Sorry! I can’t simply ignore this issue or stop worrying about the current situation. Perhaps it’s because I was born and raised in a dictatorship, which gives me a deeper understanding of the coming danger than many of my friends here, who have mostly been born and live in freedom.
The question is, when a nation feels disappointed with its situation and confused about its future, how easily can its patriotism be aroused and nationalism used to heal its social wounds? It is not related to a country’s political governing and social freedom, as we observe it occurring in both directories and Western democratic nations. I often wonder why people tend to embrace nationalism during moments of last-ditch pride, frequently seen in contexts like football national cups (a common occurrence in South America), historical racism (as observed in German history), or in leaning on their ancient heritage (as seen with figures like Mussolini in Italy and the Persians, which still resonates today).
Through scientific understanding, our world has become dehumanized. Man feels himself isolated in the cosmos. He is no longer involved in nature and has lost his emotional participation in natural events, which hitherto had a symbolic meaning for him… He no longer has a bush-soul identifying him with a wild animal. His immediate communication with nature is gone forever, and the emotional energy it generated has sunk into the unconscious. (C. G. Jung 1948/1980, para 585)
In today’s world, and likely in the years to come, politics will inevitably influence our lives, whether we want it to or not. I don’t intend to denigrate anyone, but when a single individual holds leadership in one of the most influential roles in the world with vast authority, it raises alarms about the potential for tyranny. And I’m sure all friends here must admit that no one will be immune to that seduction!
The word “democracy” originates from the Greek terms “demos,” meaning “people,” and “kratos,” meaning “power.” Therefore, democracy can be understood as the “power of the people”—a form of governance that relies on the people’s will.
The idea of democracy derives its moral strength – and popular appeal – from two fundamental principles: 1- Individual Autonomy: This principle asserts that no one should be subject to rules others impose. People should be able to control their own lives within reasonable limits. 2- Equality: This principle holds that everyone should have the same opportunity to influence society’s decisions. Essentially, it emphasizes the disempowerment of concentrated power held by a single individual, transforming governance into a system where leaders serve the population rather than rule over them.
Lyndsey Stonebridge explains in her book “We Are Free To Change The World” (Hannah Arendt’s Lessons of Love and Disobedience): >In Arendt’s sense, having a free mind means turning away from dogma, political certainties, theoretical comfort zones, and satisfying ideologies. It means learning instead to cultivate the art of staying true to reality’s hazards, vulnerabilities, mysteries, and perplexities because, ultimately, that is our best chance of remaining human.<
She also reflects that fundamental questions about the human condition are not beside the point in dire political times; they are the point. How can we think straight amidst cynicism and mendacity? What is there left to love, to cherish, to fight for? How can we act to secure it best? What fences and bridges do we need to build to protect freedom, and which walls do we need to destroy?
Hannah Arendt closely examined the regimes of Hitler and Stalin, their functionaries, the ideology of scientific racism, and the role of propaganda in creating what she described as “a curiously varying mixture of gullibility and cynicism.” This mixture is how individuals are expected to respond to their leaders’ ever-changing lies. In her 1951 work, “Origins of Totalitarianism,” she elaborated that this combination of gullibility and cynicism is prevalent across all levels of totalitarian movements:
In an ever-changing, incomprehensible world, the masses had reached the point where they would simultaneously believe everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and nothing was true… The totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day and trust that if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cynicism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness.
It is important to recognize the significant danger of trusting someone who makes promises. Why do such individuals often resort to constant and blatant lying? One reason is that it serves as a way to control their subordinates completely. These followers may feel compelled to abandon their own integrity to echo outrageous falsehoods, subsequently becoming tied to the leader through feelings of shame and complicity. Professor Jacob T. Levy from McGill University highlights the insights of prominent thinkers like George Orwell, Hannah Arendt, and Vaclav Havel. He notes that they can help us identify a specific type of falsehood. He states that “saying something obviously untrue and forcing your subordinates to repeat it earnestly in their own words is a shocking demonstration of power over them. This practice was widespread in totalitarian regimes.”
“You can read my lips… Repeat my words as I repeat them! Doesn’t this sound familiar? Arendt and others noted— as Levy writes— that “being forced to repeat an obvious lie makes it clear that you’re powerless.” She also identified how an avalanche of lies can render a populace unable to resist, a phenomenon we now refer to as ” “gaslighting”:
The result of a consistent and total substitution of lies for factual truth is not that the lie will now be accepted as truth and truth be defamed as a lie, but that the sense by which we take our bearings in the real world—and the category of truth versus falsehood is among the mental means to this end—is being destroyed.
However, time will reveal how a people or a nation can differentiate between right and wrong and how much their practice of democracy can help them recognize truth and falsehood. Democracy is not a gift that can be simply given; it requires thorough training to achieve its ultimate goal.
Thank you!
Sources:
lampmagician 
Aladin, your post is excellent and thought provoking, thank you! Great quotes and images, the initial one is really impressive! Ever since I found out about the USA election results last week, I’ve been feeling disorientated and quite frankly, sad … just drifting along with no direction for days on end. Thankfully two days ago, I reached for my pen and wrote something new that has lifted my mood.
