Power and Control

Fear Isolates – Fear Divides – Fear Controls

I read an article that put forth a statement that we (people of the world) are living in two different worlds.  Or more aptly put, two different realities. There are those who, at a very deep level, wholeheartedly believe that some people in political and social leadership roles are honest, forthright, with a deep faith, and have everyone’s best interest in mind. And, there are also those who see quite the opposite by seeing them as bigots, duplicitous, and misogynistic with the main purpose of obtaining power and being blindly followed without question. Both sets of people see the proof of their beliefs in the media they consume and the network of people that they surround themselves with.

The News

There are two things I’d like to point out about this phenomenon. First, our human minds are hard-wired to find patterns and gravitate towards the kind that make us feel safe. For example, if we grew up hearing and seeing our family and friends talk about how certain people who look different than us should be feared and they are dangerous, then we are going to gravitate toward information (social media, newspapers, books, articles, videos, etc) that say the same thing.

In order to feel safe, we are going to want to find ways to either move away from those people or find ways to have them moved away from us. These beliefs are enforced and made even stronger by those in leadership who keep repeating the same key elements of this fear-based belief. Elements like, “They are rapists, murderers, they will shoot you in the street, they will break into your home, they will kidnap your children.” Even if there is absolute evidence that these “different” people have the lowest occurrences of these sorts of actions in the population.

The second thing I want to point out is that in our world of online content, what you are being shown is a direct result of what you prefer to see.  This is done by a computer algorithm that’s main job is to find and serve up to you content that will satisfy your need to feel safe by enforcing the beliefs you have (positive or negative). The initial purpose of these algorithms was to show you things you might buy, but later they were co-opted into a tool to influence your beliefs.

algorithmic patterns

What I’ve described isn’t new. Those in power have followed the same playbook for thousands of years: demonize a specific group, blame them for society’s problems, claim to be the only ones who can fix those problems, and create enough confusion and chaos to keep people fearful and off balance. The message becomes simple—do what they say and don’t question them. Throughout history, every period of major conflict or social unrest shows these same patterns.

I present all of this for the sole purpose of hoping that you will take a serious look at what you consume as “factual news content” and look for alternative sources different than what you normally use. If you listen to ABC news every day, switch it up and listen to NPR or Fox. Look for multiple sources to confirm the information. Seek ways to make yourself as fully informed as possible in order to form an educated perspective. Leave room in your investigation for the possibility that you might find truth in a source you hadn’t expected. This process is part of being a responsible citizen who truly wants the best for all mankind.

I also suggest that you take what you hear from “the news” as one possible reality. Your personal connection with others is significantly more real and important than what is fed to you in a normal news cycle, or on your “for you” social media feed. What is actually happening in your neighborhood? Is it reflective of what is being told to you from the outside? If what you see are people thriving with a general sense of support and compassion, what can you do to make it better? If you are witnessing struggle, fear and divisiveness, the question is the same, what can you do to make it better?

Put down the phone, turn off the TV, and take a walk in your neighborhood. Keep your head up and eyes on the world around you. Who do you see? What can you do to make a connection with them? Maybe you can smile, hold a door for them, offer to carry their groceries up the stairs on the way to their apartment, or even to ask them if there is anything you can help them with!

Connection

What you might find is that all of the political rhetoric, fear and global chaos will fade into the distance while you remember that you are a human being, sharing this world with other human beings. You might find that they aren’t so different from you. They want to feel safe too. They want a roof over their head, food in their belly and an opportunity to make their own contribution to life, just like you.

You may also find that you have had a lot more opportunity and support than they have. You may find that they have suffered in ways that you would not even imagine someone could live through. You may find that all they might need is a helping hand and shown the highest form of love, compassion.

In the book “The Duties of Man” by Giuseppe Mazzini, he writes about how society evolves to become something greater than it was. He posits that it is noble for the individual to know and follow The Law of Humanity, which is given by God. But that is not enough. In order for society to truly evolve in a lasting way, individuals must come together in association to learn and teach the Law of Humanity. Then as the knowledge of this Law becomes embedded in the hearts of man, it becomes their Duty to do what is right for all.

Dwight J. Raatz