YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

What you are about to read is my own particular view and experience of life. It is neither a scientific, anthropological or political thesis. It might sound silly, maybe shocking. Either way, this discussion does not intent to convince anyone to agree with it. The only outcome hoped for from the audience reading is, reflection and maybe analysis or constructive criticism of the content. You may or may not identify yourself with the context and may or may not, gather some insights from it. Any response is a positive response, if only laughter.

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Intelligence is a kind of skill that humankind is privileged to be born with, but how it develops may be a matter of choice. A second type of intelligence, emotional intelligence is more complex and connects with each individual’s perceptions related to their culture. A few people may have the capacity and opportunity to develop their emotional intelligence at an early stage in life and many take much longer, some never reaching their potential. This specific intelligence is of paramount importance for survival in society. Some people may say behaviours are no different nowadays compared with older times. Although human nature has not changed much since its genesis, it is hard to believe that there are no differences between generations. Thus far, it feels like we are living in a constant state of chaos created by a kind of stupidity never witnessed before. Sometimes I wonder if “hell” is or is not present here, on earth, at this precise moment in time.

It would be reasonable to affirm due to the advance of technology and communications that most information (or data) reaches a considerable number of people on earth. Its veracity continues to be dubious, especially when it is streamed via the internet. This channel of communication has been used without any due consideration by many people. They feel empowered by the keyboard and the anonymity behind their screens to share and spread their “free speech”, no matter how trustworthy or harmful they may be. Within this “shielded” virtual environment, anything and everything is possible. This can affect the credibility of the information being spread and create a precedent for perilous terrain; a source of concern for the “thinkers” in society. Simultaneously, ephemerous and frivolous information is absorbed straight away by the audience, who may believe in it without question. Sadly, that is why the common saying comes into play: “the masses are stupid.”

There is no doubt about the masses being impressionable for centuries now: a powerful opportunity for potentially deceitful information to be disseminated. Social media, one of the most popular communication channels these days is an accurate example of how this is happening globally. One the one hand, the internet is beneficial to communicate information and news as it happens yet on the other it can enable a faster and conscious spread of fake content. The effectiveness of how information influences the audience depends on how critical and inquisitive the audience actually is. The majority in the audience behave as if they are inside a hall of mirrors in a funfair. Even though the images might be distorted, they are still amusing to them. Fewer and fewer people seem to show concern for how often groundless information has become extremely dangerous. They just keep the chaos loop spinning viciously fast.

The risk of social media’s influence in society is no longer in the future. It is in the here and now. This channel of communication is not the villain of humankind’s history in itself. “We” are the villains. The sense of a collective has long gone due to people´s changing behaviours. “Individualism” has driven society into an ever-immediate scenario where the craving to fulfil oneself comes first at all costs. Exacerbated consumerism and dubious social achievements are great examples: ruthless career progression to reach “the top” (but never being satisfied) and sharing images of exclusive holidays (but never actually enjoying them). So many people record where they are on a daily (if not hourly) basis to overcome the fact that they are not “being”. Noble intentions are masked by zero actions and so on. Vanity is framed virtually and fills the gap that a real sense of purpose has left behind. Many people (even many nations) have paid a high cost for their obliviousness to reality with increasingly irreversible consequences on a global level.

These behaviours have widened the distance between people almost unnoticed and camouflage what really matters. Cunning distractions can keep people ignorant and unaware of how damaged they and their surroundings are and foment perfect scenarios for “decision makers”. These scenarios play out accordingly to their own agenda and for their own benefits. Naively, people believe that their interests have been represented and looked after by those who they have elected or put in charge of their collective wellbeing. Many conspiracy theories we have heard and read with caution are starting to make sense. The globalisation phenomenon has brought worldwide events to our living spaces enabling us to share knowledge as we move between spaces and allows us to enjoy cultural exchanges and much more. Ironically, the internet, part of this phenomenon and in so many ways a gift for us all, is also used as a weapon.

This worldwide awareness also brings concerns and collective responsibilities with it. In an ideal world, an altruistic utopia, we all should help each other to overcome life´s obstacles together, sharing what we have with others who are less fortunate. On the contrary, we have seen nations fighting against each other for more land, more natural resources, more technology, more knowledge, more power and more goods. All this is so much more that they need or are able to consume. Nations are led by people elected directly (or indirectly) to ensure their wellbeing. These elected clusters gain power and create destructive minority clusters and create “the reasons” that justify the constant presence of war and violence in our world. These minorities are far away from the battlefields, and it is the innocent and blameless who most likely suffer. Once the battle is over, these minorities rely upon humanitarian aid to clean up the “house” and repair the losses.

