The making of gods, from wo/man

In the search for meaning in our lives, from the past to the future, the now is often sacrificed.

Today—now—more than ever, with the multiple political and technological distractions, varying truths on an earth encompassed by an un-understandable universe, a world without any particular inherent meaning, except maybe the adulation of a money-tie system that devalues humans and praises money, we seek to make meaning of our lives.

Various ways we try to escape our existences and our angsts to find some type of significance, in order to deal with that thing or accident we call life. Within some freedoms and flexibilities that we possess, this responsibility to try to shape one’s life carries the burden of our anxieties.

Of the many manifestations of our existence, one is problematic: that of exalting oneself, of family members, and of other persons in society, especially that of politicians, who wield for the most part an inordinate amount of unchecked power, influenced, and selfish interest.

No one—no wo/man—should be praised, idolized, adorated, adulated, honored, mythologized, or worshiped without their accompanying faults, sins, failings, and vices, except maybe at a funeral, but even that should be tempered.

Yet, we constantly engage in these sorts of tactics/methods, from auto/biographies, a cornerstone, a plaque, social media stories/post, the media, in speeches, writing histories, naming a building, giving medals, a statue, etc. I am not (totally) against, but there has to be rigorous analytical vetting, screening, and culling process, a deeper evaluation, and a more critical, ethical standard, not just a semi-passive acceptance, with the acceptance of a sort of existential dichotomy of engaging of this selective exercise with an unabashed critique. This duality of our nature is simply part of our being, it cannot be excoriated and expunged. We are human. This is who we are, paradoxical as it may be.

This is similar how propaganda and ideology works: a deliberate operation that communicates through various means, ideas, messages, and images meant to influence y/our opinions, views, social, cultural and political behaviors.

This purposeful idolizing actually does more harm than good through a variety of means—blindly following, fixed thinking, fear mongering, group and band wagon views, legitimized dogmas, uncritical ideology, excessive admiration or devotion, admirable obedience, devoid of critical thinking, “Yes” people, moral corruption, loss of personal accountability, exploitation of followers, becoming illogical, too sensitive about objections and disagreements, mass manipulation, vulnerable  emotions, lack of accountability and responsibility, etc. —all these effects makes many people exposed, vulnerable, and susceptible. Maybe that is the point.

These seemingly harmless but persuasive and persistent methods appeal to y/our emotions, identity, history, fear, family, logic, nationalism, generation, future, morality, and desires in multi ways to get you to think, feel, and see what again?

Through the Manufacturing of consent—the ubiquitous and seemingly innocuous and innocent device that influence your perception and behavior, in order to get your support. How do we make sense, in the end, of all this bombardment of illusive, nonchalant, and tricky tactics on our minds?

To counter, we have to carve out a space for our minds to be free, to deal with our angst, to reject the onslaught, and to be like Sisyphus, to keep on pushing that rock up the hill and against the weight bearing down upon us, and to resist consciously and conscientiously. But can we, or should we, live without such admiration of fallible man? There is some irony in our existence.

Nevertheless, there has to be balance between interest, ideology, and idealism against the common good, common sense, and common decency. Consent mixed with ideology eventually soon becomes a commodity.

Now, not because we are free, and this idea should be questioned whether we actually are free—related to choice, influence, desire, and the many factors acted upon us in this world/life—we have to be critical, logic, sensible, and hold agents of change and influence and ideology (in its many guises) accountable and responsible to their duties, obligations, and responsibilities.

Thus, when and where this ubiquitous idolizing presence occurs, the making of gods, from wo/man, counter measures have to be manufactured for a better, more equal society.

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