hopelesshappiness.com

This week I am absorbing "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" - the latest work from Yuval Noah Harari. The quote below strikes me as particularly foreboding:

"We should never underestimate human stupidity. Both on the personal and the collective level, humans are prone to engage in self-destructive activities. ...no god and no law of nature protect us from human stupidity."

The 21 Lessons presented are as follows, (from the Table of Contents):

1. Disillusionment: The End of History Has Been Postponed.
2. Work: When You Grow Up, You Might Not Have a Job.
3. Liberty: Big Data is Watching You.
4. Equality: Those Who Own the Data Own the Future.
5. Community: Humans Have Bodies.
6. Civilization: There Is Just One Civilization in the World.
7. Nationalism: Global Problems Need Global Answers.
8. Religion: God Now Serves the Nation.
9. Immigration: Some Cultures Might Be Better than Others.
10. Terrorism: Don't Panic.
11. War: Never Underestimate Human Stupidity.
12. Humility: You Are Not the Center of the World.
13. God: Don't Take the Name of God in Vain.
14. Secularism: Acknowledge Your Shadow.
15. Ignorance: You Know Less than You Think.
16. Justice: Our Sense of Justice Might Be Out of Date.
17. Post-Truth: Some Fake News Lasts Forever.
18. Science Fiction: The Future Is Not What You See in the Movies.
19. Education: Change Is the Only Constant.
20. Meaning: Life Is Not a Story.
21. Meditation: Just Observe.

Below are my personal corresponding interpretations of how each lesson may add to my personal learning and growth.

