A society in conflict or confused?

It is common to attribute the source of ones problems to a third party. Rarely do one sees himself as the root cause of his miseries. It is always a case of, I have done my best but due to persons x I have not been able to fully utilize my potential and leap my benefits. Yet, we are cautious to take that initial step of owning our issues and reflect on the best way forward. 

Taking a different perspective is never an option. Apportioning blame and excuses happens to be the easiest route of escape. Sometimes we cling onto false hopes, wishing that things will somehow work out for us, sometimes to the extent of leaving it at the hands of a power beyond the realm of human ability.

From politics, churches, schools, homes, streets etc., we are all suspicious of the others.  Despite not being able to precisely define, who are these others that are an obstacle to our ultimate joy.  The obsession with the perception that others are impending your progress and ultimate joy is pegged on false premises. Can it explain why it is always appealing to seek compensation, even where evidence exists that such acts won’t change one’s life wholly or for the better? It may be due to the realization of a false sense of self-importance. The feeling that your view and perspective of issues is always right and the fear of giving ground to others points of view; not acknowledging and appreciating individuals’ diversity and uniqueness. We fail to appreciate the immense potential in each individual. We have failed to understand and recognize the diverse individuals’ potentials that can be harnessed and brought to work in harmony. 

Do we reflect on our actions and imagine maybe, maybe there could be another better way to do things? A case in point is why would an educationist advice parents to monitor their children when they come home for a weeklong break? That parents should try to supervise school work so that the children may not forget what they learnt in school. For starters, this is a break from the usual school work and in fact they shouldn’t engage in any school work. Furthermore, a good learning session should aim for a permanent transformation; life time learning. That learning should aim at changing ones’ thinking permanently. That even after leaving school no one, least of all the teacher, should fear that one will end up looking uneducated.

It is thus sad to see an educator negatively punishing a pupil simply because he went for a 3 week school break and did not finish school work at home. How would it be if we were to take home work to finish at school or place of work? Why does the teachers’ system feels obligated to change the society alone, without incorporating the inputs of all in society?

The schooling system should strive for an education or learning that creates self-driven individuals who can leave the schooling system confidently at any given point, and continue learning unsupervised throughout their life time. It should be a life defining education that aims to transform one wholly. One should be entirely transformed into a better person. Otherwise there is no need of going to school.

But looking at the prevailing social ills and misery, one would think twice about the nature of the social systems, structures and institutions currently in place. The school might be the best mechanism or institution to change the society together with the local leadership and a far-seeing dynamic political goodwill. Unfortunately irrational conflicts impede this. A political leadership that lay great emphasis on rewarding and recognizing scholarly input from its citizens will go a long way in changing the philosophy in the schooling system. The key stakeholders will no longer regards each other as conflicting interests but as a team with a clear common goal; a better humanity. Emphasis will no longer be on excelling in exams but in a transformative learning. Learning that will unleash the creativity, critical thinking, the problem solving abilities and other potentials in the unique individuals. 

The importance of each individual’s role in the society will be the main focus and not how far one can perform in the so called standard exams that resemble a standard race in the wild, supervised by king lion, that requires each animal to compete in a tree climbing race. Of course, only the cunning monkeys will win. The rest will be considered failures and losers and relegated to the dustbin of social justice until a revolution occurs. The bottom line is that each individual is unique and relevant to the bigger picture in transforming humanity.

Preserving 'good image' or just being dishonest?

Today a number of people and institutions thrive on high levels of dishonesty. Surprisingly, higher learning and religious institutions seems to be on the apex of insincerity or dishonesty by the look of events appearing on print and electronic media. A close look into interactions and exchanges in social media reveals a sad story on the height of dishonesty (these are people who are highly schooled and attend a religious institution/gathering at least every week).

We are dishonest even unto oneself. Why? So as not to hurt others? Do we fear if we say the truth we shall hurt or disappoint? Are we motivated to be dishonest since we have a ‘good image’ to protect?  People of ‘high moral’ integrity will go to great lengths to cover the shocking truth (read dishonesty) so as to protect their ‘good image’. Parents, teachers, pastors, priests, politicians, churches, schools etc. will be dishonest so as to maintain the ‘good image’. Unfortunately the guilty conscious will consistently bother them but eventually they find it is normal to be dishonest. The so called, weaklings, the filthy and the wretched of the earth; least schooled, down trodden, filthy poor, (thieves are not in these category since they end up being role models of the world) etc. are among the most honest persons. We cannot forget the children who are the weakest and the most sincere beings in the world. If we can be like children!

Our response to current political, religion, economic,environment, and social issues reflect a society that is not sincere with itself, yet it expect high levels of integrity among its many facets. It is ironical but you will be surprised (if you are learned or religious) to find that people with little or no formal education, and people whom are less religious or are not church goers are the most sincere and free from any pretense. They are the ones who will express their genuine feelings; be it good or bad feelings towards any issues or personalities. They lack pretense and are always ready to air their opinions without coating them for the sake of good personal relationships so as to look civilized, Christian or schooled.

