Has it ever occured to you as to why we are so scared at times, who wants us to be scared and whether we should even care? Indeed, many of us have found modern life a frightening thing as we are exposed to a plethora of challenges with only a paucity of assistance. We're made to stand up for ourselves and that inputs fear. Fear - like joy and anger - are basic emotions inherent in all who call themselves human. This very face of fear is universal - we all recognise the gaped jaw, tensed facial muscles, wide-eyed look across barriers of language, race religion and sex.
We may feel blissed that we are amongst the blessed 25% who reside in the luxurious developed world - arguably living in some of the BEST times in human history. Everything seems good for the taking in the 21st century with a higher standard of living and new technological frontiers people can engage in. Plus global wealth has NEVER been greater. Yes, we all claim there's nothing to fear for bread and butter will be laid out on the table in this time of age regardless of any circumstances. Ironically, this uniquely First World phenomenon has been dubbed the 'Culture of Fear'. Our old fears are being renewed and these new fears are made known to us by politicians, activist and our very popular - media.
There's indeed so many things for us to fear. For one, the possibility of a new disease or plague to destroy us all ( mutating them so that they become more resilient with more virulent strains of pathogens that can bypass our immune systems ). Two, global warming will melt all the ice-caps (ok, lets not get too hysterical over this but the sea level HAS been rising ever since the end of the last ice age). And three, a major power failure WILL reduce society to chaos ( its not so much about external threats but very much within us all that our sense of greed and self-preservation will lead all Man to destroy himself)
Afterall, the worse thing is that FEAR always seeks a convenient enemy to play scapegoat.
We search high and low for something that will be able to relieve us from the tension of having nobody to blame and justify for our existence of imperfection and failure. And when we let our fears take to their extreme, the disinterest in fundamental notions of justice and disregards for the need of public debate will reside. Fear seeks those who are already ( or are tending towards ) marginalized. Prejudice, hostility and discrimination emerge.
I'm indeed fearful of my future. Despite the transition from flints and spears to fast food and intelligent warfare; with the future powered by knowledge, knowledge of the cognitive elite, i feel even more insecure over what is to come. 'Embrace the future' this phrase has been resounding in my head for as long as i can remember. But the question is i do not even know what i want to do or what i CAN do in time to come.
We have all 'morphed' from the rogue descendents of apes to the current highly cognitive, socially and morally spurred creatures. Yes, creatures. that only leaves us ( or at least me, for that matter ) less uncertain of the road ahead. They say that the key in our future lies in our ability to capitalise on the intelligence and conscience that distinguishes us from beasts. But in god's name, how many of us actually have?
All that said, what is your fear?
Max(*ps: this entry brought me back to the time when we had this 'intelligent' debate of everything under the sun, the night in pulau ubin when we actually put aside our jokes and laughter and got down to serious discussion. ha, time flies.)
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