Olsim: The flock

THIS world of the social media, which has invaded most aspects of our lives, can really be a dangerously crazy thing. Hence, I’m slowly starting to learn how to swiftly hit exit if only to avoid the toxicity of trolls and human ignorance.

Amid the “open-mindedness” of dark-humor, flat-earthers, conspiracy-theorists, fake news, and paid-propagandists, are naive people who would readily believe in them without question.

The flock would go to whichever it is led to, even in a deep ravine to their demise. The world is not new to those events; from mass-suicides committed by cult members for absurd reasons, to conflict and wars instigated by propaganda and misinformation by those in power – “the Jews are evil, let us massacre all of them”, “the blacks are a slave race”, etc.

The flock is systematically mind-controlled not only by insecure-states, but also by giant corporations through clever marketing campaigns – “To be cool, have this”, “To be happy, buy this”. To deviate from those artificial demands of such culture industry will make one an outcast.

Similarly, to dissent from the politics of the state, even under the peaceful exercise of democracy, is seen as an act of terrorism. With such oppressive economics and politics, are we really free? Or are we really just a herd waiting to be butchered in this short and insignificant life?

Sorry for this column’s momentary depressing turns. To an average salary-man’s day of hassle and bustle, days are turning from bad to worse; increased gas prices, increased taxi fares, increased prices of goods, increased stress and tension from increased environmental degradation, heightened political division, and even this chaotic world of social-media. The gods in power should come down from their golden thrones and experience for themselves what we, smaller people, experience every day.

When a person is economically and politically pressed to submission, there might not be any way out than to surrender to the master as a common sheep: follow the flock if only to take part of the green grasses and survive. That is, if you are a sheep.

-o0o-

When we were kids, we were taught to do good and always act for the good since history will always judge us. We were taught to uphold the truth since the truth will always come out in the end. We were taught to be human and act as a human above mechanical rules – to emphasize and sympathize because we are human. We were taught to speak out amid injustices and wrong – to tell the Emperor that he has no clothes, even when his officials pretend that he has. We were taught to think for ourselves and not just follow the flock. We were, thankfully, not taught to simply become a sheep.

-o0o-

Announcement: the La Trinidad Tourism Development Services will hold its Tourism Safety Seminar for stakeholders on April 25-26, 2018 at the Mt. Kalugong Kape-an, Brgy. Tawang, La Trinidad, Benguet. For interested participants who cater to tourists, please contact 09294619617 to apply and express your interest. Since the seminar is for small groups to instill quality learning, we will be evaluating the applications and will be giving details of the activity as soon as our office is reached.

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