1. Widespread present-day disillusionment has resulted in widespread present-day divisiveness. It appears to me that we have one faction looking to restore the past and another faction looking to maintain the present. The answers are not here or there. We cannot turn the clock back, nor can we productively advance by living in this moment. But I CAN learn from the past to live in the moment FOR the future. If we do not rationally and decisively look to the future together, we will not survive. The answers are in the future; a future that we must start building NOW!
2. Work is no longer a clock or a widget. Work is productive contribution. Some of the hardest working people in this world are parents; (multiply that by two for a single parent). Some form of universal basic income is necessary; (I made a suggestion here - March 11, 2017). For now I will continue to work beyond traditional parameters so I may continue to learn and grow.
3. Because of Big Data, the more I click on what I believe, the more opportunity I have to click on what I believe and the less I see of opposing perspectives, thus becoming more firmly entrenched in my beliefs. I have a responsibility to myself and to all of humanind to seek, find, and then work to understand contrasting and discordant viewpoints so I may encourage an openness resulting in a rational, autonomous evolution of thought.
4. For centuries now wealth and power as established by property has perpetuated inequality. Today the richest 1 percent own half the world's wealth and the richest one hundred people own more than the poorest four billion people. Tomorrow personal data in the form of big data will become the "new" basis for wealth and power. It is possible that those with today's wealth and power will take control of big data. It is possible that governments will take control. To have our needs and desires manipulated by either possibility is potentially dangerous. Harari presents the possibility of a global human collective, but this would require massive global cooperation; which we are, today, moving away from. For today I will continue to work at crossing up the algorithms by clicking on, purchasing, watching and listening to wildly contrasting and discordant points of view; in this way I will, to a degree, maintain personal ownership.
5. Community still means face-to-face human connectivity. It also requires me to pay attention and listen to wildly contrasting and discordant perspectives. I will continue to push myself into varying forms of social connectivity. Some days I prefer my nose in a book, but when I am able, I find myself more studious and open to learning if I take that book (and my nose) to a coffee shop.
6. As entropy marches on, some gaps are getting smaller. Globally, each one of us share similarities---(similar political systems and similar economic models and similar medical practices and similar business practices and similar scientific and technological advancements and even similar ethical and moral beliefs)---with a large majority of the rest of the world's individuals. We all belong to the same civilization. I am a member of a global civilization.
7. It is okay for me to think my nation is unique and special to me. It is no longer necessary (or okay) to think my nation is superior to all other nations. We will never resolve global issues and challenges with radical, extreme, or even merely pretentious nationalism. (See #6 above.)
8. It is okay for me to think my religion/spirituality is unique and special to me. It is no longer necessary (or okay) to think my religion/spirituality is superior to all other interpretations. We will never resolve global issues and challenges with radical, extreme, or even merely pretentious religious beliefs. (See #6 above.)
9. Immigration is a difficult problem and both anti and pro camps have some valid arguments. When I work to think rationally without emotion, I recognize fear as an emotion and it becomes both reasonable and obviously beneficial to encourage diversity within an organized system of immigration. Walls exacerbate fear. The theater of terrorism exacerbates fear. We will never resolve global issues and challenges with radical, extreme, or even merely pretentious emotion. (See #6 above.)
10. In the U.S., since 2001, about 10 people per year have been killed by terrorists; European Union - 50; China - 7; worldwide - 25,000, mostly in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Syria. The theater of terrorism exacerbates fear, and thanks to our over-the-top media and fearmongering politicians we play right into the hands of small fanatical extremist groups that have no other weapon but fear. I will continue to direct my vigilance, apprehension, annoyance and anger at the careless and ignorant drivers that kill 100 or more people each day in this country, as I am much more likely to save my life by being afraid of college girls on cell phones.
11. War. This is the chapter from which I lifted the quote I began with. I often see stupidity stemming from emotion. We will never resolve global issues and challenges with radical, extreme, or even merely pretentious stupidity, and we run a very good chance, (with radical or extreme stupidity), of widespread decimation leading to near or complete extinction. I will maintain an attentive awareness, and I will work to not underestimate human stupidity.
12. Because I am Human, I lack humility; yet it is the single most important quality for our future together. To sincerely practice humility, I must not, in good conscience, belong to any group that believes they are in any way above, better than, or more entitled than any other group. Yet, because I am Human, I do; it is difficult not to. I must work to improve my awareness, my efforts and my ability to diplomatically communicate my reasons for perceived slights caused by my distance. Perhaps by simply saying, "verifiable history argues against predetermined superiority..."
13. God has too often been an excuse to cause suffering. It is okay to seek peace and harmony through a personal relationship with your God. It is not okay to claim a specific God and believe that He justifies persecution or even divisiveness. (For me), God is Compassion for the Past-Present-Future as one. I should work on this relationship.
14. Regardless of professed religious affiliation, globally, each one of us share a similar secular ideal based on our neverending search for Truth and Wisdom; a search that is not undertaken by those who believe they have all the answers. It is not only okay, but also necessary, for me to be skeptical and question everything. It is not only okay, but also necessary, for me to say, "I don't know" when I don't know. It is not only okay, but also necessary, for me to say, "I don't know" when I think I know. It is not only okay, but also necessary, for me to acknowledge my mistakes. I am Human. I am imperfect.
15. It is okay to utilize groupthink and universal knowledge, as long as I recognize it as such; I am seldom as smart as a rational, open-minded, interdependent collective. It is not okay to play follow-the-leader. It is better to wander alone in an active and curious ignorance than to lead obedient followers to an ever-crumbling precipice of power. (The unfortunate accompanying injustice is that ignorance often does not pay as well.)
16. Justice. I don't have an answer. We don't have an answer. It is as if justice is packaged unaddressed and delivered proportionally according to the size of the houses in the neighborhood, (bigger house = more justice), because FedEx finds it more expedient to deal with the complaints later. I can (and will) continue to complain and I will continue to advocate for some form of universal basic income, (see #2 above), as I believe that to be a way to require justice to be delivered more equitably.
17. The entire history of Humanity is simultaneously post-truth and pre-Truth. The upper-case T denotes a complete and perfect Truth, obviously unattainable yet necessarily desirable. Post-truth acknowledges the necessity of myth and convention that aids in our delusion of control, which in turn has been necessary for our survival. Fake news is not new. I must continue to seek tangible truth from verified experts.
18. There is freedom and a hint of Truth to be found in art. Art inspires the imagination. Perhaps Truth is unattainable because it too is a myth. Regardless, I will keep searching.
19. Today we need to teach our children how to think; a process best accomplished by questioning every thing in every moment. The traditional model of education is obsolete. According to Harari, some experts are advocating completely replacing our traditional model with "the four C's" - critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Because of rapid-fire change, rapid-fire skepticism will become necessary for individuals to retain some semblance of autonomy and not be swallowed whole by Big Data.
20. Meaning. Hocus-Pocus. Sacrifice: fool or villain? Tell me a story; or not. In my story, I am the hero. In my story, the hero suffers. In reality, each one of us suffers. Does that mean we are all heroes? Or does that mean there is no story?
21. Who am I? Today I have the opportunity to explore this most difficult question. Tomorrow? I may be too busy...

