Today such a thesis sounds absurd, but almost four decades ago it sounded like a political axiom. General euphoria blinded us, and for a while economic, ecological, and social complications disappeared from view. Let us not forget that even before the First World War, the Bella epoque prevailed for decades.
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It is extremely dangerous that in trying to maintain at least the illusion of minimal stability, we try to adapt to what is dangerously absurd. On the other hand, in a world where one percent controls as many goods as all the rest, and technological progress allows that one percent not only to risk nothing personally but only to get richer through any cataclysms and chase boredom with the most dangerous experiments.
It is extremely dangerous that in trying to maintain at least the illusion of minimal stability, we try to adapt to what is dangerously absurd.
Putin created an empire where there is a “cream” whose welfare depends only on him. I am talking about such welfare that resembles the description of the Muslim Paradise, where “everything is included.” There is also a very impoverished and hopeless society offered a death lottery: exchange a husband or son for money and benefits. This year, excellent students in Russia could not enter universities due to quotas for relatives of “special operation” participants. It should not be surprising that very quickly being a killer became a prestigious profession in Russia. Want to have a chance in Russia? You have to be an oligarch favored by Putin or a killer.
Much is said about the influence of propaganda flooding through television. But we had the opportunity to see that when huge amounts of money are pumped into the information space, it becomes not oxygen but sarin gas for democracy. Whether it is Russia or the USA.
When announcing the end of history, the idea that Russia could engage in a desperate bloody struggle with Ukraine sounded absurd. But it would have been no less absurd to predict that the USA would flirt with North Korea and curse and threaten Canada. That a Putin oligarch would pay for the US president’s son’s wedding. That the US head of state elected for a second term would be more favorable to Russia, Belarus than to the European Union and would sell the opportunity to know the content of his records before they become available to others.
I really could not even imagine that the day would come when in the morning I would hear a report that Russian missiles deliberately kill peaceful residents traveling by trains or buses in Ukraine and in the news it sounds more like usual statistics rather than a scandal. The powerful US president after such reports stubbornly repeats that he is convinced: Putin wants peace.
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We should also look at the Middle East, where supposedly peace and security are fought for until not a stone is left upon another. Resentments, feelings of injustice only grow. There are concerns about rising fuel prices, but much more horrifying is the complete inflation of the cost of life.
There are concerns about rising fuel prices, but much more horrifying is the complete inflation of the cost of life.
It is scary even to think about the impact all wars and madness have on the world’s nature. It would be naive to think that climate change and broken food supply chains will not become an increasing incentive for mass emigration, which, among other things, will increase instability, fears, and radicalism.
Returning to Lithuania’s yard. Drones sent by enemies with explosives are no longer a scandal but just a “big inconvenience.” I do not believe that as long as we cannot restore the feeling of security and coziness, we can expect a birth boom. I understand that in such a situation xenophobia, fear of otherness is becoming popular. But history has taught many times that radicalism and xenophobia are symptoms of illness and certainly not cures.
I keep repeating: hard times temper and strengthen. As Viktor Frankl wrote, feeling abnormal in an abnormal world is normal. It is not right to get used to those terrible madnesses that are happening. Also very important are individual meaning strategies. If I cannot change the world at this moment, I can change something in my life or environment. Those who join the Riflemen’s Union and participate in difficult exercises, who volunteer and help those who struggle with everyday challenges, deserve all respect. When the world becomes an asylum, it is very important to create “islands of decency (normality).” It is important that this becomes a daily practice, not just loud theoretical declarations.
History has not ended, and that means we are its participants and can write something in it with our decisions and feats.
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