There is an idea that has intrigued me for a long time: "what you pretend to be is what you are in the end." On the surface, it's simple: we can claim to be nice all we want, but it is our acts and choices which will determine whether or not we are nice and seen as so. I mean that even though we may think we are perceived as nice, attractive, and intelligent people and think of ourselves as nice, attractive, and intelligent-and we all want to believe that, right?-it may not be true. This is beside all the petty gossip, misunderstandings, and jealousy we all have to face from day to day, just because that is the culture. What I refer to is simply what happens as we go about our daily lives, make mistakes, talk to new individuals, and such. As we make our choices as to how we act and react, we are demonstrating whether we have those positive attributes we would like or instead have negative ones. Further, it also means that when we try to be something we are not, if one does strive to be different than before, that habit becomes the truth. On another level, though, this same idea holds true when a company or organisation does something different than what they claim. If one is supposedly helping a country with economic rebuilding and it is in actuality undermining that goal, what does it matter what is said? The results-such as people dying, pollution, and excessive debt-are what we need to pay attention to. This isn't about Utilitarianism or some overarching system of thinking and organising humanity and its actions. I am not advocating for something beyond simple truth and openness here, the scale and importance of these issues are too great for anything less. I think those two things would go a long way towards a solution for either personal or organisational problems of this nature. I understand it is always in the best interests of a group to promote the idea that the group is doing well and doing what is beneficial for everyone. So it is no surprise that most groups do just that, but it is important whether or not that claim is true both inside and outside the group.
Also it is true that many will wonder why things are so messed up now. This is a process and has been happening around us the whole time. To 'check out' as we have and allow these groups to do whatever they want because they'll tell us nice things is irresponsible. People need to stop being sold to, to stop passively accepting the messages that these companies and conglomerations are foisting on us. The constant barrage and commercial harassment of citizens is unacceptable and absurd. Our actions are definite and easily observed: we have been lazy, become complaisant, accepted the continual replacement of freedom with flashy distractions, and been complicit in the ending of democracy through murder, illegal and continual limitation of human rights, and lies. We are as much to blame as the companies who spill the oil, use slave labor, invade countries through trade agreements, or whatever else they cook up. No matter what we tell ourselves and would like to believe, that is the truth. We need to actively seek solutions instead of passively allowing these problems to continue. It is our responsibility, both in the way things have become, and also to come up with a solution. This is a good thing because if it were left up to those who are directly responsible, there would be no change. We can stop allowing it, take back the direction of our lives and country, and make the necessary changes.
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