Overcome the Strangeness in This World: Create a Home in the Human Community
Recognising that destiny depends on people
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Introduction
In these extraordinary times and in the face of countless doomsday scenarios, it is not easy to get a grip on your personal feelings, organise your thoughts and put them down on paper in generally understandable language.
But the clairvoyant person who has recognised the absurdity of life takes a stand and does not avoid it. Indifference is out of question. He sees himself as the master of his fate and still wants to impose a measure of meaning on this senseless world. He realises that his decision alone can change this life and this world. Like all ghosts, the spectre of absurdity escapes if you have the courage to confront it.
In order to overcome the strangeness of this world, he tries to create a home for himself in the human community.
Strangeness in This World
As a citizen of the post-war generation, I feel increasingly alienated in today’s world. Ethical and moral values such as empathy and peacefulness no longer apply.
Politicians are nothing more than docile puppets of the digital-financial complex, which poses a much greater threat to people’s freedom and self-determination than the military-industrial complex (Ernst Wolff).
Citizens are not only being lied to or “hoodwinked” about the reduction in the world’s population or the economic problems (deindustrialisation, plant closures, emigration, job cuts). There is also no information about the deadly consequences of COVID vaccinations and once again a worldwide vaccination obligation is recommended and implemented. Anyone who does not (yet) see this negative development or is not aware of the information in the alternative media will soon be taught better.
New major wars are also being planned and loudly and frighteningly announced by the US-NATO and its EU vassals. The usual enemy stereotypes are being activated once again to justify them. Russia will continue to be presented as a dangerous enemy by the entire West after the interview with the Russian president by the US American Tucker Carlson or after the elections in the USA.
If you live in one of these Slavic countries such as Russia or Serbia for a longer period of time, you realise that politically fabricated images of the enemy have nothing to do with reality, but serve a different purpose.
Recognising the absurdity of this world, however, contains within it the invitation to master this absurdity and to turn resolutely towards an existence that only makes sense as a result. The fate of the world depends solely on people. Since there is only this one world, it would be absurd not to affirm it.
Creating a Home in the Human Community
In order to overcome the strangeness in this world, we humans should try to create a home for ourselves in the human community. This home develops over time through sharing in the joys and sufferings of our fellow human beings.
Humans are by nature communal beings. From the impressions of their early childhood, they develop a certain degree of human connection, an interest in others that can be described as a “sense of community”.
In the basic conditions of human coexistence lies a compulsion to understand one another (Alfred Adler). Everyone has the ability to empathise and sympathise. The feelings of others are experienced and understood. Joys and sorrows are shared with the other; people help each other to endure the difficult times of life (Kropotkin).
Depending on their maturity, life experience, self-knowledge and world view, people are able to empathise with others. This creates trust, warmth and security in the other person.
Of course, this is an arduous process that requires a lot of courage, time and patience, but it is of great importance for the life of every individual. The authoritarian upbringing of recent decades has unfortunately had the effect of deterring us from our fellow human beings from childhood onwards. Only a non-authoritarian, liberal education that refrains from exaggerated authoritarianism, the use of force and indulgence and adapts to the child’s inner life with true understanding will create a humane social order and a dignified future.
Recognizing That Destiny Depends on Humanity
Ever since humans have existed and we have had knowledge about them, we have known that they always strive for a better life situation; first and foremost for a free life in peace without violence and war. Most people love to go about their daily work or till the fields and live together with their neighbours in peace and friendship.
But history itself does not strive for freedom and peace through its own laws – virtually over our heads. A free world without violence, without weapons and wars can only be realised by the decision of the people, by thinking and acting in accordance with the ideal of freedom, peace and justice. And this reduction of violence must take place here and now.
Unfortunately, however, the upbringing in our culture creates a fear of other people in children, an emotional reaction that turns against others. When they grow up, they are unable to work and live together with their fellow human beings. They are also unable to organise their own lives well.
For this reason, children should learn from their parents and teachers that there is no need to be afraid of other people, but that others enjoy playing and living with them. Any conflicts that arise can always be resolved in friendship and without any verbal or physical violence. Adults should therefore be non-violent models.
We should also assume that human emotional life is not just the result of the parent-child relationship, but that the socio-cultural milieu and the corresponding feelings are just as decisive, because parents, teachers and educators convey the values of a culture to the child in word and deed on a daily basis.
In this context, it is positive to note that in recent millennia humanity has increasingly heard the voice of humanity’s conscience within itself and is aware that it is important to live together in freedom and brotherhood and to secure life on this earth by fighting together against the forces of nature.
The Obligation Towards the Future Is to Give Everything to the Present
Responsible adults are constantly asking themselves what the older generation can do to ensure a peaceful future and a dignified life for young people.
A sentence by Pindar, which precedes Camus’ essay on the absurd, “The Myth of Sisyphus”, reads:
“Dear soul, do not strive for eternal life, but make the most of what is possible.” (1)
According to the French philosopher-writer and atheist existentialist Albert Camus, the clear-sighted person who knows himself to be the master of his own destiny is committed to the spirit of revolt. The love that previous generations bestowed on a heavenly being is now only directed towards the earth and his fellow human beings. This is his faith, his passion and his future; familiarity with this world is his ultimate goal.
In an interview with the libertarian magazine “Défense de l’homme”, Camus said:
“I am betting on peace. That is my very own optimism. But you have to do something for it and that will be difficult. Therein lies my pessimism.” (2)
For free people, there is no higher goal than the realisation of freedom for all. They give themselves over to the passion of revolt, to this incomprehensible generosity, this strange love. Their pride is not to make any calculations for the future and to waste everything on the present life and the living brothers. This is the real devotion to the people of the future.
True generosity towards the future consists in giving everything to the present.
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Dr Rudolf Lothar Hänsel is a school rector, educational scientist and qualified psychologist. After his university studies, he became an academic teacher in adult education. As a pensioner, he worked as a psychotherapist in his own practice. In his books and specialist articles, he calls for a conscious ethical and moral education of values as well as an education for public spirit and peace. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.
Notes
(1) Camus, Albert (1959). The Myth of Sisyphus. Hamburg, p. 7
(2) Marin, Lou (ed.) (2013). Albert Camus – Libertarian Writings (1948-1960). Hamburg, p. 82