Jan 11Liked by Silvio Castelletti, martino/pietropoli
I think the questions you raise are spot on. People are afraid of free speech (when what is being expressed contradicts their beliefs) and take us for being stupid. Black and white thinking and censorship is just lazy. Unfortunately, it’s done by both political parties. Those who were the most ardent advocates for free speech during Covid for example, are now the most vocal advocates for firing people who are on the “wrong side” of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The whole thing is so disgusting it makes me want to puke. Whatever happened to intelligent, respectful conversations? Whatever happened to just true listening? It’s really disheartening to raise children in this world. Luckily, I have the best conversations with my daughters about... everything!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Imola. I completely resonate with your observations on the challenges surrounding free speech and the tendency for black and white thinking. It's disheartening to witness the shift in attitudes, especially when those who championed free speech during one issue now seem to advocate censorship on another. Your point about the lack of intelligent, respectful conversations is poignant. It's encouraging, though, to hear that you're fostering meaningful discussions with your daughters, providing a glimmer of hope. :)
Jan 13Liked by Silvio Castelletti, martino/pietropoli
Grazie mille Silvio. Fostering kind, respectful conversations, and hearing each other out is my mission not only as a mother, but also as a friend, yoga teacher and writer. E anche in italiano, perché è importantissimo! Piacere leggerti :)
Jan 11Liked by Silvio Castelletti, martino/pietropoli
I try to avoid saying too much about politics, but I will make an exception here. This is one of the few pieces where I've seen someone get to the root of the issue. In the west we are proud (rightly, I would say) of our democracies. But the key idea behind democracy is that the people - as a whole - decide who rules them. To do that we need freedom of expression and ideas. Censorship works against that, by effectively saying we cannot trust the people to think in the right way. And if we say that, we can no longer trust in democracy, and we must - sooner or later - revert to a governance by a group of people who believe they alone think correctly and who thus give themselves a right to dictate what everyone else must think. If we believe in democracy, we must also believe in freedom of expression, but more importantly, we must believe in people's ability to judge what is right and what is wrong.
Absolutely, Alastair. Thank you. Although I often think that the idea of democracy that we've been used to navigate needs a rethinking. I've never seen such a profound gap between what governments think, and what the people (that supposedly elected them) do. This isn't right. I don't have a solution or an alternative, but I think this might be one of the most prescient themes of Humanity 2.0.
Jan 11Liked by Silvio Castelletti, martino/pietropoli
Just recently saw a documentary on Zappa that blew me away. Not being very musically inclined as a consumer I have of course heard of Zappa all my life, but I had no idea of the caliber of individual behind the music. I think you're right that one of the key (unacknowledged) issues it the assumptions we make of others' intent. If we actually knew what everyone was to trying to achieve in their heart of hearts, likely some form of human connection and happiness, would we be so quick to judge how they're going about trying to get there? Probably not.
Thank you so much, Rick. I'm glad you enjoyed the Zappa documentary! I love the musician (a genius) and the person (a truly clear, unafraid thinker). Always have and always will. Gaining insight into an artist's background can indeed deepen our appreciation. Your point about assumptions and understanding each other's intentions is spot on, as always. If we could see the common thread of seeking human connection and happiness in everyone's actions, it might indeed lead to more empathy and less judgment. Such an interesting and comforting idea.
Jan 11·edited Jan 11Liked by Silvio Castelletti, martino/pietropoli
"Except, we’re not stupid. We may be simple minded, but we’re not stupid." - I would love to think that people are not stupid, but governments increasingly replacing parental care and individual judgments through ideological indoctrination may be sadly decreasing the collective intelligence as a society.
"Do we live in a world where “free” really exists?" - I wonder if there was any point in time of human history where people truly lived as "free" beings. Maybe as hunter-gatherers but even then, you probably had to obey the laws of nature. Currently, taxation is too high. If the government can take more than half of what you make and own, it would be right to say that you're basically owned by the government. And so in that case, the liberty to think and speak our minds may be the last standing freedom we have as human beings.
Thank you for putting out this piece.
On a side note, while I agree with everything in the piece, my take on university presidents differs a bit. It seems that schools have been publicly condemning hate speech, punishing profs who say certain things and purposefully not funding researches pertaining to certain political tendencies, and issuing statements on just about every DEI political issues of the past several years, except in the israel case. Hence the heightened scrutiny. I do not think that universities have been champions of free speech to deserve any sympathy on this particular issue.
Thank you, Jisoo. A lot to unpack in your comment. Glad you took the time to read and share your thoughts. Ours is a piece voluntarily "light", inspired by Frank's ideas and occurrences. Or maybe not that light, as the themes are profound and potentially dividing. Does "free" really exist? I wonder every day. Especially nowadays. I think it has become difficult even to think freely, without even speaking our thoughts. A truly free thinker is rare. On universities, I'm really horrified at what's happening, all driven by billions and power. No sympathy per se, but astonishment and bewilderment.
Your pieces always makes the reader think. I agree that freedom is increasingly shrinking. It’s the “illusion of choice and freedom” as George Carlin put it. Schools should lose their status as non profit organizations. Very disheartening.
Yes. Agreed. And the fear that some will (inevitably) despise you shouldn’t keep you from always doing it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Rachael. Welcome back! :)
On one side, this reminded me that I still have that deep dive into Zappa to do.
On the other, the points, and especially the questions you raise are spot-on! And apply to many things when authorities "impose" what they think it's best... they're great heuristics to ask when facing this situation. Lots to ponder on.
Also, refreshing to see this as a cross-post and style variation!