Final Thought:

When I close my eyes, I will not become invisible; I will become oblivious. When I tell my story, I will not become a superhero; I will remain oblivious, and I may become a liar, a zealot, a fearmonger, a fool, and/or a villain.

Twas the week before Christmas, when all through my heart

My blood to my head, and my soul comes apart;

Sleepwalking through crises, profuse wear and tear,

Mad hopes that St. Nicholas would answer a prayer;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Decided right there, no more sugar-plum crap,

We went out on the lawn and we made such a clatter,

The kids and the neighbors sang "what is the matter?"

My eyes they did roll and my teeth they did gnash,

My heart and my arms they did flail and thrash.

"Look at the hate and the anger," I cried.

"Look at the trees and the birds that have died.

Look at the lies and the myths and the fear,

Look at the truths we try hard to unhear."

Most of the neighbors, they went back to bed,

But the children, they listened, and nodded their head;

They listened as one and the wisdom it came,

Forgotten ways shouted, they called them by name;

"Now, Seeing! Now, Blinking! Now, Hearing and Flowing!

On, Feeling! On, Thinking! On, Learning and Growing!

In the commons we'll share! Divided we'll fall!

Walls that we build will imprison us all!"

As dry wisps that before a tradition does die,

When we meet with an obstacle, mount and defy,

Conventional wisdom may be what we knew,

But now we unthink and rethink and redo.

And then, with a crinkling, old guard undermines,

The future is benched, the past redefines.

But I knew in my head as I was turning around,

The wisdom of children will prevail and astound.

The old will die off and the young will refresh,

With thoughts and ideas that will strengthen and mesh;

With kindness and poise they will pick up the slack.

With passion and reason they'll work to give back.

I will join the young! It's too late to be wary!

I will raise up more clatter and be more contrary!

To those droll little mouths drawn up like a bow,

Those imperious looks that think that they know.

That stump of a brain entrenched in old ways,

The fearful adherents hanging on in a daze;

I'll maintain a broad mind! I'll denounce Machiavelli!

I'll steer clear of groupthink and the old underbelly!

No more chubby and plump! No more pompous old elf!

I'll laugh and I'll cry and I'll find a new self!

With a wink and a nod and a twist of their head,

The children will look to the future instead;

Believing they can, and knowing they must,

The children will fill all our stockings with trust.

Obeying the knowing uncertainty knows,

The children, I trust, they will not presuppose;

So perhaps we won't slay our Santa just yet,

Perhaps he still lives through our hearts and our sweat,

And perhaps through our children he'll grow erudite,

I believe in the children. Happy Christmas. Good Night.

Twas two weeks before Christmas, when all through my head,

Not a festive thought stirring, just sadness and dread;

Tick-tockings were going as if Sapiens don't care

That hopes for our future are filled with hot air;

Grown children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

Not thinking, not growing, believing the crap,

All but the ego in a long winter's nap,

Though out on the lawn there's much chaos and clatter,

We dream in our beds like there's nothing the matter.

We don't hear the cries from the people in trouble,

We don't open shutters that may burst our bubble.

Picayune and obsessed we will soon come to know

That our lustre is tarnished, we'll reap what we sow.

And one day to my wondering eyes may appear,

A knowledge that moments before was a fear

A knowledge whose driver's not lively or quick,

But a fear that is furtive and impolitic.

Already from darkness the curses they came,

Fear whistled, and shouted, and cast them by name;

"Unseeing! Unblinking! Unhearing! Unknowing!

Unfeeling! Unthinking! Unlearning! Ungrowing!

To the ends we will scorch! To the ends we will maul!

So dash away! Dash away! Progress must fall!"

As dry crusts that before the malignancy fly,

When we meet with an obstacle, flake and deny.

So up to the ego the curses they flew,

To slay all the truth, to knock futures askew.

And as I am wrinkling, so too is mankind

Survival's suspect, expert thought much maligned.

We make our own truth from what's lying around,

We trust our own instincts, so often unsound.

Mandates dressed as fact from pretentious surmise,

Assumptions all tarnished with dogma unwise;

Unbundling the noise he diverts and distracts,

This monster called Fear he divides and subtracts.

His myths -- how they twinkle, he's simple but wary!

