A person sits in a curious position in the current era. We know that the end of civilization is upon us, or at least that is what we are told. Environmental collapse, social implosion, and runaway terrorism are the bedfellows of modernity. In fact, there are two militants hiding under my desk as we speak. All of this is, of course, pure and utter nonsense. Not that the world is not in dire straits: it is! We have arrived at the “biosphere emergency room.”

How we act from here will determine our future. What concerns me is that the morale of Homo sapiens, of people, is being sapped by a deluge, truly a torrent, of bad news. Why this when we need every bit of optimism to pull off the future? We need our energy: we need to be “pumped up” about what we must do to save the world. We are like droplets in the sea and every bead of water has value. Together we can form the proverbial ocean of human effort and belief. This is the movement that will decide our future.

But no, this is not being allowed. Instead, we are being fed a daily diet of pure intellectual rubbish — most of it with no value whatsoever. What possible spiritual or philosophical advantage could we possibly gain from information about some far away tragedy that occurred and innumerable people were killed? The answer is none in the slightest. The beasts that perpetuate these horrible events count on the furor they generate to create fear and apprehension.

The military-industrial complex responds in kind. We need to purchase more weapons to protect ourselves. No, we don’t, we need to think! Here we must be cautious. Our capacity as intelligent human beings is being assailed. We are being asked to forget reflection and live in a state of anxiety and trepidation. Life is dangerous; life is cruel and, “the clincher,” life is short.

But wait: if we simply turn to our own life experience, we realize that this is not true or real — unless I deem it to be so. Life is pretty good, isn’t it? I am old and healthy. My home is clean and secure, the streets are contemporary and progressive, and my school or place of work, though tedious, has put me on a path to the future. We would be naïve to assume that the majority of mankind lives this way, however — they don’t. They are still the same as you and me, though. They believe that we are naturally happy, intrinsically peaceful, manifestly loving and innately curious. All humanity seeks a better life, whatever that may mean to each individual.  

Our job as conscious entities is to talk. Everything can be solved through social intercourse, I believe. Whether my skin color is blue, green, orange, black or white, the blood inside is red. We are all the same. Assaulting each other is not the solution – dialogue is. This idea is not as foolish as it sounds with our digital connectivity. The Internet Age will hopefully put an end to this chicanery. The great writer and pacifist, Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), leaves us with a thought: In all history, there is no war which was not hatched by the governments, the governments alone, independent of the interests of the people, to whom war is always pernicious even when successful.
 

A closing thought: Acceptance of violence as normal is a most troubling social phenomenon. Do I believe that man is naturally violent and selfish? No, I don’t. (1) I do think, nonetheless, that many people do not know how to be brave. Why you may ask? This is because we live in a culture that fears death, (2) whatever that means. We are so focused on dying that we denigrate the “art of living.” It is time to wake up and celebrate life. Each day, we should be grateful for another chance to effect change and assist in the amelioration of this beautiful reality.

To sum up: This week, we spoke about the need to stop the violence and start the conversation — aggression only occurs when we see an inability to communicate.       

A philosophical question: Why is your best suit at the laundry when you need to wear it?

Just for fun – Schumann — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsnPzcc1Zb0

This week, on your reflective stroll, please ponder the vicissitudes of the modern world. Each of us can and should make a difference.

Every day look for something magical and beautiful.

Quote: Promise yourself to find one image of beauty and hope every single day of your life.

Footnotes:

1)Are Humans Innately Aggressive?

2)Talking About Death in America: An Anthropologist’s View