i stayed up very late last wednesday (6 january) to follow events in the states and have ever since, as i’m sure a lot of people around the globe did.
i’m also sure i’m not alone when i say that these developments scare me. that’s what the threat of losing democracy will do to you. and let’s not kid ourselves and think this is limited to the states…
it also made me want to share my thoughts on elif shafak’s ‘how to stay sane in an age of division’.
because if it wasn’t abundantly clear before already, that’s the age we currently live in.
a work of hope?
now, this essay-ish booklet of 90 pages was praised as a work of optimism, a work of hope.
unfortunately, i cannot share that sentiment.
shafak is so eloquent in describing the division part that i can only very ineloquently respond with a heartfelt ’duh!’.
for instance, one of her many wise and valid points is that echo chambers dispense people with the need to really listen to each other which will in turn make people feel like they are not being heard.
it also dispenses them from acquiring true knowledge and wisdom. and when i look at those rioters oblivious to the meaning, gravity and consequences of their terrorist acts, i see that point confirmed.
no easy answers for complex situations
when it comes to the staying sane part, however, i felt disappointed.
as complex situation don’t have easy answers, i don’t know what i expected in the first place.
certainly not a quick self-help book style plan that resolves tension and lets the reader slip back into their comfortable world of denial.
so my take from this book is, at some point, we all have to chose.
chose what we believe in, chose to stand up for what we believe in and chose to get to work and get it done.
which is something i totally agree with.