Selectively Juggling

I no longer view history as a series of disparate events, but rather a complex and highly- nuanced mass of interconnecting and interrelated moments. We can’t look at historical events without framing them contextually – the political and social influences and currents. It’s much like looking at something under a high powered microscope- yes it allows for incredible analysis of what we are looking at. However, it’s essential to zoom or pan out – capturing a wider, less macro-based look at the phenomena under view. We then have to step back even further, casting our view even wider – reframing until be eventually have a bird’s eye view of the unfolding events, the variables, the antecedents and so on.

I feel that we are facing a significant moment in human history. We run the significant risk of reliving and experiencing past social and political traumas and devastation. Or conversely, we could learn collectively from the past terrors – instead working hard to bring about a better outcome. Instead of racism, hate, fear, starvation and attempted genocides – we could strive to bring about peace, humanity, compassion, acceptance and social justice. We live at a time of incredible cognitive dissonance and numbing down of the masses. We could bring about the demise of Demi-god billionaires and multinational corporations, instead reaching for true equity, access and elimination of global suffering. We could see that certain administrations are attempting to resurrect Hitler’s rhetoric and political discourse, attempting to gut humanity and all those who stand in the way. No, this is not hyperbole. Have a serious moment to stop – look around.

I see history as a string of pearls – connected, with each pearl or moment giving value and meaning to the other. It is the human experience, meaning and expectations that act like the string which connects historical moments to the next. There is always a connection, always a thread which cuts to the core.

We need to work together – united in our shared humanity to take down those who are hateful, viciously cruel and insidiously inhumane.