I want to give expression to an increasing turmoil that’s manifests in me. When I look around me I see a divided world. A lot of anger and dissatisfaction is displayed all the time. When I turn on the radio, TV or other media the news is dominated by the proverbial angry white men’. Angry white man is becoming trending. First they were marginal but suddenly they appear to manifest in large numbers. Where does it come from? I life in the same world and did not shook off real life, I’m right in the middle of it. I do not have a top income that narrowed my mind and had to deal with setbacks and dismay too, still I’m not angry. On the contrary, I often think how lucky I am to be a member of a well-organized, democratic, save and rich community. I can imagine anyone would like to be here escaping his or her big problems like war, poverty and mayhem. I see it as a logical consequence of our prosperity
The People/ the middleclass appears to be fed up and stating they are no longer putting up with it. Some of them, are justly fed up but to the majority I would say, why so upset? And above all, why so aggressive?
I do not recognize myself in the profile of the angry white civilian. I would like to say, ” Hello I am part of the society too! The word ‘ the people’ or ‘middle class’ is annoying me lately, as if I’ am not relevant any more and overshadowed by the opinion of a loud mouthed group. I am convinced I’m not the only one with this particular feeling.
In the current communication abusive words and curses are frequently used instead of a meaningful debate where arguments are measurered. I sense that cynical political movements hijack the so-called under belly. Not only in the Netherlands but also everywhere around us, like a virus.
So hereby I would like to distance myself from this cynical undertow. The contemporary ‘people’, folks, middle and underclass is more divers in culture, composition and opinion than the angry white man. Apart from that, the genuine angry white man should take a look at him or her self, which will put things in perspective.
The people are protesting against the elite according to their so-called and self-proclaimed defenders. That has a nice Robin Hood like ring to it, but the opposite is true. These so called defenders of the ‘people’ are elite too, be it of a doubtful kind. They want to silence the autonomic thinkers, keepers of the constitutional state, the critics, the artful and the philosophers. Because they will be the first to question their position and have this urge to seek the truth and nuance, which is not in the benefit of the populist politician. A civilization needs elite, that the harsh reality. An egalitarian society is a great concept but people are to divers in background, talent, intelligence and ambition to see them, as al the same. Differences will always be there, fortunately and unfortunately! But elite stands for more, it is the top layer of pioneering, governance, reigning, searching and shaping. Some will not agree and maybe understandable. Nevertheless without elite there’s either anarchy or a doctrine, still ruled by elite but this time one with dictatorial graving. And that’s not something to wish for.
Everyone with access to power can abuse it, and more than a few are abusing their power unfortunately. But that does not make our current elite corrupted parse! Elite is a similar diffuse term as ‘the people’. I think being critical is a healthy attitude. To be against is nonsense, really.
I am an earth inhabitant and together with ±130 thousand others an inhabitant of Zwolle. Apart from that I’m with 16 million others Dutch, with 743 million others European and with 7 milliard others world citizen. If you look upon this cosmopolitic were all brothers and sisters.
Trough technological development the earth looks smaller than she ever did. We hear and see almost everything that goes around, beauty and splendour but also pain and anguish. As good neighbours you want to share and help out were ever you can. We are coincidently living on ‘this’ side of the planet, noblesse oblige
Because of open frontiers many doors are opened and it brought us a lot of good and prosperity. One of them is our cultural diversity in all its colours and conventions. Al these different cultures affected ours. At least my world became more attractive, exiting, dynamic and less crammed. There’s a lot to learn from diversity including about your own culture. For me that’s priceless!
Of course it also triggers tensions and problems. These are great challenges. I understand it causes resistance but there’s a lot to gain too. Not by polarisation but by standing open to a different perspective. Searching for nuance together, instead of extremes. A mutuality that covers all facture lines and cultural differences can minimalize extremism in the end Cynicism is mainly created and is not by definition intrinsic. Nothing grows on cynicism, but cynicism itself grows on suspicion, mistrust and a sense of being disadvantaged. In fact it only destroys. Therefore this manifest against cynicism I am optimistic, maybe naive, but I felt the need to write this and share this. I put my cards on a beautiful future