A debate on the entire aspect of modernism can never be complete without a proper evaluation of its consequences on our outlook towards life. More so, in the case of world terror, we cannot but conclude that modernism plays an important role. Depending on how we choose to take it, we can either suffer at the hands of nameless organizations, or make a difference. Modernism, unlike older ideologies, gives us the luxurious freedom to choose.
World terror, as many of us see, is an institution that revels on human fear. As long as the ordinary human leads an above average life, fear will and should be a vital element of his existence. And, in the wake of modernism, fear has also progressed to an altogether different level.
World terror has never been as dreaded or as fearsome as it is today. There was a time when my father / grandfather would never worry about coming home safely. It was always a fact taken for granted. Even though the wars of 1971 and 1975 were terrible, there was nobody ramming planes into buildings. There was no one who killed thousands by planting bombs in public places.
The facet of world terror today has, with modernism, also progressed to the next level. Why should a terrorist be so meticulous in his attack today ? Modernism. And if he succeeds in his treacherous plan, who is to blame ? Modernism.
World terror does not have a religion. Because no religion can ever preach hatred. World terror does not have a name. There can be no word that can suitably describle the despecable outlook of world terror. However, there is a word that can tell us why global terror is that terrifying today. That word, you guessed it, is modernism.
While I can always go on and on, pinning the blame of world terror on modernism and gain accolades from the public, I refuse to squarely blame ONLY a new age thought for a new age problem. Old attitudes and cultural habits are also responsible for world terror. The flames of communalism and hatred were ignited in ancient history. Modernism only provides a stronger, and uglier platform for complex execution.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The road ahead
The bedrock of modernism, as mentioned subtly in the previous post, lies within you. Lies within me. Lies within every thinker.
Every philosopher, from socrates to vivekananda, has thought about modernism. But none of them have ever been able to conclude firmly on the true nature of modernism. Modernism means progress, and this is a fact. But, despite intellectual probing, how many of us can accept such a statement ? There are many of us today who refuse to think that modernism means progress. Because when I talk about modernism, the only thing that comes to their mind is human rights abuse in Darfur, world hunger, child trafficking and slave trade. What I talk about, and what they refuse to accept, is rising economy, super scientific gadgets, the possibility of life on mars, new age computers, and the prospect of world peace.
Introspect.
Modernism is progress.
A progress that does not intoxicate you with success ALONE. Modernism is real, healthy progress. A step ahead does not mean a step in the right direction. The next time you think that you have taken the next step ahead, ask yourself THREE questions :
1. Have I enlightened someone today?
2. Have I introduced something new to the world today ?
3. Do I have the gift of increased knowledge today ?
If the answer to all three questions is YES, then you have ushered modernism into the world around you, and have simultaneously instigated progress. A progress, that does not die down with one victory in one battle, but a progress that lays out the road ahead, that teaches you how to handle the next set of challenges life will throw to you.
To conclude, modernism is progress indeed because it ushers in success and challenge at the same time. Anything that changes the world is modernism.
Modernism is progress. Progress is Modernism.
Every philosopher, from socrates to vivekananda, has thought about modernism. But none of them have ever been able to conclude firmly on the true nature of modernism. Modernism means progress, and this is a fact. But, despite intellectual probing, how many of us can accept such a statement ? There are many of us today who refuse to think that modernism means progress. Because when I talk about modernism, the only thing that comes to their mind is human rights abuse in Darfur, world hunger, child trafficking and slave trade. What I talk about, and what they refuse to accept, is rising economy, super scientific gadgets, the possibility of life on mars, new age computers, and the prospect of world peace.
Introspect.
Modernism is progress.
A progress that does not intoxicate you with success ALONE. Modernism is real, healthy progress. A step ahead does not mean a step in the right direction. The next time you think that you have taken the next step ahead, ask yourself THREE questions :
1. Have I enlightened someone today?
2. Have I introduced something new to the world today ?
3. Do I have the gift of increased knowledge today ?
If the answer to all three questions is YES, then you have ushered modernism into the world around you, and have simultaneously instigated progress. A progress, that does not die down with one victory in one battle, but a progress that lays out the road ahead, that teaches you how to handle the next set of challenges life will throw to you.
To conclude, modernism is progress indeed because it ushers in success and challenge at the same time. Anything that changes the world is modernism.
Modernism is progress. Progress is Modernism.
Modernism
This is my first post on this blog and I'd like to start off on a broad topic that keeps to the content motto this blog is dedicated to.
To begin with, I'd like to clearly define what I mean by modernism and how much the meaning of that term means to me. Modernism is not just a synonym of change, it must necessarily be a synonym of progress. Progress that merely touches a life and moves on by itself is only an illusion and a dangerous one, at that. Real progess is one that breathes three things : prosperity, altruism, and modernism.
There have been many versions of modernism. Some see the entire term as illusionary, coined by some bloke who obviously had nothing better to do. To them, all I'd like to say is this : Get a life. You have been blind to change around you. The rare ones embrace modernism as a supernatural phenomenon, instigated by God - over which they have no control. The rarer ones see modernism as an intangible, involuntary act that THEY initiate in their lives.
The modern thinker has a fourth dimension of thought. He sees modernism as a step into a new set of challenges. The bedrock of such a school of thought is based on an irrefutable underlying fact : as long as there is life on this planet, there will be problems to solve. For instance, removal of world hunger is a principal challenge that face the modern thinker. World hunger, to the modern thinker, is a by product of man's irresponsibility in the past. It is, therefore, neither a supernatural nor a separately instigated man made problem. However, in the light of changed circumstances, where altruistic forces are relatively smaller as compared to the shrewd ones, the approach to solving an old age problem like world hunger must necessarily be influenced by modernism, to either abolish / find a long term solution to world hunger.
To sum it up and introduce the topic of modernism, and to encourage a constructive debate on modernism, one must remember a simple thing : There is nothing new in the world. The only changes you see are because of modernism. Modernism is you. You are modernism.
To begin with, I'd like to clearly define what I mean by modernism and how much the meaning of that term means to me. Modernism is not just a synonym of change, it must necessarily be a synonym of progress. Progress that merely touches a life and moves on by itself is only an illusion and a dangerous one, at that. Real progess is one that breathes three things : prosperity, altruism, and modernism.
There have been many versions of modernism. Some see the entire term as illusionary, coined by some bloke who obviously had nothing better to do. To them, all I'd like to say is this : Get a life. You have been blind to change around you. The rare ones embrace modernism as a supernatural phenomenon, instigated by God - over which they have no control. The rarer ones see modernism as an intangible, involuntary act that THEY initiate in their lives.
The modern thinker has a fourth dimension of thought. He sees modernism as a step into a new set of challenges. The bedrock of such a school of thought is based on an irrefutable underlying fact : as long as there is life on this planet, there will be problems to solve. For instance, removal of world hunger is a principal challenge that face the modern thinker. World hunger, to the modern thinker, is a by product of man's irresponsibility in the past. It is, therefore, neither a supernatural nor a separately instigated man made problem. However, in the light of changed circumstances, where altruistic forces are relatively smaller as compared to the shrewd ones, the approach to solving an old age problem like world hunger must necessarily be influenced by modernism, to either abolish / find a long term solution to world hunger.
To sum it up and introduce the topic of modernism, and to encourage a constructive debate on modernism, one must remember a simple thing : There is nothing new in the world. The only changes you see are because of modernism. Modernism is you. You are modernism.
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