Buzz
Whenever we come across heart-wrenching news about an animal harming its own young, a disturbed individual holding someone captive for years, or a despicable person swindling others' hard-earned savings, our skepticism grows, we become more distant, and, to some degree, we lose touch with our humanity.
These events aren't our fault; unfortunately, they become ingrained in the fabric of our lives, mingling with other experiences to shape how we perceive the world. A life filled with positivity likely leads to a positive outlook, while constant exposure to negativity results in a darker one. We all exist somewhere between these two extremes, in the varying shades between light and darkness.
Many of us reading this have much to be grateful for and, in theory, should be among the happiest people alive. But we aren't, and the situation doesn’t seem to be improving. Much of this stems from our sense of entitlement, expecting everything without offering much in return. We’ve lost the satisfaction of accomplishment, of enjoying the intangible reward that comes from a job well done or helping others.
How did we transition so quickly from being part of the 'greatest generation' to this entitled one? Below are some factors to consider, many of which are unique to our time and feed off each other.
7. Emotional Numbing
I recall the first time I watched Dawn of the Dead (the original), I struggled to watch the “flesh-eating scenes” without flinching. The first time I saw Reservoir Dogs, I couldn’t sit through the cop torture scene in one go. And of course, Deer Hunter left the words “Didi Mau” echoing in my mind for weeks after I saw it.
Now, I’m largely immune to any kind of disturbing visual stimuli, whether real or fictional. I have become desensitized, and society as a whole has too, albeit to varying degrees. Consider the societal reaction to the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and murder and compare it to today’s more indifferent response to far worse cases of parental abduction and murder. It becomes clear what I’m referring to.
Be it violence in our schools or public spaces, the growing disrespect towards women and children through violent or depraved pornography, the impulsive way we engage in wars, or our complete lack of compassion for starving children whose only crime was being born in the wrong time or place, I genuinely worry about the next generation’s apathy. With the rise of the Internet, we are like children with a new toy, more preoccupied with its constant use than considering its effect on us, our society, and our humanity. Ratings seem to take precedence over our moral compass, and the damage it causes to our core beliefs, and subsequently, our perspective on humanity. It only worsens because the worst of humanity often garners the highest ratings, and our inhumanity is what generates what we desire most—money, our ultimate deity.
6. Terror
If you want to persuade someone to do something they wouldn't normally do, the key is to instill fear. Fear remains a dominant tool of control used by those in power, although it's often concealed in various forms. One of the most common 'fear disguises' is the phrase 'The war on.' The war on drugs, the war on terrorism, the war on women, on religion, on patriotism, on democracy, and so on. Whenever we hear the word 'war,' we instinctively feel that our safety is in jeopardy. 'War' is a term used too casually today; we have no true understanding of its impact or the immense toll it takes. But it's an effective word to provoke an immediate emotional reaction and maintain control over the masses.
There are other words that have come to be linked with fear, and we hear them constantly. Villains, unstable economy, threat levels, extremists, pedophiles, drug users, etc. When fear takes hold, we often become passive, and that's exactly what 'they' want. Fear your neighbors, fear your teachers, fear your government, fear the police, lock your doors and hope you make it through another day.
We are ‘afraid’ of losing our country, our rights, our jobs, our freedoms. But the real battle, if we were to end all the other wars I’ve mentioned, should be simple: Let’s wage a war against ignorance, the true source of all fear, and make peace with everything around us. Of course, there will always be some conflict, and fear does serve a purpose at times. But we have turned fear into a science, no longer just a reactive survival instinct, but a tool of control whose sole purpose is to keep the flames of fear and ignorance burning at all times.
5. Materialism
Our sense of self-worth has become closely tied to the possessions we own. To 'succeed' in life, you need status, which is often measured by the car you drive, the neighborhood you reside in, the phone in your hand, the shoes on your feet, and the vacations you take. No longer is a person’s life measured by the quality of their relationships or their reputation, it’s all about what you have, and more crucially, what others do not have.
