Lack of understanding, lack
of interest...
Some
of the attitudes toward the project I encountered in this neighborhood were
quite astonishing and challenging. Interestingly enough, I wonder why some of
these people managed to bear a life deprived of many beautiful and radiant
things not only by the external factors, but they themselves are also inflicting
the emptiness to the extent that seems their existence have been obliterated a
long time ago. Of course, it is evident that it’s the job of the media and
other ruling institutions to dumb down society and to reduce them to mere “cog
in the money-hungry mega machine”, but what interest me the most is this – why they
cannot clearly grasp an idea that directly speaks about their own deliverance,
independence, and self-sufficiency? Why they cannot accept the fact that “a
man/woman is his/her own doctor and his/her own guru”?
Consciously
or unconsciously, all of us are looking for something greater and more meaningful
experiences in life and I’m sure people in this neighborhood also do. But the
most challenging part for me is – how to show them what really are these “cages”
that prevent them from participating in the project and how and when are they going
to break these cages. As I have said in my last post (existence), some of the
factors are quite obvious and manageable and therefore, not hopeless! Though I sound
negative and cynical, but as far as I’m concerned we are still doing our part
to fight the apathy that dominates this neighborhood. Perhaps, we just have to
show them more reasons and examples both through deeds and words.
Hear it from the children (little
adults or little parents)...
Listening
to my "little" friends while working at the garden as they talked about
the things that they do sometimes and the type of person they want to become in
the future, I was a bit horrified as I carefully followed their conversation
that flows in a simple but bothersome manner. They were talking about how they
like to use guns and other deadly weapons to fight their “enemies”. Of course, for
parents who are not familiar with the issue of the adverse psychological impact
of the mass media, it’s only the “innocent childish imagination” inside their heads
talking and asserting the message of hostility to each other. What most of their
parents don’t know is that there is more stuff at the core of this disturbing issue:
the adverse effect of the electronic media, particularly the television and the
video games. Anybody familiar with the evolution of war video games these days
can easily identify how it’s promotional adverts look like - I mean how attractive
or sexist or aggressive and violent it is. So the whole content of the product
itself, being sold or free to children! Without limitation to age, this “amusement”
is now clearly one of the most dominant technologies of our time being psychologically
inflicted to our fellows that are supposed to be rational, creative, intelligent
and compassionate beings. Meanwhile in television, messages of sexism, aggression,
patriarchy, spectatorship, stupidity, consumerism, patriotism, etc. are also being
constantly persuaded by the “captains of consciousness”. These images and memes help strengthen the
wall of separation - separation to oneself and to the wholeness and therefore accepting
them is allowing the hooks of trauma to one’s flesh and to others, so to speak.
I
remember the girl uttered how she wishes to have swords and other weapons I
didn’t even knew before it existed. The boy said when he grew up he wants to be
a soldier so that he can help the government fight against the “terrorist”
aiming to destroy “his country” and to sabotage the economy (as what I’ve
understood!). They were also calmly trying to give a clear description on how
they want to kill and what would be the best weapon to use! The girl is about 4
and the boy is about 5 or 6 year-old I guess. While listening and thinking
about them, I thought of their parents. Like me, they also grew up in these
messages/notions and I wonder how it affects their attitude towards the project
as well. How they manage the trauma being “passed through generations by their
ancestors”, as what R.D. Laing said. And I thought of the other volunteers as
well, I wonder how often they watch TV or play video games. These are our
future companions too; I was hoping that they will slowly grasp the essence of
the project and the whole being of BHSG itself. And that’s the reason why I
decided to tackle this aspect, I want to complain and do something to face
these challenges. In working at the garden with them, I still experience and witness
undesirable, traumatic things – homophobia, bullying, etc. combined with Christian
conservatism and nuclear family orientation. As coordinators, these challenges
become more complex and therefore hard to combat. Hopefully, we will have the
strength all the time to fight these deterrents…
Conclusion…
In
these past few days, we are thinking much about how to deal with it - these
unfair “mainstream” biases, notions, or attitude towards gender, culture, age, beliefs,
etc. that directly or indirectly affects the project. What kinds of workshops,
discussions, or evaluation are we going to conduct or use to challenge these
things. As the momentum and motivation of the volunteers go up and down or high
and low, it also affects our energy in little ways; we feel the negative vibration
of obstruction and uncertainty pulling us from below. But we know it’s up to us
how to face and manage for attunement. Patience, calmness, perceptiveness, focus,
and conscious insights and decisions, these are some of the important things that
we will hold on to.
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