Gravitas
Many journalists and news reporters seem to be particularly fond of the word gravitas this election cycle in the United States. Although I been aware of the word for a long time, it is only recently that it seems to be in vogue. Perhaps, as some have suggested, it is because the virtue of gravitas seems to be missing in the speeches and action of the political candidates and those who are expected to endlessly discuss or report on what they are saying as well as others are saying about them. There is an endless report “he said that she said and then she said that he said and,” Although the reporters or news analysts report this dynamic with an apparent seriousness, they do so with the same false gravitas with which one might pronounce a tautology such as: “The humans running for office are human.”
If one googles Roman virtues, one will find gravitas listed as one of the key citizen virtues.
Wikipedia says of the word virtue: “Virtue (Latin: virtus, Ancient Greek: ἀρετή "arete") is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. The opposite of virtue is vice.” The word gravitas originates from the Latin word gravis which is generally translated as serious. Oxford dictionary defines it as: Noun: Dignity, seriousness or solemnity of matter.
Crystalinks.com states about the personal virtues of Roman citizen:
“These are the qualities of life to which every Citizen (and, ideally, everyone else) should aspire. They are the heart of the Via Romana — the Roman Way — and are thought to be those qualities which gave the Roman Republic the moral strength to conquer and civilize the world. Today, they are the rods against which we can measure our own behavior and character, and we can strive to better understand and practice them in our everyday lives.
Auctoritas: "Spiritual Authority" The sense of one's social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria.
Comitas: "Humor" Ease of manner, courtesy, openness, and friendliness.
Clementia: "Mercy" Mildness and gentleness.
Dignitas: "Dignity" A sense of self-worth, personal pride.
Firmitas: "Tenacity" Strength of mind, the ability to stick to one's purpose.
Frugalitas: "Frugalness" Economy and simplicity of style, without being miserly.
Gravitas: "Gravity" A sense of the importance of the matter at hand, responsibility and earnestness.
Honestas: "Respectibility" The image that one presents as a respectable member of society.
Humanitas: "Humanity" Refinement, civilization, learning, and being cultured.
Industria: "Industriousness" Hard work.
Pietas: "Dutifulness" More than religious piety; a respect for the natural order socially, politically, and religiously. Includes the ideas of patriotism and devotion to others.
Prudentia: "Prudence" Foresight, wisdom, and personal discretion.
Salubritas: "Wholesomeness" Health and cleanliness.
Severitas: "Sternness" Gravity, self-control.
Veritas: "Truthfulness" Honesty in dealing with others.”
If indeed any of the political candidates resurrected the poet Virgil to use this list of virtues to “grade” their speeches and the manner in which they were delivered I suspect that they would not score very high. One might even say that their their approach to the virtues is lacking in gravitas.
If my observations are accurate it is no wonder that most of us are ritually shaking our head every time we hear or read one of the political speeches.. We symbolically shake our heads because what we have just read or heard does not make sense. That is the nature of tautologies They are pronounced with such solemnity that one’s initial reaction is to check to make sure one did not miss something. The truth often is that one did not miss anything. It really was a tautology and, by definition, does not make sense.
Connie Schultz the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist wrote a piece entitled “Republicans’ brand is fear” which was published in the Tampa Bay Times, July, 22, 2016, p 13A. She points out that fear is very seductive. Appealing to any strong emotion can be very seductive. She then goes on to say, “This fear takes its toll…A leader is not someone who reflects the worst within us, leaving us cowering in the shadows.” I am not convinced that it is just the Republicans which has branded fear. I think both parties are appealing to fear. One will not find that behavior or quality listed among the list of Roman Virtues. It does not embody gravitas.
I suggest that we do not have to succumb to the temptation of responding to fear with fear. Ms. Schultz quotes one of those historic figures who clearly understood gravitas, Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1950 Mrs. Roosevelt “in a keynote speech to Americans for Democratic Action on Individual Liberty: “Somehow we must keep ourselves free from fear and suspicion of each other…Fear can take away from you all the courage to be an individual.” Not surprising, it was Franklin Roosevelt in his Frist Inaugural Address who said, “Only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
It we want to begin to approach the election season with the gravitas it deserves we can choose to follow the advice of both Franklin and Eleanor or we can accept the invitation to be seduced by fear.
