I watched Dark Knight on dvd this morning. I couldn't really get my mind off it since watching it in the cinemas. A side of me that I have kept largely repressed in order to function and conform as much as I can to this charade called polite civilisation can relate on so many levels to The Joker. I think he cannot be more right on a lot of his philosophies towards life. Secretly, (well, not so secret now that I've got it written out on my blog) I could not agree with him more.
Recently, I had a short and abrupt conversation with a friend about the state of civilisation destruction she thinks we're currently in. She believes the state of the world is getting worse and that there doesn't seem to be hope in the horizon. I always sense her frustration and suspected that her optimism for humanity has been stretched too thinly over the decades. Whether or not her frustrations are a recent thing, I don't know. There is not one proper way to disagree on such a deeply personal and complex subject as one's opinion of the state of the world.
First of all, we have to realize that none of us see the world as it is - unless you can claim to be a Glass Eye to the world and have perfect clarity which no doubt comes with divinity. - We see the world as who we are. If we are someone who has been frustrated, let down - then that is our worldview of the world as well.
I am very optimistic about my country and the world at large. The way I see it, no point in time has the good guys had a playing field as level as now. Technology has taken away most of the bad guys' advantage of time and position. Today, for the first time, the good word, the inspirations, the morals and the stories can reach more literate people and to make believers out of people than any time in history. Today, TRUTH is given a fertile ground with the information revolution.
No doubt some are pessmistic and say that the evildoers have equal access to these technologies and weapons of mass proliferation of thoughts and ideas. But lest you ignore the fact, evildoers are enterprising people who, in all times thorughout history, will always be ahead of the curve in terms of psychology and technology of the times. The difference is that, today, there are enough literate people who can connect and form a more cohesive league of their own. No other time than now and the future has the odds look much better for the good guys.
I was trying to tell my friend that the problem with most people (like her) who consider themselves do-gooders is that there seems to a false sense of superiority or worth they associate with themselves which sets them apart and above others. Just because we choose to do less harm does not make us better human beings. It just makes us less inhumane. And it is because of this false sense of "I'm the good guy", that people like my friend(s) have a false idea that things ought to be perfect and right at all times just because it is supposed to be so. Freedom is fought for and defended, not existing just because it is more convenient.
I have a philosophy that the reason good guys lose is because we're always two steps behind. On top of that, we don't think like a criminal; we don't have a can-do attitude. A robber looks at a bank with its security and systems and the laws that spell out punishments for armed robbery and he doesn't say, "I can't do it...it's too hard. The walls are too thick, the guards are armed, the police will be on the scene in less than 5 minutes, it's too dangerous, the vault is reinforced..it's just impossible, I'll lose my job, my family, etc."
But that's exactly the sort of attitude most people have. They complain and complain about what other people are doing and not doing. They never think about what it would require them to risk if they wanted to change. They complain about a schooling system which they support by surrendering authority to the schools and teachers. They complain about having to work at a job they hate, stay in a relationship or family that's dysfunctional, so on and so forth.
But the truth is this : Unlike the bank robber, none of you are willing to risk everything for something you believe you and those you love, deserve. And as you believe, you create what you believe. So while we have a bunch of people wasting their energy complaining about things they conformed to without being held at gunpoint, the powers-that-be continue with the policies that keep all of you in place, spinning the wheel of life.
Just imagine 2 robbers holding a room of 20 hostages. What's helping the good guys win? It is the fact that not a single person is willing to risk his or her life for others. If 20 kamikaze soldiers were in that room, those 2 robbers would not have a choice. Like hostage holders, the powers and the systems that are in place are meant to keep everybody in fear. Systems are not meant to benefit people; their very existence was meant to exploit. So there is no use complaining because that was what a system was meant to do in the first place.
The only way you're ever going to make this world a better place is to understand that systems and authority were created, rules were created. Criminals don't play by the rules, which makes them very effective. They only play by the rules they draw up for themselves, a code of ethics, if you might call it, which aims to protect and enhance their functionality and efficiency in performing and delivering their purpose.
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