During these tumultuous times, once again, I’m realising how powerful and healing writing can be, as I face my fear that democracy is failing, while also witnessing the worrying rise of extreme far-right groups. Sadly, riots, protests, wars and all sorts of violence is happening daily, hourly. Hope is the last thing left in this peace-loving poet’s box and I’m holding up tightly! Love and light, Deborah.
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My lovely Deborah, you are already saying what an artist does in this chaotic situation: working! I think it is the only way to survive. In countries under dictatorship, artists keep working to stay awake. Thank you for your riding with me!🙏🤗🌹 Love and love.
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Yes, that’s it isn’t it, to ‘work’ because in doing so, I find my spirit, resilience and my strength returns. Thank you my my wise friend! x
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You said the right word. Thank you more. 💖💖😘🙏
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I know this is a huge subject but it seems to me that many countries are becoming less tolerant – even those which are supposed to be free and democratic. Bad, very bad. 🙁
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Unfortunately, you are right, my dear Chris. It is terrible, but I hope it gets into another way!🙏💖
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Terrific blog post! Great sentiments!
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Thank you so much; it means a lot to me.🙏
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Thank you, Aladin. Great post. Excellent quotes. Total agreement here. For those of us who live in the U.S. and see what’s happening to our government, it’s extremely disheartening. We have seen and experienced how those who follow lying tyrannical leaders are deaf to reason. They listen only to those who agree with them and avoid reading anything or talking to anyone who threatens their certainty. The worst part is that they’re not all poor, uneducated, disenfranchised, apathetic, conscienceless, or ignorant. Some are wealthy, highly intelligent, and successful. I know some people like this and I’m deeply disappointed in them. They don’t bring up politics in social situations because they know my position and don’t want to talk about it with me. So, like you and Deborah, I keep at my work of writing, which, for me, is about the importance of knowing oneself and facing one’s shadow. I write about this kind of inner work because it’s what I know. And because I’ve experienced how it’s changed my life in so many positive ways. It may not feel like very much to those who prefer social activism, but it’s something anyone can do. The ultimate solution to outward tyranny is to shine the light of consciousness on the tyranny of one’s own unconscious self and choose to bring it into the light. Until we can suffer the humbling awareness of our own dark side, we’ll never be able to see how we contribute to the darkness in the world.
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Thank you sincerely, dear Jeanie. You have beautifully complemented my thoughts and expressed what I wanted to say. It’s pretty strange to see friends shy away from discussing topics requiring deep reflection and honesty. As you pointed out, I believe confronting their inner shadows is their trouble. Unfortunately, this avoidance is a significant issue in our world. I feel grateful to have friends like you and Deborah, and I value your advice to continue exploring my shadow and inner self. I remain hopeful for better days filled with love and peace. Thank you, my dear teacher.🙏🤗💖😘
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The power of totalitarian governments to reshape the narrative to their liking has been overblown. Always, the people retain their own thoughts. That stubbornness in the face of overwhelming force is one of the quaint, charming relics of the distant past in our technocratic, black-machined world of drumbeats and machine-made sound tattoos.
The final takeaway? Don’t turn your back on the people. They are like rats going after cheese. They will rob your House blind if you let them. That indestructibility of purpose is something that makes men seem both more numerous and more capable than they really are. Napoleon’s “whiff of grapeshot” is the only answer.
Come visit my blog, and leave some comments, if you like
http://www.dark.sport.blog
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Sorry for the delay; I have been swamped these last few days! Thank you so much for visiting and for your comment.🙏🤙
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Dear Aladin, this is a wonderful written one. You well pointed. Democracy in the 21st century seems moribund, the future under the return of dictatorship is frightening. We can see that in many countries and regimes around the world, democracy is in the hands of power groups and used for their own interests. Today’s world, that is, humanity, needs to re-introduce concepts and present solid structures. I always said that philosophy would have a lot of work to do in the future, but we still cannot hear new and strong voices. To me, the future is scary… Thank you, Love, nia
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For me, too, my dear friend. As we sink deeper and deeper into narcissism and racism, the future looks bleak! You know what I’m talking about. One can only hope, as if it were said: hope dies last.
Thank you so much, lovely Nia. 🙏💖🌹🫂
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This is an excellent, well thought out and written post Aladin…those responding already have said it all so I have no more words, just the sense of sadness at the state of democracy in this world now, and the hope that it can be turned around in the future.
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I just follow your wishes, my wise friend. It’s a hard time now for every single individual who uses the brain. We can just hope for a better future. 🤗💖🙏
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I’m worried, too, and I’m making myself sick with worry which doesn’t do any good at all. People are stunned in this usually politically active community. I feel the limitations of my age and that I get vertigo in noisy or stressful situations. Like others, I’m waiting and we’re depending on Republican politicians to draw lines in the sand, and I’m not sure that will happen. This happened so fast. It’s stunning and alarming. May there be a turn and may we remember the power of democracy and love.
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Politics and politicians have always been at the risk of corruption. Only the people must keep their eyes open and keep democracy alive. Heartfelt thanks, dear Elaine, for your endearing sympathy. 💖🙏
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Nice post.
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Thanks! 🙏
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