The question we must ask
I am reading Naomi Klein’s important book, Doppelgänger – A Trip into the Mirror World, as she explores our descent into irrational, unhinged beliefs and the grip of conspirituality.
To quote Kevin Kelly, “You can reduce the annoyance of someone’s stupid belief by increasing your understanding of why they believe it.”
Naomi Klein stepped fully into the Mirror World of Steve Bannon, Naomi Wolf, and the many others who have titled the axis of belief to foolish levels, and in so doing, gave me the opportunity, thankfully, to not need to do this.
We must ask why the grip of unhinged beliefs has seized so many, broken friendships and families, and created an increasing rise of hard-right populist leaders being elected.
Unless we understand the vacuum that was there, now being filled by the loudest, most drama-intense, hate-filled rhetoric, we cannot provide a different response.
How have we stood by as the complexity of events that lead to a tide of crazy surfaced? Where were we silent? How were we complicit? What is the lesson?
There is a need to understand. It is crucial. The meta-crisis we face – climate, monopoly, technofeadualism, political capture by the few feudal lords, energy, Moloch, cryptoanarchy, and biotech – are all interwoven. It is a beast. Right-wing populists are speaking to a void that sanity has turned its nose on. The Bannon’s of the world are masterful at playing the game.
We must learn the game. Know the game. See the game.
And play a different one. Full on. All in. One with ethics, morality, equality, and justice for all as the ground.
This we must do with haste and comprehensive consideration.
Photo Taken October 10th 2023