Flash-Mobs: Where Did They Go?

I saw, again, something that's disappeared from our culture, and it's no real surprise: Flash-mobs.

Remember those? A bunch of people decide to get together and play something uplifting in a mall, in a courtyard, in some kind of passageway. They don't put out hats or boxes for people to fill. They don't stick around to discuss its deeper meaning, either. They just play and/or sing in a flash, and disappear in a flash. Have a nice day.

This one took place in Europe: Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Joy. An odd word nowadays.

Where did the flash-mobs go? They went the way of joy. For nobody else did anything else for any reason just to make a bunch of people they've never met feel better for a little while. It was like saying, Hey, you're a human being. That's reason enough to feel good. Here. Listen for a few minutes. You aren't so busy, now are you?

The anger has taken over, though. We can't do anything without complaint any longer. Find a cure for a terrible pandemic. End a war that's gone on far too long. Address what's probably the main problem in our society, that keeps it from really being a society, its racism.

Every time someone tries to stride toward some positive advance, it's struck down. The anger must be dealt with. 

That's what's wrong. It's being dealt with. It can't be ignored because it's been given oxygen and power. It's running wild through our souls, even if we want nothing to do with it.

Turn away from it, and it continues to confront. Get mad right back, and you've doubled the problem. Wait for it to run its course, and it takes over the whole course.

Flash-mobs need to return. We know the clinical reason why they aren't, of course: The threat of further spread of Covid. But vaccines are out there for everyone. Nobody needs to be that desperate anymore. That, alone, is worth celebrating, about breaking out into song. 

Someone can accompany the musicians now with a sign: We All Have Our Shots. Nothing flashy. Just reassuring. Okay, have them put on masks then. And play their asses off.

Because we need it. Everyone's tired of being beaten up. In actuality, though, the practice of flash-mobs and the reaction against them each began about ten years ago. You remember that, don't you? The world was a different place.

Because it had hope. The greatest nation in history had just elected a black man to be its president. A whole, enormous part of that nation could open the door the next morning and say to itself, maybe I can do that, too. Or just be something more than I am. Nobody said anything, but that began a streak of joy, a surge of possibility.

That is the essence of joy, to believe that new and better things are possible. To not be scared of it. To embrace it. To think that after a moment of that celebration, there would be more--not exactly knowing when or where, but to be assured that, like a flash-mob, another one's coming someday. Surprise! Let's be happy for a moment!

To be shown that joy in its best manifestation leaves one with the edges falling off, taking a deep sigh and leaving with a smile. When's the last time you did that? We did that?

I saw no flash-mobs when ex- was president. That wouldn't be de rigeur. No, there needed to be room, an elephant's sized room, for complaint, for reaction against, for those who needed to point out that life wasn't completely fair. Well, it wasn't. And it isn't. But complaining without positive action, on any level, gets you absolutely nowhere.

There was enough stress before they began and way too much now. The way to meet it is with something to like, to know we're all together about it, to know that for a few moments, humanity can share and enjoy. 

Enjoy. To experience joy. At no one's expense, which is joy, not schadenfreude.

What you see at the top of this essay is from California's coastline. Yes, it's beautiful. My gift to you today. Enjoy.

I have no idea who would get flash-mobs started again. I guess that's the point of them, huh? I wonder, though, if someone's had that idea, too. I hope so. I hope for hope.

Be well. Be careful. Wear a mask indoors. With some luck, I'll see you down the road.

Mister Mark