Tag: politics

Existential

FabrizioLeave a comment

Most fears, nowadays, come from within.

There’s no existential threat in acknowledging that a colleague is doing a great job, yet we worry that our work might be underappreciated.

There’s no existential threat in telling a difficult truth, yet we worry that we might be breaking a relationship forever.

There’s no existential threat in welcoming an outsider in the community, yet we worry that it might alter the balance of things and force us to review our take on the world.

There’s no existential threat in being wrong, yet we worry that others will think less of us.

We need to find a way to comfort ourselves without harming those around us.

Pointless

FabrizioLeave a comment

The idea that a country can solve its problems by closing its borders is as pointless as the idea that a person can heal their wounds by confining to their own room.

Where we have been

FabrizioLeave a comment

We are quick to forget where we have been. The fears we’ve had, the pain we suffered, the challenges we had to face, the corners we had to cut.

And in that tiny space between where we were and where we are now we build up the judgement for those who have yet to complete their journey.

If only we could extend a helping hand instead.

Limiting

FabrizioLeave a comment

Prejudice prevents you from seeing the world in its entirety. It forces you within some boundaries and it reinforces your perspective by limiting doubts.

When prejudice is taken a step further it becomes righteousness. That’s when you aim at keeping others within the same boundaries built your own prejudice, and you allow them only one possible version of the truth.

Prejudice and righteousness are human traits. That’s why it’s important to remind ourselves of how limiting they are.

Full circle

FabrizioLeave a comment

When we are kids, we think everybody is interested in our opinion, in what we think, even when we know absolutely nothing about the topic. It might be because our parents have taught us that we matter, that we are the centre of the world. And so of course what we have to say is relevant to the situation. No matter what situation.

Then, we grow up, and somehow we develop some kind of filters. Some do, at least. We start getting feedback that what we say is not really useful, we notice others putting themselves into awkward situations we want to avoid, we are reminded of our limits, and we realise that not everything we have in our head is worth sharing.

Unfortunately, that seems to stop in a couple of instances, at least.

  1. When our identity is hidden.
  2. When we are in a position of power.

The second case is incredibly similar to what happens to kids. We are surrounded by people who mainly confirm that we are important, that we matter, that we know, that we are better. And we lose the ability to distance our thoughts from what is needed, appropriate, relevant.

That’s a risk that’s worth keeping in mind. Unless we want to come full circle and be just like kids once again.