It takes years...and it's never without
consequences...Change was always there, inevitably and
unpredictably... No, I am not writing Obama's next electoral
speech... I am talking about real change in our societies, minds and
consequently lives...
It took some centuries to the Neanderthal
man to change...and wow that was a big one! From a cave seeking,
barbar talking creature he transformed again and again to a form of
life where logic and spirituality would boost the changing process
into unimaginable speeds... Say hello to today! Humanity is no longer
waiting for a change...everyday is facing a new one. Technology may
be the easiest example to support this argument, though there is not
a single sector of our lives that stops changing. Food supplies,
natural resources usage, medical treatments, psychological theories,
love and hate, war and peace, transportation and housing, education
and entertainment are subjects of its tremendous power. Just look to
newspapers 100 years back, (or even 30), and I am sure you will
agree. So now that we all agree ( I suppose) to the real fact that
the world is changing extremely fast nowadays being a continuation of
just an older slower process, think about this :
What is the only thing remained almost
unchanged for lets say the last 50 years? No it is neither your
husband's beer belly nor your wife's after sex talking habit (im
pretty sure anyways, both have just raised exponentially)... Well,
let's see...
Back in the previous century new
economical theories were proposing new standards for our society...
From Marx and Engels to Smith and the french philosophers, change
took its place in the base of our societies and the way we think
about their structure. People tried these theories, played a bit with
them, even changed them proposing (and imposing sometimes) their own
versions. Some of these versions got well established – others not,
but all of them were products of people who believed to change and
made it happen. Yes, this tranformed our societies. Now, we can not
even imagine how this world looked like before these theories were
put in action. Were they good enough? Do they still apply today? Is
it the way to go on? Well, surely you will agree that they have their
plus and minus. Good enough, could be for some – surely not for
everyone though (remember this point it is essential). Yes they do
apply – I mean everything can be applied in the end. Is it the way
to go on? Hmm...
Let's say I am a farmer in central
Africa... Having my country, occupied, colonised, torn apart by civil
wars and extreme poverty, sold and resold to foreign (or domestic)
enterpreneurs, makes my farm a tiny grain of sand that will be eatten
alive. Will it be tomorrow or in a few years, it's just a matter of
bad timing (in terms of another crisis) or greedy expansion (in terms
of monopoly strategies). There is no way for me to stay on my feet
and make a living out of my farm if external powers decide so. What
about a union of farms? Sure, chances are better but what make you
really think that you stand a chance against Monsanto or other
agriculture monsters? You are to them exactly the same as this piece
of feta is to me right now... an appetizer... What about a Party that
will control and own the farms in the name of the people? Sure,
Monsanto will never be allowed to play its games but the Party will
create its own – sometimes even worse than the previous ones.
Attention now! As mentioned before, this system of aggresive economy
and open market policies, or full state control run by state
officials can, will and does work for some people! You can easily
become a puppet of the global or domestic elit, and eat your part of
the cheese. Well guess what! It does not work for me!
It does not work for me for a simple
reason. My idea of an ideal society is based on ethics and
solidarity. What ethics do you expect from corporate people that
dream of profits?? Which solidarity you seek in a system where you
life is on the hands of over-powered officials that are bound to be
corrupted??
Still in 2013, we struggle inside these
same systems. Isn't it about time for a breakthrough?? For a new
philosophy of economy and political relations that will make the
establishment tremble?
Education-again is to play the most
important role in this change. Solidarity can be taught as well as
ethics among the people of the world. Each nation has such a rich
library of religious or philosophical writings that include almost
the same values. How can you be indifferent of poverty if you are a
christian? How can you compete for profit if you are a muslim? How
can you close you eyes on war crimes if you are a hindu or a budhist?
Yet, we live our lifes like modern zombies, trying to make more
money, travel a bit, eat a lot, drink when we can. How do you expect
society to change if we are acting like that? The homo-consumius can
not be our future! We need a system of love, solidarity and basic
human ethics where money are a mean of transaction and not a goal of
life. A system where paying a fortune for dinner while children
starving would be madness! A system where the little farmer can have
his self-sustainable farm and provide his society with its goods not
for profit but by love and solidarity.
How can we make the change happen?
Think, read and write your ideas. Get educated and educate your
circle. Discuss for things that matter over things that cost.
That's what it takes. That's how they
did it. That's our time.
If not now, when?? If not us, who???
C.K.
Artwork by Lori Spray
