I know there have been times when people have been very divided on certain issues - the Vietnam War, Charlottetown Accord, gay rights. Societies have always had things to struggle over. To pit Group A against Group B. But (is it me?), it seems that we’ve lost some form of thinking as we pit these As against the Bs and whoever has a stronger voice (do not read: science-based concept or well-developed thought) has the “power” to cancel (read: destroy) the other. This isn’t based on critical thinking or sound rationale, science-backed or critically-grounded, it seems to be more and more based on immature drama and a return to over-the-top histrionics. If I don’t get what I want … !!! I am the only one to have a say! You have none - shut up and do as I tell you!
I’m sitting here, genuinely trying to wrestle with how to explain what I am witnessing in the world around me. It stuns me - I would have thought that, if Darwin had any weight to his theories, this would never be happening. It’s as if the world around has gone crazy. Insane. Abdicated all our progress. Regressed back to diapers and thumb-sucking. “You offended me!” “You didn’t affirm me!” “You are a -phobe!” “You are a -ist!” Honestly, name-calling and whining is everywhere! Even from our elected officials in leadership! The thing is, it’s like we have just enough knowledge to use big words, but we have no clue what they actually mean. Or, better yet, they mean what WE tell them they mean … just like a child looking at the grass and calling it pink. Or, worse yet, describing it as something completely unrelated. Twisted.
But, that’s part of it - words that we once could be assured to have a definite meaning are shifting, oiling into definitions that they never had before, or maybe completely erasing the meaning they have. And it’s not like words have remained static since their creation, but they have been seen in progress, not completely wiping out former meanings within short years. Thus, when a word is used for the purpose of communication, and you are thrown off centre, no longer able to be sure exactly what the person is saying … and often they don’t either, where do you go then? And, I ask you, what is that going to do, not only for communication, but for legacy? For passing knowledge on to future generations? And more …?
Where I live, since Christmas this year, there has been much talk about a coming drought. The water tables are dangerously low, we are heading into a drought. Water will be rationed. Times will be hard. We didn’t get the snow we usually get, and now we will ‘pay’. All part of climate change. All part of the destruction of the earth. It’s coming, don’t you know? We’ve brought it on ourselves! …. And then the spring rains came. And came. And the talk changed. Maybe things weren’t so bad after all. We were getting water! It was turning around! We won’t have the drought this year! Yay! … And then …
In the city I live, a feeder water main ruptured last week. And the entire city, as well as surrounding communities (1.5-2 million people?) are now under a strict water conservation advisory. If we don’t do this, we will run out of water. And, man, is there talk about suspicious backroom dealings! So much information not being told, so many threats and fears and ominous intimidation and control. Drought then rain, and now a crisis with the water main break. The threat, then release, and the threat returned. What???
Now, I’m not saying it isn’t so. I actually do think it was shitty luck. But I am also saying that I’m sick of not having adequate information and being expected to fall into line without any question. It happened during the COVID pandemic, it’s happening now, and I suspect my nation is not the only one, and this won’t be the last time. I don’t know what or who to believe anymore. And when words change, I’m not sure that what I’m understanding in my confusion is what the message is meant to be. No one is being forthright and truthful anymore. Everyone is manipulating words. For control. For power. I’m not doubting that COVID was real; I know enough people or family of people I know who got very ill, and still are. But many of them got very ill even when they received the vaccines. And me? I don’t think I got it at all. Not yet.
I’m looking back over so many incidents throughout history, particularly closer to this point in time. And, I suspect there is much going on in those backroom dealings that we, the Common Person, have no clue about. Conspiracy? Probably. But I also have no doubt that there is likely a shred of truth in all or most of it.
See, here’s the thing. When there is no information, when communication gets hazy and confusing and ambiguous, when our leaders are not transparent and open on what is happening, forthright on facts and why it’s happening and where they get their information from, when they completely ignore the people who voted for them, accuse them and call them names, and appear to keep things “secret”, that is the perfect breeding ground for conspiracies. No information, no truthful information, provides the perfect space and suspicion for others to fill in the gaps. In whatever way they can. And usually, their conclusions are waaaay out in left field, but … hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
“Truth” … an interesting word. Another word that I’m starting to think has different meanings for different people. “My truth”, “your truth”. What is truth? Is it constant? Like the North Star? Or is it always shifting with the wind, like a balloon in a tornado? And if there is no constant, then what good is a word like “truth”? Maybe that’s a word for another entry.
Suffice it to say for now - in our world today, the lives of the people who populate North America likely are all nose-deep in various conspiracies, hunting for whatever will fit their bias, filling in the gaps with whatever will stroke their ego, pointing fingers at the ultimate “you”, and affirming their state of the ultimate victim. Lost in their world where everyone is like them, and no one can tell them they’re wrong. As for me, I will play my cards close to my heart, I will watch and listen more than I speak, and I will not follow in the footsteps of those I describe, I will be inquisitive but not vocal. I will think for myself and challenge my thoughts and biases. I will ask lots of questions on what do you really mean by … ?
Intelligence is a far distance from maturity, and further yet from wisdom, and when everyone thinks they’re intelligent … then I have serious misgivings. Too many holes in that cheese.
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