I was walking with my 3-year-old son not long ago when we passed a discarded McDonald's French fry container. Without missing a beat, my son began singing the ‘baba ba ba ba… I’m lovin’ it’ jingle, in a sweet little voice. Now, he doesn’t watch TV commercials, and the children’s channel we subscribe to has none, but somehow he had heard that jingle enough to form an association with the McDonald’s logo, triggering a Pavlovian response to an entirely accidental visual cue. This, my friends, is incredibly powerful. We often fail to realize just how much we’re being manipulated. From the moment we’re able to see and hear, we are targeted as consumers. And because it's so pervasive, we stop noticing it. But make no mistake, they haven’t stopped targeting us. It’s so influential that we casually spend six bucks on a daily coffee, even though, on some level, we know that people are starving. I’m willing to bet that if a starving child were sitting next to the Starbucks register, you wouldn't ignore her the way you do now—most of you wouldn't. But distance allows us to rationalize the situation: out of sight, out of mind. And they’ve even taken our empathy into account, offering us the chance to 'help' by sponsoring a child for a few dollars a month or donating to some faraway charity or to UNICEF on Halloween. These are convenient coping mechanisms we’ve created. While they fall far short of addressing the true issues of starvation and poverty in a society flush with resources, they do just enough to make us feel better about ourselves and continue as obedient consumers, buying products from the very people we choose to overlook.
A byproduct of this reality is that we tend to only recognize the true value of relationships and people—over things—once they start to slip away. Unfortunately, we often learn this lesson too late. Or we learn it on our deathbeds, reflecting on our lives, our choices, and our priorities. Only then do we experience regret. They let us come to this realization because, by this stage, our role and value as consumers is over. Trust me, though, if they could sell you the afterlife, they absolutely would. But since religion has a monopoly on that industry, they make do with what they have: our living years.
4. Innovation
The past 50 years have brought more technological progress than the previous 5,000, and it’s only accelerating. The primary driver for new technology is profit, but unfortunately, the potential short- and long-term consequences of these innovations often take a backseat to their immediate profitability. How often have we only recognized the negative effects of new technology after it’s too late? How many times have we been aware of the potential harm a new product could bring, and still decided to release it anyway?
Our social fabric is being radically transformed. In some ways, it’s a blessing, but in others, it’s a curse. Regardless, the drive to profit always seems to overshadow our need to evaluate the risks of these technological leaps. How is this affecting our ability to communicate meaningfully, in a world where texting has replaced face-to-face conversations? How will this impact our ability to interact in real-world environments, to truly understand our neighbors—both near and far? Our capacity for genuine communication seems to be regressing in favor of more convenient, less intrusive methods. But as long as people keep upgrading their phones, their browsers, their social media statuses, no one seems interested in questioning the potential harm technology might be doing to our society and our ability to truly connect with each other. There’s simply no profit in it.
A glaring example of technology gone awry is nuclear weaponry. I understand it ended a devastating war far sooner than conventional methods could have, potentially saving millions of lives. But since then, we’ve lived with the constant threat of nuclear destruction, and we could easily wipe ourselves out because of it. If we had known then what we know now—about dirty bombs, terrorism, rogue states, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and its failure to secure all of its nuclear arsenals—would we have ever created such a device capable of obliterating everything? We are the first species with the power to completely annihilate itself; is that something we should be proud of? Didn’t we understand enough about human nature to foresee this possibility?
3. Governance
For humans and most animals, the need to belong is as vital as air or water. Whether part of a sports team, a religious group, or a political party, there’s a deep sense of satisfaction in being surrounded by others who share your values and interests. Politics has exploited this need and turned it into an absolute. You’re either on our side or against us—liberal or conservative. There’s no room for compromise anymore, as the results of elections affect every facet of society. Corporate contributions, lobbyists, religious figures, and the media all have a direct stake in political outcomes. The true spirit of politics, the core reason for democracy, has nearly vanished.
I recall the first time I read the Constitution of the United States, marveling at how those who had so little information could understand human nature well enough to craft such a profound document. Today, it’s equally surprising how, with all the information available to us, we’ve regressed in our ability to provide citizens with the rights and opportunities they deserve, no matter their race, faith, or political beliefs.