He bleakly imposes and grows more contrary!

He's old as all knowledge, yet knows but one thought,

There's only THIS MOMENT! Next moment's for naught.

The stump of his thinking ensnares you and me,

The future is work but the moment is free;

Implanting ideas in the head and the belly,

The future is scary and sweaty and smelly.

To stay chubby and plump, a right comfy old elf,

The ease of the Now, taking care of myself;

Then a wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Made me recognize what's so far gone unsaid;

Unselfish tomorrows create lots of work,

And this is, it seems, where Fear likes to lurk,

But No! It is not the work that we fear,

But the unavowed threat that my end is near;

Tomorrow's reminder: each day that goes by,

It's one less day to the day that I die.

So we'll live for today, we'll worsen our plight,

Unknowing. Ungrowing. Happy Christmas. Good Night.

Tomorrow's regret is today's fear.

Today's fear is denial:
A desire to ungrow, and unlearn the lessons from the future;
A desire to lay back on soft pine needles, in the comfortable warmth of sunny dispositions and breezy conversations;
A desire to unhear cries for help and pleas for progress;
A desire to unsee wanton disregard and ruinous neglect.

Tomorrow's regret is today's fear.

I do not believe in money. I do not believe in property. I do believe in an organized system to maintain peace, and to care for each other and the world we share. In "this previous post" I advocated for no ownership and proposed an alternative but similar system. I won't rehash the entire post here, but I will give a flavor of the philosophy in the two quotes below:

"Then if we are associated for the sake of liberty, equality, and security, we are not associated for the sake of property; then if property is a natural right, this natural right is not social, but anti-social. Property and society are utterly irreconcilable institutions. It is as impossible to associate two proprietors as to join two magnets by their opposite poles. Either society must perish, or it must destroy property."
--Pierre Joseph Proudhon; (1809 - 1865)

"The first person who, having enclosed a plot of land, took it into his head to say 'this is mine' and found people simple enough to believe him, was the true founder of civil society. What crimes, wars, murders, what miseries and horrors would the human race have been spared, had someone pulled up the stakes or filled in the ditch and cried out to his fellow men: 'Do not listen to this impostor. You are lost if you forget that the fruits of the earth belong to all and the earth to no one!'"
--Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1854

Money and property are imaginary constructs that have bounced around between an organized system of opportunity and a bureaucratic system of ensuring status quo. Today we reside in the latter and this gap between opportunity and control is ever-widening. We are so caught up in divisive politics and pretentious grandstanding that there are no more good guys; there is no more common ground; and in this moment, there is very little societal learning and growth. Today, to be a moderate is to be indecisive; to sell out; to be a coward. But to pick sides is to perpetuate stupidity and ignorance. Yet pick sides, we must: the multi-mega in-your-face industrial size stupidity? Or the burrowing duplicitous contemptuous rat-face ignorance? We must choose the lesser of the evils.

I despise what we have become. And I realize that what we have become did not begin with elections in 2016; nor did it begin with the financial crisis of 2008. We have been working towards what we have become for decades. To give one person or one event all the blame (or credit) is to overcompensate; each one of us have contributed to this problem.

I would like to believe that we have reached the vertex and that our chaotic ineptitude will begin its transformation into energetic abundance; and perhaps the "energetic" piece will prevail sooner, but any sort of universal abundance appears to be some number of decades away. Regardless, we must begin.

And if we must begin with energy, I believe anger to be a fine impetus. I said "here" that I believe we should be angry; and I also said we should have a method to rationally prioritize that anger. If we can learn to consistently practice rational thought, which is most important when listening to the rat-face left or the in-your-face right, (especially if you are an enthusiastic member of the other side), then we have begun the process of transforming anger into energy. And once I have some momentum from consistent rational thought, perhaps I can focus that energy on productive output toward abundance.

If you find yourself agreeing that yes indeed, the other side should absolutely learn to practice rational thought, then you are still contributing to the problem. If you find yourself agreeing that yes indeed, both sides should absolutely learn to practice rational thought, then you are still contributing to the problem. It is only when I say, "I must consistently, in all circumstance, practice rational thought," that we will begin to move toward abundance; knowing that, on our current trajectory, tomorrow's abundance is today's presumption; tomorrow's desire is today's entitlement; tomorrow's despair is today's insolence.

And tomorrow's regret is today's fear.

Grow up!