All around is in decline, and it is easy to despair. But as the Librarian suggests, you do it anyway in the hope of a few green shoots taking root. And we cannot know who those fresh green shoots will inspire in time.
Some will always be lost, however good the system they live in. Others, like Solzhenitsyn, are probably unloseable no matter how bad it gets. But I think if we soldier on and do our best we in time can inspire others.
During Covid I learned to brazenly walk around shops without a mask in the hope it might give others a little courage. I definitely saw one or two lower their masks when they saw me go unchallenged. That taught me that most people are not bad, and most are only mildly conformist. Give them one decent example and they can throw off the shackles.
There is much to hope for. Our world is amazing, and we ourselves exist. That is a good start. Plus it helps our enemies are clowns with unrealistic plans that we already see unravelling before us.
I agree that most people are not bad, just terribly conditioned to go along with things they wouldn’t do on their own. Like you said, a bit of encouragement can go a long way toward reversing the negative trends we see cropping up.
Leading by example is the only long-term effective means. If we want to experience courage and free thinking in this world, we’ve got to be courageous and free thinking. There’s just no other way.
Excellent stuff!
All around is in decline, and it is easy to despair. But as the Librarian suggests, you do it anyway in the hope of a few green shoots taking root. And we cannot know who those fresh green shoots will inspire in time.
Some will always be lost, however good the system they live in. Others, like Solzhenitsyn, are probably unloseable no matter how bad it gets. But I think if we soldier on and do our best we in time can inspire others.
During Covid I learned to brazenly walk around shops without a mask in the hope it might give others a little courage. I definitely saw one or two lower their masks when they saw me go unchallenged. That taught me that most people are not bad, and most are only mildly conformist. Give them one decent example and they can throw off the shackles.
There is much to hope for. Our world is amazing, and we ourselves exist. That is a good start. Plus it helps our enemies are clowns with unrealistic plans that we already see unravelling before us.
I agree that most people are not bad, just terribly conditioned to go along with things they wouldn’t do on their own. Like you said, a bit of encouragement can go a long way toward reversing the negative trends we see cropping up.
Leading by example is the only long-term effective means. If we want to experience courage and free thinking in this world, we’ve got to be courageous and free thinking. There’s just no other way.