Thank you, Oscar! Glad you like this experiment of co-authoring. Zappa is complicated, but hey, I'm here if you ever need any suggestion/recommendation on where to start. Would be happy to help. On the other points, good to see they resonate. But I had no doubt. :)
I think the questions you raise are spot on. People are afraid of free speech (when what is being expressed contradicts their beliefs) and take us for being stupid. Black and white thinking and censorship is just lazy. Unfortunately, it’s done by both political parties. Those who were the most ardent advocates for free speech during Covid for example, are now the most vocal advocates for firing people who are on the “wrong side” of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The whole thing is so disgusting it makes me want to puke. Whatever happened to intelligent, respectful conversations? Whatever happened to just true listening? It’s really disheartening to raise children in this world. Luckily, I have the best conversations with my daughters about... everything!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Imola. I completely resonate with your observations on the challenges surrounding free speech and the tendency for black and white thinking. It's disheartening to witness the shift in attitudes, especially when those who championed free speech during one issue now seem to advocate censorship on another. Your point about the lack of intelligent, respectful conversations is poignant. It's encouraging, though, to hear that you're fostering meaningful discussions with your daughters, providing a glimmer of hope. :)
Grazie mille Silvio. Fostering kind, respectful conversations, and hearing each other out is my mission not only as a mother, but also as a friend, yoga teacher and writer. E anche in italiano, perché è importantissimo! Piacere leggerti :)
Grazie a te! :)
I try to avoid saying too much about politics, but I will make an exception here. This is one of the few pieces where I've seen someone get to the root of the issue. In the west we are proud (rightly, I would say) of our democracies. But the key idea behind democracy is that the people - as a whole - decide who rules them. To do that we need freedom of expression and ideas. Censorship works against that, by effectively saying we cannot trust the people to think in the right way. And if we say that, we can no longer trust in democracy, and we must - sooner or later - revert to a governance by a group of people who believe they alone think correctly and who thus give themselves a right to dictate what everyone else must think. If we believe in democracy, we must also believe in freedom of expression, but more importantly, we must believe in people's ability to judge what is right and what is wrong.
Absolutely, Alastair. Thank you. Although I often think that the idea of democracy that we've been used to navigate needs a rethinking. I've never seen such a profound gap between what governments think, and what the people (that supposedly elected them) do. This isn't right. I don't have a solution or an alternative, but I think this might be one of the most prescient themes of Humanity 2.0.
Just recently saw a documentary on Zappa that blew me away. Not being very musically inclined as a consumer I have of course heard of Zappa all my life, but I had no idea of the caliber of individual behind the music. I think you're right that one of the key (unacknowledged) issues it the assumptions we make of others' intent. If we actually knew what everyone was to trying to achieve in their heart of hearts, likely some form of human connection and happiness, would we be so quick to judge how they're going about trying to get there? Probably not.
Thank you so much, Rick. I'm glad you enjoyed the Zappa documentary! I love the musician (a genius) and the person (a truly clear, unafraid thinker). Always have and always will. Gaining insight into an artist's background can indeed deepen our appreciation. Your point about assumptions and understanding each other's intentions is spot on, as always. If we could see the common thread of seeking human connection and happiness in everyone's actions, it might indeed lead to more empathy and less judgment. Such an interesting and comforting idea.
We need more Zappas in the world!
"Except, we’re not stupid. We may be simple minded, but we’re not stupid." - I would love to think that people are not stupid, but governments increasingly replacing parental care and individual judgments through ideological indoctrination may be sadly decreasing the collective intelligence as a society.
"Do we live in a world where “free” really exists?" - I wonder if there was any point in time of human history where people truly lived as "free" beings. Maybe as hunter-gatherers but even then, you probably had to obey the laws of nature. Currently, taxation is too high. If the government can take more than half of what you make and own, it would be right to say that you're basically owned by the government. And so in that case, the liberty to think and speak our minds may be the last standing freedom we have as human beings.
Thank you for putting out this piece.
On a side note, while I agree with everything in the piece, my take on university presidents differs a bit. It seems that schools have been publicly condemning hate speech, punishing profs who say certain things and purposefully not funding researches pertaining to certain political tendencies, and issuing statements on just about every DEI political issues of the past several years, except in the israel case. Hence the heightened scrutiny. I do not think that universities have been champions of free speech to deserve any sympathy on this particular issue.
Thank you, Jisoo. A lot to unpack in your comment. Glad you took the time to read and share your thoughts. Ours is a piece voluntarily "light", inspired by Frank's ideas and occurrences. Or maybe not that light, as the themes are profound and potentially dividing. Does "free" really exist? I wonder every day. Especially nowadays. I think it has become difficult even to think freely, without even speaking our thoughts. A truly free thinker is rare. On universities, I'm really horrified at what's happening, all driven by billions and power. No sympathy per se, but astonishment and bewilderment.
Your pieces always makes the reader think. I agree that freedom is increasingly shrinking. It’s the “illusion of choice and freedom” as George Carlin put it. Schools should lose their status as non profit organizations. Very disheartening.
Very interesting piece, Silvio. A thought that came up for me:
When you speak your mind, openly and without fear, people will either adore or despise you.
That’s what public discourse feels like nowadays.
Yes. Agreed. And the fear that some will (inevitably) despise you shouldn’t keep you from always doing it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Rachael. Welcome back! :)
This is so well-written, Silvio and friend!
Thank you, Yehudis! :)
On one side, this reminded me that I still have that deep dive into Zappa to do.
On the other, the points, and especially the questions you raise are spot-on! And apply to many things when authorities "impose" what they think it's best... they're great heuristics to ask when facing this situation. Lots to ponder on.
Also, refreshing to see this as a cross-post and style variation!
Thank you, Oscar! Glad you like this experiment of co-authoring. Zappa is complicated, but hey, I'm here if you ever need any suggestion/recommendation on where to start. Would be happy to help. On the other points, good to see they resonate. But I had no doubt. :)