Inspiring, unbreakable and glamorous; we all have our heroes. They represent something that we aspire to be.
It's the reason we have movies like Rocky, Rambo, Die Hard, The Matrix, or Robocop where the everyday man becomes a hero fighting the oppressive forces around them.
In fiction heroes are exactly who they say they are, but in reality it doesn't seem like it ever is. Why must we believe that these people are something that they are not? No individual human ever really reaches the heights that we attribute to them. It's so much easier to live with the fantasy that the lives of these people are just perfect and that we too can reach this perfection. But I highly doubt this is the case. A recent example would be Obama. People seem to believe he is the answer to the world's problems when it seems to me that he is at the end of the day another politician. The fact that he is black has definitely affected public perception of him, but at the end of the day will he be any different?
But for some reason we expect this. It's the reason so many want to hear miraculous speeches from their politicians. Otherwise we'd never vote for them. So whatever they spout is not based on reality simply because we the voters are not grounded in reality. It's the reason politicians must appear to be happily married and a family guy. But this is hardly ever the reality either.
To quote from the matrix: Do you want the blue pill... or the red pill? 'You take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.' Seems like so many people want that blue pill.
The problem is people aren't living in reality or are living in very selective reality. Like I was saying before, the movie 'The Matrix' is one big allegory to such a situation. Numerous questions like 'what is 'real'?' are asked in this movie.
We may want to believe in heroes who are going to change the world all by themselves, but the reality is that we need to change the world ourselves.
We can all aspire to reach the dreams of many celebrities with ridiculously large houses and an insane amount of vehicles. But once you get there are you really going to be happy purely with all these possessions? Right now it sounds awesome, but once you get there... well you never know right? Then again think of that last product you bought that you thought would be so awesome and life changing? Do you even remember it as much anymore? Are you looking for the next great thing to buy?
That's why the world hasn't changed in its basest operations. Sure things like women's rights and other similar discrimination issues have decreased, but the world constantly perpetuates on its present course.
Rich land and capital owners on top. The masses of regular working people all trying desperately to claw their way to the top to join the elite. The elite on top do everything in their power to perpuate the current system and maintain their position.
Once we get there then we can ensure that our kids and their kids will always remain on top, creating those elite family names. The choice is if you want to follow the system and climb as far high up the mountain as you can or try breaking the system.
Do I have a solution? No. Like Morpheous said 'Remember -- all I am offering is the truth, nothing more.'
Wake up and question. Find the answers even if they are ones we don't like? Or... continue and follow everything, accept everything and live in blissful ignorance. The choice is yours.
Religion answers all questions and prevents any further growth, but its not the only reason. People also desire the security that a convenient truth offers.This is the main reason why things like Communism will never work unless people themselves reach the next level. Such things would work, but collapse like an organised march as soon as one person turns and runs at the first sign of trouble, everything falls apart as more follow.
If you tell yourself anything, it becomes your reality. The question is... do you want to believe whatever you want to, or find the truth no matter what it is?
Interesting post, and I agree. There's a popular quote - "We are the ones we've been waiting for" - I don't know who said it first but I know Obama used it in one of his speeches. I think it's saying that we just need to take the Red Pill once in a while. Personally I don't believe in the benefits of 'blissful ignorance' or 'convenient truth'. I just see it as cowardice.
ReplyDeleteAnd legislation can get rid of lots of obstacles. But at the end of the day, democracy or communism, capitalism or socialism...nothing will progress unless the mindset of the people changes...and that is the biggest obstacle of all.
Interesting indeed.
ReplyDeleteAnd so true about Obama. I couldn't really see what's all the fuss about him... except for the fact that he's black - actually he's not even that, he's only half black.
But yeah, people do like to dream, even when they know perfectly well they are just that - dreams.
And about Matrix, man that is like the best ever movie for me. I mean the concept... that's awesome!
On a side note, I don't agree with you, it's NOT in the same league as Rocky, Rambo, Die Hard or Robocop. It's TOTALLY different.
great post
ReplyDeleteThe matrix rocks dude! It will go down as a defining point in human thought. It brought out the hidden elements in collective psychology out into harsh reality.
ReplyDeleteFOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT BABY! great post
ahhh nice post man!
ReplyDeletewell sometimes you call it following the system, or letting others control you and letting them decide your future...
Taking the red pill or the blue pill, well sometimes i wish i never knew about the redpill, but then again when you start facing the realities and everyday life its a matter of time you get tired of a system and look for change...
interesting.
ReplyDeleteThink Obama is an exception though. There are actually exceptional people throughout history. It's amazing what an individual can do. It's just usually not you or I.
@Pseudo Random: Exactly!
ReplyDelete@Sachintha: I was just listing out movies, The Matrix is way above those other movies I mentioned. But it still does have a hero who rises up against the system.
@DeeCee: Thank You!
@Whackster: Collective Psychology you say? Reminds me of that video on your blog...
@Skullzero: Keep your coins... I want change!
@Indi: Yes there have been. But in one of my previous posts I argued that while exceptional individuals have existed, the effects of others who were vital in their achievements are often downplayed or missed entirely.
Damn right it does. I guess ignorance stems from the same source as violence
ReplyDeleteThe Matrix has always been a favourite of mine since I first watched it. What I remembered most though was the choice between the pills... I used to think about it alot... I found an article about it some time back... Pretty insightful http://www.arrod.co.uk/essays/matrix.php
ReplyDeleteAlso, a mystic poet Attar wrote Conference of the Birds... it's immensely popular among Sufi's... it's about a civilization of birds that are looking for their leader... so this messenger comes along and tells them he's in this far off place and offers to lead them there... they have to travel through seven valleys... each having some specific significance and a challenge... at each point a few fall back and some overcome the obstacles... when they get to the end they find themselves in an empty cave... interestingly they were looking for their leader the Simurgh (mythical bird sort of like a griffin) and Si in Farsi means Thirty and Murgh means Birds... thirty birds stand together inside the cave.
"The Sun of my Perfection is a Glass
Wherein from Seeing into Being pass
All who, reflecting as reflected see
Themselves in Me, and Me in Them: not Me,
But all of Me that a contracted Eye
Is comprehensive of Infinity:
Nor yet Themselves: no Selves, but of The All
Fractions, from which they split and whither fall
As Water lifted from the Deep, again
Falls back in individual Drops of Rain
Then melts into the Universal Main.
All you have been, and seen, and done, and thought,
Not You but I, have seen and been and wrought:
I was the Sin that from Myself rebell'd:
I the Remorse that tow'rd Myself compell'd:
I was the Tajidar who led the Track:
I was the little Briar that pull'd you back:
Sin and Contrition—Retribution owed,
And cancell'd—Pilgrim, Pilgrimage, and Road,
Was but Myself toward Myself: and Your
Arrival but Myself at my own Door:
Who in your Fraction of Myself behold
Myself within the Mirror Myself hold
To see Myself in, and each part of Me
That sees himself, though drown'd, shall ever see.
Come you lost Atoms to your Centre draw,
And be the Eternal Mirror that you saw:
Rays that have wander'd into Darkness wide
Return and back into your Sun subside"
—Attar