Preamble: In January 2018, the first version of this document was written. After two years of learning lessons through an increase of H2H (human to human) interactions, the changes our society is going through, and the constant need to change ourselves for a better future, here is revision 2.
Intro: We don’t need to travel too far to realize that there are realities about people and communities that need attention from the world. We don’t need to travel at all to face inequality. Many times these realities are present in plain sight through responsible news sources and discussion forums widely accessible to those who have access to information. Let’s not forget: the words “travel” and “read” aren’t in everyone’s dictionary. For lucky me, it has not been hard to notice the importance of expanding our knowledge base into knowing others’ realities in order to comprehend ourselves and respect ourselves. What in fact is hard to accept is that, much too often, actions taken by the top 1% citizens are based on little to no information even when these are one search engine away to be found. What in fact is hard to accept are the consequences of such uninformed actions. Even harder it is to accept the lack of action from many that can act due to the lack of understanding of social realities resultant of the individual bubbles created by our daily day focus on ourselves the ones who can act. The emphasis on “ourselves the ones” is to consider the fact that, for some people, having food on the table is still a first thing to worry about before thinking about acting for the collective good.
Being free from social oppression has blinded me. Ignorance is a bliss when we close our eyes to our own selves but ignorance is also a choice, and it’s an expensive choice for society.
For many years I have been hiding this anguish with the fear that expressing it could sound too arrogant. Being fair, not everyone has access to the internet. In 2017’s United States, 11,5% of the adult population don’t have access to the internet and in Brazil (where I live) that percentage triples. Even if you do have access, what guarantees that the information you’re provided with is true and mirrors the fact? Today, the truth is worth less to our minds than what appeals to our emotions and/or personal beliefs while well-wrapped lies are sold and consumed as the reality. Needless to say, governments can be one of the greatest contributors to collective social blindness. There is an intrinsic need to hide the truth in order to maintain the power in the hands of the few.
One: We need to constantly verify the true meaning of our individual actions and their consequences in society.
We need not only to speak but to give voice to the unheard. We need to accept the difficulties of opening our eyes to society and do something not because we want to, but because we have to. It’s part of being… human! The search for the truth about human realities is a constant harvest when we realize that yesterday’s truth may have changed. Critical analysis is critical. The comparison of yesterday’s truth with today’s can result in hope, joy, or the complete opposite. The choice of questioning these news truths is ours. We will be the ones to live with the consequences. “There are too many barriers”, you may say. The established mechanisms of privileges are rooted in society and they are increasingly diverting us from a future perspective of balance amongst ourselves. There needs to be an internal and conscious collective human change of values in order to compete against these forces and I know that this is possible. Altruism is wonderful once experienced.
One important change relies on the filters we create ourselves on the content we access. We easily tend to filter the information and the people we connect with based on already defined personal aspects closing the bridge to expanding and redefining ourselves. In search for social approval, we surround ourselves with content and opinions that will only reinforce our own. We need to open ourselves to be criticised and to consider others’ opinions in order to reflect on our own. Some may say that doing so we lose individuality and our essence but to that I say: “no, no one is essential by itself.”
Two: Democracy as the result of individual change and collective action.
The State can have power and needs to have power but solely the power to rule according to popular opinion (i.e. the other 99%) and considering the effects in society in the most democratic way possible. I will probably not live long enough to accept and approve the Political Regime of the State where I live but I will act on being a force of democracy in my community where there isn’t enough. We walk through what seems an inevitable fog today, and we have to get out of it. Lies are one of democracy’s biggest threats but the truth can be validated when collectively verified. Democracy isn’t a reality, it’s a challenge. A collective challenge that requires individual effort and persistence.
Three: We can’t turn our backs to those in need.
In today’s world of social inequalities, it isn’t enough that we (the 1%) only comply with our individual obligations such as paying taxes and taking care of our families. There are other obligations at stake and we need to stand up for them (again, after placing food on the table). It is not sufficient anymore to believe that everyone’s rights are guaranteed. If you feel like yours are, consider yourself a lucky exception.
Four: Experiment being disruptive.
I go deeply against the belief that human activity shouldn’t be directed by unstable values. While some can preach that knowledge can only be obtained through reason, I defend that knowledge can much more be obtained through experimentation. We need to stop creating a reality about the world in our minds under what we think is logical and we need to start experimenting reality for what it really is. Being dragged inside the momentum created by the forces of polarisation is our worst decision (or lack of decision) in life. In order to create the possibilities of social balance, we need to unbalance the current status quo. We need to experiment responsible disobedience. We need to go against the norms that impede new discoveries about what’s collectively good for mankind.
We were born into a society that heavily imposes itself on us but that doesn’t necessarily need to determine how we should be or act. We should value our freedom of choice considering the difficulties of facing the moral dilemma of choosing what we individually desire (not need) and what’s better for society.
Five: Spread your learning experiences and harvest experience from others.
No one knows everything, but everyone knows something. When I get to know a little bit more about you, not only I get to understand your reality, but I get to respect it too. We need to move towards building these firm and relevant connections through knowledge into a collective network of interactions based on the truth of humanity.
There are multiple other ways to action on the writings above. Actions such as working on the expansion of digital inclusion, online fact-checking resources and awareness programs are just a few examples between so many that will take us closer to social equilibrium. This is still just the beginning of a long walk. A walk where sight is clear for everyone, and no one is left behind.
I still have too much to learn. Please criticise.