The Dangers of Singularity

I started writing this article after the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. Since then Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died and the single mindedness arose again. Emotions of the moment are taking over. We lifted Peyton Manning onto a pedestal and Cam Newton was the scourge of the NFL, and Beyonce was an opportunistic activist using her celebrity status to further a less than noble cause. It seems like every day we read or hear things about people in a very judgmental way. Being in an election year does not help matters at all. However, whether the topic is politics, religion, culture, football, or society there seems to be an overly judgmental position taken based on a single incident or a single position one takes. We often fail to realize this level of singularity tends to do more harm than good, limits innovation, creative thought in policy development, and makes our society more ignorant overall.

Let me describe what I think is singularity of thought. It is when someone takes a single topic and makes an all-inclusive judgment about a person. Using the Super Bowl 50 results Cam Newton’s actions on the sidelines and at the press conference after the game were categorized as childish and inappropriate. I agree they were, but there was a large segment of society, based on the tweets and Facebook postings I saw, who relegated him as a person to the bottom of the trash heap. Beyonce used her half-time performance to show off her upcoming “Formation” tour. Again, social media took over and painted her as some type of ubervillain needing of total societal segregation.

Our singularity problem does not reside only in the negative, but in the positive. Bill Cosby was the quintessential head of household for decades; he was a voice of reason in many racial conversations, focusing the discussion on equality on actions instead of skin color. The Pentagon considered General David Petraeus as one of the best and brightest military minds of the modern era and in line for any number of government positions upon retirement. Social media yanked Peyton Manning, the man of the hour for Super Bowl 50, from his pedestal by a report that he was involved in establishing a sexual assault while a student at the University of Tennessee.

When we focus on these individual events and actions, we lose sight of anything good that person had ever done. Bill Cosby was a true mentor to many young men who only saw his on air persona. Young men who had no one else in their life to show them “what right looked like.” Cam Newton’s actions were a bit exaggerated and not in character of a leader. However, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. Who among us as young leaders did not react on impulse? All he needs is a good mentor and time to mature and he will one day be one of the best players on the field. Beyonce along with her husband contribute to a number of charitable organizations focusing on helping the poor. We might not agree with her politics, but she is not evil incarnate either. General Petraeus was not always a general, at some time he had to be a young lieutenant, captain, and lieutenant colonel who provided mentorship to younger leaders and assisted them in becoming better citizens. I am not in any way condoning the negative actions each of these people took. I am only saying judge the action, not the person.

We need to have our heroes and villains to provide some sort of point of reference, but let us try something a bit more close to home. Instead of making individuals out for national heroes, let us make heroes out of people in our day-to-day lives, most Mothers, Fathers, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Teachers, Preachers, Brothers and Sisters all demonstrate to us on a daily basis what right looks like. We can still have national heroes, but let us leave them in context Manning and Newton are grand football players, if I want to be a football player let me look here. Beyonce is a great performer in her genre; let those who want to aspire to that look to her. General Petraeus still has a brilliant mind and is a master tactician and strategist. About Bill Cosby, what can I say about Mr. Huxtable? His on air persona and teachings of fatherhood, being a good husband, and all around good guy exceeded his off air transgressions. Should he be held accountable, for sure. Again, let us condemn the actions, not the person.