In war there are two main sides: the creators who are responsible for all destruction and the followers, the foolish and blind fighters; the citizens. The latter fight even though they have no clue what exactly they are fighting for. The only guarantee is that there will be millions of losers and no real winners. When the battle is over, the powerful minority clusters, the “winners” assess their gains and the powerless majority of citizens counts its inevitable losses. That said, wars are between minorities that know each other and share common ground and are fought by the blind from both sides. The majorities hope for benefits without questioning the process and submit, often paying with their own lives. If this whole business of “war” was a transparent process, there would no longer be wars. Instead, “If people understood how the economic system works, there would be a revolution in a minute.” (Henry Ford)

Many countries recruit their young citizens from different backgrounds to carry out military service in order to honour and protect their own nation. These same young citizens are at an early stage in their maturity, learning and experiencing life, an overwhelming process. During this period, they also are sensitive to many influential forces that directly or indirectly influence their present and future decisions. A lack of direction and knowledge creates a mine field along their paths created by the minority clusters. For many different reasons, young citizens may feel seduced by the concept of honouring their country and to spread their wishes, views, principles and values and hoping to be part of a meaningful deal. Thus, the mine field has been setup. There is not one single transparent explanation for all the historical confrontations between nations and minority clusters, just deception wrapped up in greed, pride and ignorance.

A lack of real information combined with a fragile personality can attract many young citizens to all sorts of dark forces. Children have their concept of life pre-established by those who have raised them. By the time children mature, the majority of them, may never realise how they have been shaped by society and its prejudices and “go with the flow” in what they consider to be the right direction. Discrimination and racism have been introduced to our lives before we have understood what they really mean or before we may have experienced them. This has made us susceptible to concepts that pull us away from collective principles and values and push us towards our personas, our individual goals with no space to appreciate the needs of those around us. Society may have been blinded or perhaps has just decided to turn its eyes away from what really matters, each focusing on their individual path and identity.

Life goes on and it is up to us to identify the existence of our own emotional intelligence and to develop it. By so doing, we overcome all those early imaginary social obstacles created by our predecessors, be they parents, friends, teachers, politicians, leaders, regimes, cults, religions and so on. It is a good citizen’s duty to challenge those who are in charge and responsible for managing and maintaining the balance between duties and rights in society, to us to take ownership of our own lives, with responsibility and respect towards others and their differences. It is of paramount importance that society is socially aware because no one is exempt from the consequences caused by the actions of minority clusters. It is about time we faced reality and embraced it with intelligent and open minds, being critical and thoughtful about how we digest and use information for individual and collective wellbeing.

Currently, we are witnessing a war between two powerful minority clusters: the governments of Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have their own supporters and sponsors: those who will gain from the victory and the defeat of the conflict. Also, members of other powerful minority clusters are affected positively or negatively such as other governments, private sector organisations and institutions, industries, clubs, investors, entrepreneurs, etc. Many are looking for profitable outcomes from others´ inevitable destruction and misery. Some of them provide weapons, technology, political support, economic strategies, even humanitarian help and so on. This illustrates how the whole business of war is a very lucrative one for many individuals and organisations. Many of these “investors” have gone public showing off their generous and kind humanitarian support, some with no shame.

The other side of this war on both sides is the victims: those who have been made enemies by deceit, triggered by the powerful minority clusters who immorally pursue their own personal greed and pride. The citizens, no matter which side of the line they are on, are the martyrs of this disgraceful power game and are left with losses which are immeasurable and irreversible. Some may never join their loved ones again, their homes in ruins having to start their lives afresh. A sense of hatred will haunt survivors and future generations, emotional scars on show from open wounds as they head into a shadowy future. While the majority suffer, the cluster minorities continue with their game of chess with a glass of well matured whisky on their side tables.

This is how I describe war. Not only this current one, but also ongoing conflicts in Asia, Africa and across the Atlantic. These are wars with differing motives: some in name of “God”, others seeking political independence and so on throughout the course of history. All this over and above the civil battles society faces every single day. It is truly ironic that citizens are responsible for letting their own powerful minority clusters take over their lives by electing them directly or indirectly even though they subsequently may demonstrate against a complete lack of humanity. Perhaps, these passive social behaviours occur as the force and power of individualism can unconsciously take over society. The citizens barely notice how the system has turned them into zombies.