Politics has devolved into a power struggle fueled by misinformation, fear, and intimidation. What’s worse is our passive acceptance of this as the status quo, too frightened to speak out, too intimidated to challenge it, too willing to choose a side or disengage entirely. The United States has never been so divided, with emotions often overriding reason. True representation in government is slipping away, drowned out by special interest groups that help elect representatives who champion their agendas. But we accept it, play the game, pick our team, and stand firm, all while real progress eludes us.
In many ways, this is exactly what we desire. And by 'WE,' I don’t refer to the influential power brokers, politicians, or media moguls. 'WE' refers to any of us who has been exposed to and fallen victim to fear, pain, hatred, or power, because every human being can and will eventually be affected by these forces. This is why we have a Bill of Rights, a Constitution, and laws that govern our nations. It is why no one individual or group should have the power to erode the foundation of our intellectual growth. We must recognize that we are all, in essence, two people: the person and the citizen. And while we are entitled as a species, it is only when we embrace both roles that we realize the true path to safety and happiness is by ensuring others have the same opportunities and quality of life, regardless of where they are from, their religious views, or their political leanings.
In conclusion, understanding these mitigating influences enables a person to become 'self-aware.' This means being able to see the broader picture and recognize these influences for what they truly are, rather than blindly accepting them as truth. Only by shedding these self-serving influences can we fully grasp the potential of humanity and continue to evolve as a species.
2. The End of Life
The ultimate fear, mortality compels us to slow down and look at car accidents, fueling high ratings on the news because it offers a glimpse into what is inevitable and beyond our control, no matter how intelligent or wealthy we are. It’s a topic on all our minds, whether we are religious or not, and it feels like it’s speeding toward us at an overwhelming pace—at least that’s how we’re led to think. But it’s not that urgent. Spend an hour with my mother-in-law, and you'll realize just how much time we truly have. The fear of death is a driving force behind religion, consumerism, technology, and many other aspects of our lives. While sometimes we can expect death, most of the time, it’s unexpected—and as a self-aware species, we dislike that unpredictability. So, we develop coping mechanisms to manage our fear of mortality, whether that’s striving to extend our life or by imagining an afterlife, the 'carrot' that forms the basis of our religious beliefs.
Our obsession with the idea of death has become so overwhelming that we forget to fully appreciate the time we have. This realization often comes too late. It's ironic how we are consumed by the one thing that is completely beyond our control. It’s a natural human response, yes, but it can be balanced by focusing on the value of the life we live, rather than fixating on the inevitable end that awaits us.
1. The Decline of Faith
Ah, religion, a powerful source of misinformation, often born from ignorance and perpetuated through fear and intolerance.
Yet, it also served as a vehicle for moral education (think of the Ten Commandments and similar teachings). By the time I graduated, I understood the importance of treating others as I wished to be treated. That said, it was just one of many paths that could have led to the same understanding, without the complications inherent to religious doctrines.
In my country, religion is evolving into a form of philosophy, where it truly belongs. The government has banned the teaching of religious doctrine in public schools. This shift has temporarily created a gap in moral education, as we had traditionally depended on either the educational system or the church to provide those teachings.
My children are now required to take a 'religion and ethics' class that covers various religious beliefs without focusing on any single one. The course looks at deities, religious customs, traditions, attire, symbols, and more. This approach helps reduce ignorance and fosters greater tolerance among diverse groups. It also offers moral principles that are inclusive of all beliefs, unlike religion, which tends to exclude those who don't share the same faith.
I find it astounding that some religious individuals believe that without faith, people would have no moral compass, no direction, no incentive to show kindness to others. As if religion were the sole motivator to guide us toward mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. The truth is that, at our core, we are all the same. Religion often separates us, but our shared humanity is what binds us. It demands that we abandon universal values aimed at improving lives, all in favor of promises of reward in a mythical afterlife. Most of us have evolved to a point where differences like skin color, appearance, disabilities, language, culture, and geography no longer divide us. Religion is simply the last remnant of our species' primitive beliefs, and we seem to be shedding this ancient superstition.
