Although no one alive today can share what it was like, the kind of turbulence we find ourself in is not new.
The Crises of the Third Century
and many many more examples exist in the historical timeline of the human race on this planet.
Perhaps the unusual aspect of this period we are in now is the connectedness of some kind of awareness of what is happening in various corners of the World in near real time. The opinions posted, podcasts spoken and "news" reports proffered are as usual, a mix of truthfulness, misdirection, misunderstanding and/or outright deceit. Often with aims to dehumanize, evoke nationalistic fervor and sew the seeds of internal strife. You have to figure that part out using your big brain. But that is the most salient awareness you need to bring to your mind in these days. All of the divisive rhetoric reduces the power of the populace by fractionalizing what we think are important ideas.
We as a people tend to place short term survival ahead of long term wisdom. So fear, anxiety and anger are well known buttons to push to motivate human behaviors that make a small number of opportunists everywhere powerful and wealthy. Even Nicolo Machiavelli knew emotion spreads faster than reflection and Goebbels proved narratives are perceived as true when repeated enough times. But here is the interesting thing... today we communicate like never before. Add a good dose of discernment and we may very well have an impactful and positive result.
Part of rising above all the noise requires one to be realistic, search for the truth as best as you can discern it. That means being a passive listener will only render you a confused useful idiot. LOL, IMHO.
Recognize power is concentrated, but responsibility is diffused - by design. Any system or structure tends to project rules, and we like that. Unfortunately even if they violate our moral or ethical imperatives. Have a look at the Milgram Experiment. Few of us have been tested and know what mettle we are made of. Those who have, have learned how remorseless, manipulative and compassionless certain evil people really are. It's a very small percentage of our population, but these people exist everywhere.
Don't assume the "us vs them" narrative is a meaningful point of view. It is a classical way to splinter groups and get them to fear or hate each other. Red v Blue, Lib v Con, etc., etc... dead end.
Finally, as a citizen of the planet, any one of us has limited agency - but as a bloc we have tremendous ability to correct our errors.
Take all of this and fold it into today's changing dynamics where governments and their influential groups are the policy brokers. Public opinion does have an important influential role but it first needs to be formed upon the reality of the situation and the collegial union of the many to make their voices heard. Thus flooding the zone with garbage propaganda prevents that coalescence. That's where discernment and compassion matter. If left to its own devices - any government decides action, special influencers shape and incentivize the implementation to the advantage of their small circle of confidants - and unless you participate, the general population just gets pressured, persuaded and pulled along.
So what attributes should we appreciate. Well how about pausing before reacting... Expanding the "we" not the "them". Reward accuracy in content, appreciate and actually take the time to understand multiple perspectives. Understand the agenda certain voices bring to the forum. You may have to do a little work to gain that knowledge.
As we look to the future, a World that makes conquest increasingly an unacceptable cost to society would be a big step in the right direction. So would reducing the fear narratives in all of their manifestations. Somehow we need to evolve a limit on unchecked power, align our mutual economic interests with available energy, resource limitations and peaceful intent. We need to make aggression unprofitable, despicable and those who promote it should have sound reasons for what should be an unusual and rare position...
So this lofty goal will take time to achieve. Remember progress has never been a straight line, and that the current tensions although terrible also expose and identify particular weaknesses in our current systems. At the moment fear is being exploited and it is winning, division is being amplified and global systems seem to be reacting - not evolving - a lack of discernment all the way around IMHO.
But look around you, awareness of gross manipulation is very apparent, the germ of an idea that we are more alike than different is abetted by our communicative social medias. We stand at a cross roads in time. Energy is a big factor behind the chaos, but realization, collegial behavior and compassion are very strong forces and most of us have them. Can we rise above the old ways and forge a better future? We must try, and we must succeed.