The blame games seen all over are a clear indication of how dishonesty we are with our own selves. It looks ridiculous when one schooled persons blames an institution, when their homes are flooded; yet they constructed them in a river valley in broad daylight. Unless the house was meant to be a hovercraft such that in case of flooding it auto fly, then let you not be surprised by raging floods. Water always follow it course.  Let us listen to expert opinions. And talking of experts, why is it that institutions of higher learning cannot be centers of excellence even in the fields they profess to train the society in? The institutions do offer course in management yet they seems to be struggling in management. We have professors who are ‘expert’ in the fields of sociology, conflict resolutions, disaster management, financial management, planning name it, and yet the same institutions are in dire needs of these services. The institutions are in a pathetic situation, as far as these essential services are concerned. Is it a paradox of the world or is it that we are unable to interrogate our actions? Is it a state of mind or are we not educated enough? Does it make sense to spend 24 years or a quarter a century in school and yet we cannot solve a simple problem like digging drain waters along roads, ensuring the drains are not blocked, building culverts to allow water to pass etc.? Is it worthy to invest in education or churches and yet you are not sincere, honesty?

It all boils to lack of love to your neighbor. A simple act of kindness, sincerity and love to the person next to you, can go a long way to make life comfortable for everybody. How many of us throw sweets rappers or empty water bottles out of the car’s window and yet get surprised when drains are blocked by the same bottles?  Why do we vote in ridiculous leaders and yet expect changes from them? Although one can conclude that bad leaders are elected by equally bad voters. 

What have you done to make your current environment better for you? Start with where you are now and don’t wait for somebody else, do it, and see how the world will change. If you don’t need something don’t get. Learn to share the little you have and you will find that you will never lack. The world has enough for everybody. 

Conformity Vs Individuality

A number of us fear change or a suspicious of it. Suspicious of the source of change. We are afraid of the unknown. What awaits us if the status quo change? We are comfortable and hence do not what to rattle the comfort we are 'enjoying' even if it is an illusion or its leading us nowhere. We fear thinking outside the main stream thought-line. We stick to the well trodden path and never dare or imagine diverting from the main path or venturing outside. Is it because we fear being labeled? or is it out of fear of rejection. You really do not want to feel lonely and abandoned. We want to be like chicks under the comfort and warmth of the hen's wings.

If the group decides to go west, (read as,  if the leader of the group decides to go west), you fear pointing out that it is more beneficial to head otherwise or stay put. Majority of the group members will see you as a distractor since you are not conforming to the group's ideologies. Your individuality will be tested. Even if within the group there may be a minority who sees your view of thought but will not openly air their opinions and hence end up conforming.

Just as in politics, education, religion, economy and virtually all aspects of life, majority are blinded by the ideologies of their dominant leader and have no time to interrogate such ideas or lack of. The leader maybe in a position to manipulate the thinking of the group due to his perceived  advantages of the rest in terms of say his economic status, education, social status and background, physique (beauty), charisma, origin, ethnicity, race, religion among many others.

Trying to interrogate the line of thinking of the mob may be meant by a myriads of obstacles. Some sensible and other utterly illogical and nonsensical.

So, what next? Even the most schooled, (maybe less educated), will always use theories to justify their conformity at the altar of individuality. Terming unique individuality as a form of abnormality. Hence, do you want to conform and enjoy a sense of belonging. Safety in numbers. Or do you want to air your individuality by pointing things out that you feel are out of sync with the sensible, not necessarily to change their line of thinking but just to let them know you are different and do respect their uniqueness too?

Some of the great ideas and inventions that have changed the world were initiated or were a creation of people who believed in their individuality even when they faced open rejection from the main stream majority.

Reflect on some and interrogate conformity vs individuality.

Take the risk and assume the next person is good

We should take the risk of assuming that children are always full of good intention. We should not always assume that one is evil or likely to do wrong. Suppose we take the risk of assuming that all drivers are good? Is there a probability that we can easily eliminate the incidents of car crashes, traffic snarl-ups that are due to not being courteous? How can we do away with pride, self-importance, and I-am-always-right attitude? Humility can change the way we relate to other people and bring a sense of satisfaction to one-self. A humble personality can change the face of humanity. Try to be humble today. Take the risk of assuming the next person is obviously full of good intentions. Do not be proud that others should respect you because of your position in the society. Be anonymous, and say no to the spirit of self-importance and disrespectful attitude and see how your day will proceed. Let the story of a local primary school head who took the risk of placing tissue papers in students’ washrooms, inspire you. People advised him that it was not wise since the pupils would steal the tissue rolls, but he took the risk that children are always innocent and good people. He believed that he has a God given call to help the child to discover his potential and it will be so unfortunate if somebody already have a preconceived mentality that children are thieves. It negate the whole purpose of letting our children go to school. He proved them wrong. This testimony brought to mind why is it that there are no tissue rolls in public universities washrooms whereas you will encounter clean washrooms in private universities? Is it a reflection of what kind of human relations exists in the two institutions?