To remove a symbol is to create a void. And that void becomes its own kind of abyss. The task of replacing a symbol is just as crucial as dismantling it—perhaps even more so.
We killed God (for good reasons), but we failed to offer an alternative. What should have given rise to enlightened collectivism, socialism, was instead supplanted by neoliberalism, a system (state of mind?) that thrives not on meaning but on the absence of it.
We wounded patriarchy, yet without a coherent vision of what an equal society should look like. Those who were “liberated” were rarely presented with a true alternative on how to live life. Those who were “wounded” simply adapted—becoming much more resilient (and why the GOP wins the popular vote at this point in time).
The unknown is terrifying when there’s no clear vision of what lies ahead. Progressive movements, instead of forging strong communities, fragment over (objectively) minor disagreements. Few individuals know where they truly belong, and that uncertainty is paralyzing—especially for those who don’t devote countless hours of their free time to politics & ideology; that is the majority of the population, and that is just fine.
Human beings need structure—something comprehensible, something that makes sense on the primal level. It would be nice if that structure were designed by people capable of empathy.
More energy spent building the future, less obsession with destroying the past, and we’re good to go! I believe it’s far more meaningful and impactful to strive for something than it is to fight against something.