I wonder, what exactly United Nations, NATO, G7, G8, G20, EU and COP26 have done for the benefit of humankind and its environment. There have been endless ongoing global conflicts for decades now that have not led to new and positive scenarios. War is a fruitful business for many: governments, economies, politics, technology, weapons, agriculture, construction, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, fuel, fashion, art, sports, goods, services, drugs, prostitution and so on. That statement may seem extremely judgmental and ungrounded if it were not for the evidence that the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. This will continue until, non-biased independent and transparent audits investigate many mysterious processes and expose the results. Until then, enjoy the cinema!

it can be said that the combination of past and current wars have shaped our present and will define our future. They are responsible for so much misery in the world: poverty, starvation, social inequality, intolerance, loneliness, violence and so on. These are the real struggles that arise from endless wars which society has to deal with on a daily basis. These struggles distract us from reality and mislead us to diminish the power of humankind. No matter how hard the battles are, a vast number of people still embrace the positive energy they need to move forward so they can share better days. The world does not need war, it needs healing and to be nurtured through deeds that bond diverse communities as powerful allies, utilising their differences as strategic tools that bring harmony.

Since the beginning of civilisation, there has been one weapon that will always change the course of history: knowledge. Education is the key to solve all the consequences of war and to exterminate all the inhumane drivers once for all. Real and honest education starts at home and is a powerful weapon that many leaders, regimes and systems have controlled. Some regimes have limited access to true information to the masses leaving them naive and in the dark. They won´t question, criticise or demand results if they have no knowledge. This “empowers” their controlling political systems, making society oblivious, increasing the gap between social classes and allowing intolerance and violence to become acceptable behaviours. Copycat negative social behaviours still constantly occur and are often ignored because they are thought to be trivial. These trivial behaviours occur due to a lack of education and knowledge as many people no longer hunger for them. To illustrate this comment, some examples are:

- Rearing children: parents’ selfish and dysfunctional behaviours directly influence their children, and some ignore the fact their children become bullies. They are raising the future monsters of society.

- Sport fans turn a football match stadium into a barbaric arena, fighting against each other because of meaningless differences even though their favourite players may socialise with the other team.

- “Politically correct” guests at a party share drugs from a mirror tray or a smoke and feverishly discuss how crime has increased and traces of poverty have already appeared on their doorsteps. They blame opposing political parties for it.

- Countless humanitarian campaigns aiming to eliminate poverty struggle to deal with the corruption that lies in their paths: corruption fed by the powerful minority clusters that the powerless majority dare not question for the sake of their own lives and for their families.

- Pharmaceutical industries delaying the effective treatment of serious health conditions and diseases that should have been eradicated by now. One could almost believe that these delays may benefit some of those involved.

- Experts have successfully been developing alternative and cost-effective sources of energy to substitute gas and petroleum. This is however not progressing at speed. So why is this? Perhaps because it would mean an end to the power that many countries wield and the income they earn as key global providers.

These illustrations may be absorbed unconsciously by the majority as relatively trivial, and many ignore the influence they wield on people´s behaviours and their perception of life. The difference between right and wrong may be a controversial subject due to different cultural and religious perceptions and the context. Once “wrong” becomes the norm and its status is changed to “acceptable”, society has started to dig an ever-deepening hole for itself. War is indeed a complex subject to discuss, creating an arena for confrontation and disagreement. This discussion must however take place in order to bring insight and enlightenment back into society. Maybe, such a discussion will bring solutions as to how to deal with consequences and eliminate the causes of war once and for all. We all are part of the problem so, we must all be part of the solution. A new beginning filled with wonderful change may then slowly take place. To effect great change in society, people must roll up their sleeves and work hard for it.

Imagine a world where every single one of us took a step back just for a little while, reduced our pace, cleared our minds and focused on our surroundings not just on ourselves. Perhaps we may realise that we are not alone and cannot be self-sufficient, that we are all fragile and yearn for mutual respect, to share knowledge, embrace our differences and build relationships. Imagine a world where we all may see the power of holding hands. This concept of a pure power collectively held by society has been neglected but may restore to society what the most important truth: the thought and the feeling that life actually matters!

Leandro Bernardes, 2022.