Lost connections
Reflections on a Fragmented World: February 2021
In early 2021, amidst the profound isolation and societal upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt compelled to explore the deep disconnection and pervasive fear that had taken hold of our lives. Observing people around me, often lost in their own worlds with earbuds in, I noticed a stark contrast between the chaotic, fear-driven existence in urban environments and the enduring hope and simplicity found in the countryside.
This essay is a reflection of my personal struggle to understand these opposing realities and the forces driving them. It's born out of my observations and frustrations with how technology, corporations, and government control have reshaped our human interactions and sense of self. My hope is to shed light on these changes and spark a conversation about reclaiming our individuality and genuine human connections.
In early February 2021, a hush has fallen over the cities. No longer do they speak to one another; now, they traverse their paths with rounded buds in their ears, voices from miles away whispering in solitude. Eyes downcast, shoulders hunched, confidence slipping away, they walk as if under a spell, constantly striving to prove something intangible to the next passerby. The constructs of time—days, weeks, months, years—lose their essence amidst the chaos.
Two cities exist within one. In one, hope has succumbed to chaos; in the other, hope endures, grounded in understanding and self-knowledge. What is this pervasive fear? Why do we dread the inevitable and overlook the inconceivable? One imagined world seems to dominate another, as souls surrender to corporations like Amazon and Deliveroo. With each passing day, individual realities dissolve, giving way to the encroaching power of governments and corporations.
But venture into the heart of the British countryside, and a different world unfolds. On mud-soaked roads and weed-filled paths, one finds hope, faith, love. People walk with purpose, eyes forward, backs straight, their future in sight. The chaos that engulfs the cities is but a distant murmur here. Why do urban landscapes compel their people to forsake freedom? The countryside harbors no hate, makes no distinctions. Here, mornings are savored, and daily toil is a labor of love to maintain home and life. Is it religion that instills hope in these rural hearts, while science siphons it from urban souls?
In early February 2021, people begin to question the chaos surrounding them. Why do governments perpetuate this turmoil? Is there an end in sight? Inequality has ascended to celestial heights, a mockery to the divine. Fear of death grips the West, blinding it to alternative realities. People mold singular identities, living lives confined by societal expectations.
Two cities within one. In one, people stroll through gardens, embracing the day; in the other, they tread the streets, driven by the pursuit of money. Inequality is undeniable. The rich believe their wealth is justified, while the poor seethe with resentment. Yet, in this clash of egos and animosity, they miss a crucial truth: money is an imagined currency. It cannot nourish or bring true joy. The relentless pursuit of wealth only breeds insatiable hunger.
Love and genuine connection fade in this relentless chase for material gain. When did an artist's street melody last stir our souls? When did a stranger's "good morning" last warm our hearts? Cities, in their quest for wealth, have forsaken the qualities that make us human.
Where have the children gone? Confined to homes and schools, their world outside reduced to vague impressions. In trying to fit into society, they lose their individuality early on. Life is prescribed, not learned organically. Children become digital beings, lost in the dark web, with little hope of return. Are we not creating cyborgs, monitoring their every move?
A child begins with no understanding, gradually constructing their reality. Adolescence is a crossroads: to conform or to forge their own path. Sartre, in *Being and Nothingness*, captures this dilemma, highlighting an education system that often instills shame rather than empowerment.
In early February 2021, thought police patrol the streets. Governments urge vigilance against nonconformists. Walking, coughing, natural acts, now criminalized. Did we not cough and sneeze before COVID? These reflexes, once mundane, now incite fear.
A government exists because we believe it does, a collective imagination granting it power. Yet, we now serve the government, rather than it serving us. "Save the NHS!" they cry, yet it was established to save us. Hospitals, overwhelmed, now treat "minor injuries and illnesses" indiscriminately.
Who benefits? Those in power. Prime Ministers traverse countries freely, while individuals remain confined. An hour of outdoor freedom, a token gesture from the government. People, glued to screens, watch the lives of the rich, a hollow solace.
What is legal? A construct of government-enforced rules. Do individuals have the power to amend these laws? Can they truly fight?
In early February 2021, nationalism surges. Brits disdain Europeans, Scots resent the English, Londoners dismiss country folk. Socialism is touted, yet corporates and capitalists crave it only for themselves. Democracy, built on free speech, now stifles dissent. A century post-World War I, we forget how quickly ideologies rise. Hatred and patriotism, dormant, resurface swiftly.
Fear. What is this fear? Can we shed this burden? The West, creating fear not of colonized others, but of its own people. Imperialists thrive, manipulating the future to control the present. In pursuit of freedom, we imprison ourselves, eyes wide with terror, individual experiences sacrificed to collective fear.
Yet, hope lingers in the untainted corners. In mining towns of Wales, hospitality prevails. Northern England’s working-class towns, resilient, yet shackled by history. These people, living in psychological fear, seek their way.
Fortunate are those who doubt, who question the structures. In early February 2021, some still seek their journey, while others remain lost. Inventions, born of curiosity, now feed on fear.
Who are you? Why do you fear?
This fear, unacknowledged, transforms humanity. Western ideals destabilize, reducing life to mechanical structures. The being, now classified as man or woman, forgets ancient ideals of a genderless existence. The West’s collective trajectory, brief, overshadows the rich past of other cultures. Education, with its rigid curriculum, stifles intelligence. Conditioning pervades thought and action.
The West is lost, and with it, the world. Other continents, with deeper histories, struggle to retain their essence. We were meant for individual experiences, where the other was part of our being. Now, we hide from ourselves and others. Academics, trapped in structures, demand more, pushing individuals to conform.
Religion offers a way to understand the human psyche, providing purpose. Yet, in early February 2021, we inch closer to becoming cyborgs, controlled by algorithms at tech giants.
But it is only 2021!
“Journey to the East”- is currently available as a paperback through my website and on Amazon Kindle globally.
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What an excellent post! The contrast between rural and urban living and how each handles fear is well done. And True!