When I was in my late 20s, I taught history part-time at Green River College. I didn’t see any way I could become a full-timer. It was into September one year and I had applied to teach at several local high schools, but there were no interviews in the offing. One of my students was a farrier who told me he could teach me to shoe horses in about two or three months.

In a turn-about I decided to become his student. Being a farrier is hard work, and it can be dangerous. I hadn’t grown up around animals except for a cat. I had a lot to learn.

In a little break between shoeing and trimming hooves, my former student asked me why I didn’t use my knowledge to point out the flaws, weaknesses, and failings of religion, especially Christianity. My response was: “Yes, and after I destroy their religious beliefs, what do I replace them with?”

My farrier instructor, an ardent atheist, was good at religious deconstruction. The definition of deconstruction, according to Merriam-Webster is: “the analytical examination of something (such as a theory) often in order to reveal its inadequacy”.

Deconstruction is a commonly occurring technique found in the news on a daily basis, especially regarding politics. The 2024 election cycle is already upon us and deconstruction is found in almost every ad and political speech. You have likely observed that only the opponent’s weaknesses and mistakes are pointed out, not strengths and successes. When was the last time you heard a candidate praise his political opponent during an election?

Why do we often hear/read deconstruction? The answer is because humans remember negative things longer and more forcefully than they do positive information.

Why don’t we hear more good news in our media? Good news isn’t reported much, or, in many cases—not at all. The adage is, “If it bleeds, it leads.” Good news doesn’t catch people’s attention and media is in the business of drawing us in. Watch your media source to see the techniques used to catch your attention — other than sex.

Psychology tells us that for every negative comment to and about a spouse, a child, an employee, or a boss, there should be at least five positive comments. That shows the power of negativity upon us.

Consider the fact that the thing that really bothers you about your child’s behavior is also probably his/her greatest strength. That strength has just not been harnessed for a positive cause. A stubborn, rebellious child can have a strong sense of identity and of right and wrong. Find ways to turn the negative into a positive.

I did get my first and only full-time teaching job in October of that year, after the school year had already begun. I taught 31 years at that same school before I retired. I never did shoe any horses for money. I did come to understand that shoeing horses is a lot easier than being a high school teacher.

I’m going to end this editorial with another personal anecdote. One of my principals shared with us a personal observation at a faculty meeting. He told the faculty that teachers often came to his office to complain about this or that problem. Rarely did anyone come to him with a suggestion of how the issue could be fixed. Occasionally, someone did come in with not just a complaint, but also a positive suggestion. My principal noted that he really appreciated it when someone did this. He encouraged us to think about that the next time we came in to see him.

That’s a really good suggestion not only for faculty, but for all of us. Look for the positives in the candidate, employee, boss, or child whose behavior you don’t like. Think of ways to turn a positive into a negative. Deconstruction has its place, but replacing what has been deconstructed is so much more important.

Kurt Busiek sums up deconstruction the best: “I think the purpose of deconstruction is to take something apart and see how it works. If you’re not going to put it back together again and watch it go, what’s the point?”