By Mark Antony Rossi
People don’t believe in themselves anymore. Not like they used to a few decades ago. At first I thought it strictly a generational divide issue. But I have found many doubters in my generation (GenX) and realized this negative development is not restricted to age or gender.
The perceptions in the Western World cause millions to accept as fact that it’s institutions are corrupt and failing. It’s religious establishments scandal-ridden cesspools of hopeless hypocrisy. Terrorist organizations recruit members based on these falsehoods. Yet I must remind people that perception is not reality. And you have an obligation to question what you read, see and hear. That includes this article. I welcome it.
What I do not welcome is the self-absorbed faithlessness that is all too common in modern society. The contradiction in terms alone is enough to give one a massive headache. How is it possible to be self-absorbed but lack confidence? How is it possible to adhere to popular myths like astrology and pyramid schemes but remain faithless to the foundations of basic democracy and standard organized religion?
The fingers of blame tend to point to unchecked consumerism. As if material goods have an evil magic attached to them. Bad families are the next target selected followed by discrimination. Yet rarely mentioned is the enormous impact personal responsibility has upon the choices we make. It is entirely possible to set upon a life course of poor choices until a person is rendered faithless in anything and everything.
This culmination of choices is typical and speaks to the heart of the problem: issues of faith tend to stem from the micro: life choices; rather than the macro: societal decay. It certainly not a perfect formula if you reside in a country that truly fails its people on every level. But on a general basis we are the sum of our choices. Only honest reflection and assessment can allow a radical change of course necessary to begin self healing and probably a higher level of community involvement. One of the ironies of life is more connection to the outside world often results in more growth on the inside. The fragile human condition might not be so fragile if we periodically look beyond ourselves.
About the Author: Mark Antony Rossi is a poet, playwright and author of the bioethics volume “Dark Tech” now available from Amazon. His most recent plays have been produced in Liverpool and New York.
http://ethical-stranger.webnode.com/