It is quite funny--o tragic to say the least-- to think that we
are a race that inherited kids. Your forefathers believe in this and their
forefathers believe in that and eventually, those beliefs will be forced on
you, eventually making you the next victim. So much for living in a free and
democratic system! Well, he you look at it, some of the lies-- half-baked or
fully orchestrated--became other people's truth; it is much like saying one
person's trash is another person's treasure. Because truth, the face value of
truth can be considered as wealth to most people. It is what defines
integrity-- after all, a concept is just a version of another concept,
depending on how it is used, depending on intension.
Forces have two poles, as it was inculcated to us: the positive
and negative, the light and the dark, the evil and good. We are too inclined to
grouping concepts according to these opposing poles. Actually, it is not about
thinking that all concepts can be justified by being labelled either of the
two. If we look at reality, we are caught between impetus of intentions; we are
being manipulated by the appearance of reality. When we look down with contempt
on our fellow human being because they sinned differently from us, we think
that our religious side is being justified, rendering us holier than thou.
Well, that is how some fabricated lies are formed into a shadow of veracity.
Too pathetic if I dare say so myself.
We are beings who accept what is served before us; we do not
contemplate on it. One thought, one's conforming would become a culture;
culture, more often than not, is not refuted. The precepts are accepted without
our consenting on its relevance. We merely accept. I remember something I read:
one would come up to the conclusion that one plus one is equal to two, another
would accept that truth without even asking questions and will compel to other
that, indeed, one plus one is equal to two. A teacher told me to give reasons a
benefit of doubt. And doubting presupposes awareness. You cannot doubt something
if you are not aware that it is wrong. Then, if so, why did one plus one become
two? What we know or grew up in becomes our general truth. We fear to question
it lest we would be labelled haters of mankind. Being human requires being able
to accept. No? This is far better: being human requires being able to doubt. We
have to learn to set a standard for ourselves. We live in the shadows of
others. We accept things as they are. Come to think of it, do we still think?
Is Rene Descartes justified when he said cogito ergo sum-- I live therefore I
exist? Again, the glint of awareness is cast upon a shadow of doubt. We may
think that we think but never thought that other people made up think that we
do think. It is the greatest deception of all: to believe in something a system
has fabricated.
On the other hand, I am not contesting that the mundane world--
with all its flaws and glories-- is a system of fabricated lies. We should only
be aware that the truth, a harmless little fly, may be caught up in its convoluted
web and be gobbled up by a manipulating spider.
Our culture is dominantly an
"I-command-you-to-do-this" kind of culture. We just listen to what we
are commanded; and the silent orders-culture, that is--are composed of orders
we are not questioning. Transgressing these unwritten laws would bring forth
shame, hence, a shame-oriented culture controls our every note. Again, the
benefit of doubt. We are in the position to question established norms. As I
said: we live in a society that tells us all transgression is a sin. Something
sinister. It contains us, thus, we fear to question. We fear to go against the
flow. Cynicism has no place in us all. Why--for our self-preservation's sake--
consider everything a lie then prove what is real in the process.
Our agnostism is not a way of life but a concrete evidence that
we seek the truth. If we doubt, we give ourselves a free gift of finding out
the best way to live life. It should not be subjected to a lie or deception
made for the benefit of others. We need to think. Acceptance is utter surrender
to something. This generation is led into a compulsion so great, no one ever
dared question it. If we stand our ground to see what is beyond the veil of
subterfuge. Maybe then, a new revolution would befall. Let up open our minds to
the veracity of our existence; it is our right. A right long taken from up by
the self-proclaimed gods and masters.
