When Self-Improvement Impedes Social Change
October 11th 2006 11:08
How much alienation, anomie, anxiety, and disintegration must a person endure before the decision is made to seek change? Change, not on a micro- level, but on a macro- level.
While it is easier to create personal changes than social adjustments, such individual work can take a lifetime. Keep a person very busy and focussed on Self.
In this day and age of modern convenience and relative luxury, not to mention the massive and seemingly unapproachable institutions of the culture politic, those longing for macro- change are at a loss.
Activism was driven by passion at one time. Now, it is a business in and of itself. 'Get paid to be an activist', say the want ads. Any cause--"we have them all'.
So the best that many can do is to 'find peace within'. And that is hugely important. Peace is a quality that is severly lacking for many, and this has many a psycho-physiological consequence. So please, find peace when and where you can.
The paradox, though, when it comes to seeking and effecting macro- change, is that there must be unrest. There must be dynamic and alive dis-satisfaction. Likely based on some threat to basic needs of survival.
The alive dis-satisfaction is lacking because there are drugs and other metaphorical opiates to keep the tide down. To quell the surge of discontent, there are many 'things' to acquire. Things with which to play. And then there are also drugs and alcohol, and all that that entails.
It's called living the luxury of the modern life. And the luxury all too often becomes a focus on the Self.
Yet another distraction from engaging in severely needed macro- change.
deorre
While it is easier to create personal changes than social adjustments, such individual work can take a lifetime. Keep a person very busy and focussed on Self.
In this day and age of modern convenience and relative luxury, not to mention the massive and seemingly unapproachable institutions of the culture politic, those longing for macro- change are at a loss.
Activism was driven by passion at one time. Now, it is a business in and of itself. 'Get paid to be an activist', say the want ads. Any cause--"we have them all'.
So the best that many can do is to 'find peace within'. And that is hugely important. Peace is a quality that is severly lacking for many, and this has many a psycho-physiological consequence. So please, find peace when and where you can.
The paradox, though, when it comes to seeking and effecting macro- change, is that there must be unrest. There must be dynamic and alive dis-satisfaction. Likely based on some threat to basic needs of survival.
The alive dis-satisfaction is lacking because there are drugs and other metaphorical opiates to keep the tide down. To quell the surge of discontent, there are many 'things' to acquire. Things with which to play. And then there are also drugs and alcohol, and all that that entails.
It's called living the luxury of the modern life. And the luxury all too often becomes a focus on the Self.
Yet another distraction from engaging in severely needed macro- change.
deorre
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