The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.
― Albert Einstein
Creating a better life does not mean to get insanely rich by ripping people off or continuously support the system that rips other people off, it only means creating a better model that makes the destructive system obsolete. It also does not mean that you go outside and scream for change through protests and violence. It pays to identify the problem in order to find a solution. But you can only rant so much about the modern society and its impending doom. Change really starts from within.
When I was a kid, I had this class in school called ' ethics' or 'our values'. I just ignored this class because it was so easy. I knew I could pass it without even attending it. I mean, what's so hard about learning how to be nice to each other, respect the elderly (don't throw them into senior homes), help the community and preserve cultural values. Nobody really failed the class because everyone already knew these things.
The dog eat dog system or the predatory society is slowly taking over as the country tries to keep up with globalization. But lately, I see only the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. The worsening inequality. Those who blatantly rebel are considered the bad guys these days. But there is one thing to be learned in these modern times, that the invaders no longer burn villages as there seems to be a systematic dangling of the meat to win the hearts of the present-focused people. There's no need for bloodbath anymore. But ignorance and apathy seem to be the enemy these days. I do believe the first step to change is awareness. To be aware that you are being cheated and manipulated. To be aware of the possible fall of the society if humans don't start changing their erring ways.
I was really more ignorant back in the day. Why would I care about the miseries of the world anyway? Until I had become the receiver of the misery. Gradually, I exposed myself to the truth and it affected me in many ways. Which now made me realize the importance of that ethics class when I was young. As an adult, I cannot just ignore those cultural values. Isn't it good that I still feel something despite being engulfed in the 'if you try you can make it' system?
I now remember how that class taught kids - never forget where you came from. Your language, culture, and values. I see now the richest nation's possible demise due to extreme capitalism and the invisible enemy - apathy. I don't want this country to completely follow that destructive model. Unfortunately, there's still a possibility to go in that direction. And the only way to counter entropy is to create a better life. A life that does not exploit people, dismiss values and destroy the environment. It might not be a perfect system but little change is better than no change at all. If it works in your life, everyone will follow.
I had traveled and lived in poorer countries where regular school shootings are unheard of. Sure, there are the usual crimes in the poor neighborhoods, but when someone dies, the neighbors will still be shocked. I can still picture people's faces during an afternoon chitchat and how genuinely they feel something about the death. It's like the talk of the town and people can't seem to move on, just a sign that they are worried. School shootings seem to be something unique to this modern nation. Now I don't understand why everyone wants to immigrate here in search of opportunities for better lives, sacrificing their own dignity, ethics, and cultural values.
What's more absurd to me is how can people smile, nod and go about their everyday business as their colleagues, friends, and neighbors die early in shallow graves. As if they don't feel disturbed, moved or be affected by the killings, social bonds collapsing or having to numb the pain of it all away. All is well, don't worry. It's not that bad! Are we taking the collapse of modern society and its effect across the world seriously enough?
It's funny that when I was living in Peru, I can just easily buy sleeping pills over the counter. In Colombia, the abundance of cheap drugs is unbelievable, but I don't really see many people abusing it. In Bolivia, I see people chew Coca leaves or grow these plants, but these are not something to be alarmed about. In many countries in Africa and Asia, people can buy opioids from any local pharmacy without a prescription. So why do people in poorer nations are not prone to drug abuse? Because these people are secured. They have preserved their community and cultural values. People in the modern nations who are in dire need of self-medication is just a strong indication of how troubled, traumatic and desperate their lives are, which is just the result of the destructive modern system to its own people. Then why do people get defensive and reactive when you call them out or criticize their system? Ignorance is a bliss. Sadly, it seems like apathy and lack of guilt would be the only way to survive in this modern world.
You won't believe that poor nations have public healthcare or that they have this so-called 'informal social support system' also known as communities and families. Which also means that these people cannot just die hungry on the road, their poor neighbors will help them. Even though there are poor people everywhere, the few middle class are still shocked to see beggars on the streets. The people's ability to feel or help is just part of that community values that the 'introduced system' cannot simply take away from them.
The normalization of crimes should be seen as disturbing and not as mere mundane everyday affairs. A healthy, modern society should not possess these social pathologies and serve as a good example to developing nations. Individuals can start making the change themselves. Bring down the system by creating a better life. Be aware of the oppressive reality. And prevent that invisible enemy called apathy to spread across the world. Change from within can be a good start.
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
― Leo Tolstoy