #118.)

Gelly:  “Asking blacks to focus on showing respect for others seems counter-intuitive, almost insulting.”

Jordan:  “I know.  Had exactly the same reaction when Carnac suggested I start respecting Mr. E.S. Cue.”

Gelly:  “You thought he was the problem, not you, and he should respect you.”

Jordan:  “Exactly how I felt.  I knew he was the problem.”

Gelly:  “Why did you change?  Why did you start respecting him?”

Jordan:  “Two reasons: One, I had some experience with Carnac.  Not a lot but enough so I knew most of her advice was sound.”

Gelly:  “So Carnac had some credibility with you.  What was the second reason?”

Jordan:  “There was no risk on my part.  What was the downside?”

Gelly:  “Nothing really.  If the current approach wasn’t working, then what’s the risk of a new approach?”

Jordan:  “What’s the adage, which many attribute to Einstein…”

Gelly:  “… the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.”

Jordan:  “With Mr. Cue, I wasn’t voting for insanity, at least not voluntary insanity, so I needed to change the approach.”

Gelly:  “But why not get Mr. Cue to change?  From what you’ve said, and knowing you as I do, your assessment of his behavior was probably correct.”

Jordan:  “Correct or not, what was his incentive to change?  He had none.  I’m not his boss…plus most of the consequences of what I considered bad decisions were in the future, which I’m not certain he really understood.”

Gelly:  “So as obvious as this seems, people who have no incentive to change are highly unlikely to change.”

Jordan:  “You got it.   It is obvious when you think about it.  And that’s why the other person needs to change, even if the person thinks they are not at fault.”

Gelly:  “Mmmm.  That idea might be a tough sell.”

Jordan:  “Like I said, what’s the risk?  For the black community, what has really changed in the last 50 years?”

Gelly:  “A few laws and more protection…but I see your point.  Have attitudes changed much?”

Jordan:  “Some attitudes for certain, but there is an underlying frustration within US society about why blacks can’t get off the bottom of the economic ladder.”

Gelly:  “Is that attitude among just Republicans?”

Jordan:  “Not really.  You’ve meet Greenie, right?”

Gelly:  “She’s a friend of JC’s.  And the same hometown as you.”

Jordan:  “Same grammar school.  Anyway, one is hard pressed to find someone more liberal than Greenie.”

Gelly:  “And her attitude toward blacks has changed?”

Jordan:  “One day we were talking and she made a very perceptive comment.”

Gelly:  “Which was?”

Jordan:  “Greenie said, ‘I fear all the civil rights legislation and social support programs have inadvertently created a dependency among blacks.’  She wasn’t being critical as much as making what I think was a very astute observation.”

Gelly:  “That’s really disturbing.  She really thinks the programs have created a dependency?”

Jordan:  “Yes.  Like I said, she wasn’t being critical, merely observing.  And I agree with her.  While the civil rights legislation and social programs were needed and well intentioned, the perception of dependency is clearly an unintended consequence.”

Gelly:  “Does Greenie’s observation mean the Republicans are right – we should abolish the social safety net?”

Jordan:  “Gelly, remember the Revenge Revolution was caused, in part, by Republicans trying to slash spending for social programs, including Social Security and Medicare, both of which are really insurance programs.”

Gelly:  “So, what’s the solution?”

Jordan:  “I think the solution gets back to the people most affected.”

Gelly:  “Taxpayers?”

Jordan:  “Sometimes I think you’ve been around JC too much.  You both have that biting sense of humor.”

Gelly:  “OK, then who…or whom…whatever.”

Jordan:  “The black community needs to take the lead the charge.  They need to put people in charge who are willing to look their colleagues straight in the eye and discuss the facts.”

Gelly:  “You mean no more blaming someone else or trying to force someone else to change?”

Jordan:  “That’s exactly what I mean.  Has anyone ever been able to force you to change your opinion?  They might have tried but did they force you?”

Gelly:  “No, of course not.  In fact, when someone tries to force me to change, I did in my heels.”

Jordan:  “Have you ever changed your beliefs about someone?”

Gelly:  “Yes.”

Jordan:  “And what made you change?”

Gelly:  “Their behavior toward me.  When I thought they were sincere in an effort to change, then I changed my attitude toward them.”

Jordan:  “So what we’re talking about is the base for any kind of long-term relationship – treating others with respect.”

Gelly:  “Maybe the black community needs to make Aretha Franklin their spokesperson.”

Jordan:  “I know that was intended as a tongue-in-cheek comment but it is an interesting idea.”

Gelly:  “At least her music could be the foundation for beginning to make the change.  R-E-S-P-E-C-T.”

Jordan:  “I think that would be a great start.”