A great piece!
When I think in this direction (which seems to be too often in the last couple of years) I sometimes stop my worries with the French Revolution...
We (democratic west ;-) think of it as a pretty great milestone / big bang for our modern democratic world with human rights etc.
Most people who witnessed the revolution probably experienced a rather turbulent, violent and probably terrifying decade, which changed them from subjects to "citizens" to subjects again. And then they might have struggled more from hunger and sanitary conditions than their political status. And still they fell in love for the first time, rode a Draisine, had children or died for some random reason. And most probably wouldn´t have dreamed of the lives a lot of us get to live.
And still, if you're privileged and rich and yet suffer from depression and take your own life in a moment of desperation - you're still as dead and lonely as any poor soul not rich and privileged.
Which would make me formulate another rule:
As bad as your situation may seem at (almost) any point - carry on, there WILL be better moments for sure.
In fact I feel that catastrophe and crisis often are the birth of progress and a better future. At least if looked back at from far enough in the future :-)
I´d love to see in twenty years that the current state of the world made mankind realize that profit-driven social media and totalitarian governance is not desirable and democracy and human rights combined with some humility and modesty in regard to mans place in the global geosphere will persevere. And I am optimistic, honestly.
Once you tasted the good life of freedom and security AND enjoyed intact nature in some form at the same time, how could you live without trying to protect them?
June 3, 2024, 1:26 a.m. - Znarf
A great piece! When I think in this direction (which seems to be too often in the last couple of years) I sometimes stop my worries with the French Revolution... We (democratic west ;-) think of it as a pretty great milestone / big bang for our modern democratic world with human rights etc. Most people who witnessed the revolution probably experienced a rather turbulent, violent and probably terrifying decade, which changed them from subjects to "citizens" to subjects again. And then they might have struggled more from hunger and sanitary conditions than their political status. And still they fell in love for the first time, rode a Draisine, had children or died for some random reason. And most probably wouldn´t have dreamed of the lives a lot of us get to live. And still, if you're privileged and rich and yet suffer from depression and take your own life in a moment of desperation - you're still as dead and lonely as any poor soul not rich and privileged. Which would make me formulate another rule: As bad as your situation may seem at (almost) any point - carry on, there WILL be better moments for sure. In fact I feel that catastrophe and crisis often are the birth of progress and a better future. At least if looked back at from far enough in the future :-) I´d love to see in twenty years that the current state of the world made mankind realize that profit-driven social media and totalitarian governance is not desirable and democracy and human rights combined with some humility and modesty in regard to mans place in the global geosphere will persevere. And I am optimistic, honestly. Once you tasted the good life of freedom and security AND enjoyed intact nature in some form at the same time, how could you live without trying to protect them?