Written July 22, 2016
Many journalists and news reporters seem to be particularly fond of the word gravitas this election cycle in the United States. Although I been aware of the word for a long time, it is only recently that it seems to be in vogue. Perhaps, as some have suggested, it is because the virtue of gravitas seems to be missing in the speeches and action of the political candidates and those who are expected to endlessly discuss or report on what they are saying as well as others are saying about them. There is an endless report “he said that she said and then she said that he said and,” Although the reporters or news analysts report this dynamic with an apparent seriousness, they do so with the same false gravitas with which one might pronounce a tautology such as: “The humans running for office are human.”
If one googles Roman virtues, one will find gravitas listed as one of the key citizen virtues.
Wikipedia says of the word virtue: “Virtue (Latin: virtus, Ancient Greek: ἀρετή "arete") is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. The opposite of virtue is vice.” The word gravitas originates from the Latin word gravis which is generally translated as serious. Oxford dictionary defines it as: Noun: Dignity, seriousness or solemnity of matter.
Crystalinks.com states about the personal virtues of Roman citizen:
“These are the qualities of life to which every Citizen (and, ideally, everyone else) should aspire. They are the heart of the Via Romana — the Roman Way — and are thought to be those qualities which gave the Roman Republic the moral strength to conquer and civilize the world. Today, they are the rods against which we can measure our own behavior and character, and we can strive to better understand and practice them in our everyday lives.
Auctoritas: "Spiritual Authority" The sense of one's social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria.
Comitas: "Humor" Ease of manner, courtesy, openness, and friendliness.
Clementia: "Mercy" Mildness and gentleness.
Dignitas: "Dignity" A sense of self-worth, personal pride.
Firmitas: "Tenacity" Strength of mind, the ability to stick to one's purpose.
Frugalitas: "Frugalness" Economy and simplicity of style, without being miserly.
Gravitas: "Gravity" A sense of the importance of the matter at hand, responsibility and earnestness.
Honestas: "Respectibility" The image that one presents as a respectable member of society.
Humanitas: "Humanity" Refinement, civilization, learning, and being cultured.
Industria: "Industriousness" Hard work.
Pietas: "Dutifulness" More than religious piety; a respect for the natural order socially, politically, and religiously. Includes the ideas of patriotism and devotion to others.
Prudentia: "Prudence" Foresight, wisdom, and personal discretion.
Salubritas: "Wholesomeness" Health and cleanliness.
Severitas: "Sternness" Gravity, self-control.
Veritas: "Truthfulness" Honesty in dealing with others.”
If indeed any of the political candidates resurrected the poet Virgil to use this list of virtues to “grade” their speeches and the manner in which they were delivered I suspect that they would not score very high. One might even say that their their approach to the virtues is lacking in gravitas.
If my observations are accurate it is no wonder that most of us are ritually shaking our head every time we hear or read one of the political speeches.. We symbolically shake our heads because what we have just read or heard does not make sense. That is the nature of tautologies They are pronounced with such solemnity that one’s initial reaction is to check to make sure one did not miss something. The truth often is that one did not miss anything. It really was a tautology and, by definition, does not make sense.
Connie Schultz the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist wrote a piece entitled “Republicans’ brand is fear” which was published in the Tampa Bay Times, July, 22, 2016, p 13A. She points out that fear is very seductive. Appealing to any strong emotion can be very seductive. She then goes on to say, “This fear takes its toll…A leader is not someone who reflects the worst within us, leaving us cowering in the shadows.” I am not convinced that it is just the Republicans which has branded fear. I think both parties are appealing to fear. One will not find that behavior or quality listed among the list of Roman Virtues. It does not embody gravitas.
I suggest that we do not have to succumb to the temptation of responding to fear with fear. Ms. Schultz quotes one of those historic figures who clearly understood gravitas, Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1950 Mrs. Roosevelt “in a keynote speech to Americans for Democratic Action on Individual Liberty: “Somehow we must keep ourselves free from fear and suspicion of each other…Fear can take away from you all the courage to be an individual.” Not surprising, it was Franklin Roosevelt in his Frist Inaugural Address who said, “Only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
It we want to begin to approach the election season with the gravitas it deserves we can choose to follow the advice of both Franklin and Eleanor or we can accept the invitation to be seduced by fear.
Written July 22, 2016
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