The imposed solitude of the pandemic has afforded an opportunity for reflection on many topics, including what life will be like as we inch back toward normalcy.
Removed from the mindless inertia of incessant activity and sensory over-stimulation, many of us are able to be alone with our thoughts. And the thought that comes to my mind is that few of the imperatives of modernity make sense.
I believe we need to seize the “Great Pause” as an opportunity to contemplate how to make the world a better place, not only for our children, but for all people the world over. How do we save our planet and all that dwells on it?
It is humbling to realize that the thing we seem to need most during this time of crisis is toilet paper. As amusing, or annoying, as that might be, it is also a reminder that we are all the same. We all have the same basic needs and desires. And, in a just society — in a just world — our purpose should not be to exploit the earth and each other in order to make a few nations or individuals obscenely rich, but rather to guarantee that everyone can enjoy a basic level of well-being: my baby’s need for a warm blanket is no greater than your baby’s need.
So, among the many things that make no sense to me is that we celebrate innovations that take jobs away from people, in order to enrich the already rich and those whose excessive wealth comes from financial manipulations that do not add a single thing of value to our economy. Workers are expendable in the quest for profits that flow to the top earners.
Like a cobra swaying to the sound of a flute, we sway in agreement to the false promises of new and better jobs being created for students who are able to master STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), score high on standardized tests and those able and willing to go to college. The only trouble is, that is not true.
Artificial intelligence, for example, stands poised to replace even jobs that require a college degree. And the over-emphasis on STEM, at the expense of liberal arts, sets the stage for the Alphas and Omegas of a Brave New World. In other words, it seems to a frightening degree, that education has become a means for grooming people to be interchangeable drones for industry and business and that those seeking to privatize schools, see education as technology-consuming profit centers.
By this point, I suspect that many readers may be repulsed by my negativity, for surely Dr. Pangloss was right in declaring that “This is the best of all possible worlds.” But, I am not being negative. I am just refusing to sway to the flute music. I believe we have the power to make the world a better place, in a non-violent effort, fueled by a love for our fragile planet and for the people with whom we share this minuscule globe, floating in infinite space.
We need to become informed, learning from both those who support the way things are going, as well as those with alternative views. To listen to only one side is to become susceptible to propaganda. But, because the underlying issues are so complex, it is difficult to self-educate regarding the technical aspects of economics and geopolitics, within the limited time we have to act.
So, I believe it is essential for us to plan for the future based on what we perceive as being moral and on what will promote justice for all. It is inspiring that we willingly support charities (as I think we should), but I believe the ultimate goal of our plans for the future should be to replace the need for charity with the attainment of social and economic justice — a living wage vs. a food bank, for example.
I chose to believe in a power greater than myself, but which I do not necessarily refer to as god. Rather, I see that we all operate under the same laws of nature and science. We all need to love and to be loved; we all need affirmation; and we all deserve respect. So, I gravitate to faith communities that do not preach fall and redemption theology, but which proclaim the sacredness of every person, standing as equals before the divine imperative to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Obviously, I am aware of the wonderful work being performed by organizations and groups that are not affiliated with a faith community. Thus, I agree that one need not be religious in order to do good works. What is essential, in my opinion, is that whether a group is faith-based or not, we need to start with a blank slate as we explore what we want our world to be like. No labels: capitalism vs. socialism; faith-based or secular; etc.
Be open to the truth, wherever it leads you. It is, in my view, also essential that we seek our personal truth, avoiding the charismatic “leader” who seeks to think for us.
And one more essential point: we need to differentiate between discussion and argument, with an absolute insistence on the former, as we seek justice.
Jim Palermo lives in Southampton.