learning

Sometimes it seems that the world is running in reverse gear. The search for knowledge and improvement, as a species, grinding to a halt. Meanwhile, old-fashioned beliefs are coming back to the fore.

Whether it be the return to religious fundamentalism, isolationism or authoritarian rule, there is a movement happening. It is a small movement, for now, but is has a wide appeal.

In the West, people call it populism, but doesn’t every politician wish to be popular? Doesn’t populism just mean pandering? Pandering to the masses. But the problem is, where do the masses get their information from? Can their opinions be trusted? Now this isn’t me calling people stupid, but there is a mass of misinformation out there. None of us are immune, we must be on our guard.

Whatever you may think of countries, and regimes, such as China and Russia, they are run by intelligent people. These people know what they want, and how to get it. Unfortunately other countries, like The United Kingdom and The United States of America, are not quite so organised. Pandering to popular attitudes and fears is at the root of both countries problems.

Britain went for Brexit, with no clear plan of how to achieve it. Now it is floundering, not wishing to reverse course, but just circling the waters, seemingly hoping to run into an idea or solution.

Meanwhile, in America, chaos reigns. A powerful country run by, what? Opinion is split as to whether he is stupid, senile or both. Certainly he is totally lacking in understanding, both of policy and people. A man with no heart, who believes he is the boss and everyone should jump.

So, what do we do? We can all fight our own corner, stand up to ignorance and abhorent ideas. Welcome enquiry and suspicion. Think, before the monsters creep up behind us and it is too late.

via Daily Prompt: Enlighten

Do you remember when learning was so much fun? Learning how to throw stones is very different to, let’s say, particle physics. But, at the same time, the joy of knowledge should be the same.

Watching my children learn and enquire about the world around them gives me energy for the search too. The search for knowledge, or for something new. A new angle, viewpoint, or sight.

At the moment, my kids are both keen photographers. My son wants to know what every button does on his new camera. It is difficult to actually slow him down, so he learns the basics first.

When you are a child, you want to understand everything. How does it work? Why do we do that? But, as adults, this seems to stop. We become happy to accept the world as it is, and never question. I believe this is the biggest fight for all adults, to stop this descent into lethargy. Keep fighting up that intellectual hill. It is never ending and has no summit, but it is a beautiful journey.

Tag: learning

The Age of Benightedness