illusion

The Illusion Of Freedom

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Imagine. Imagine a world you are wandering through and everyone you know, everyone you see, is in restraints that you can see. Over time, as you look over the faces, you realize that most people can’t see their restraints, particularly the happy ones. Some are fighting against the restraints, if even they can’t see them.

One by one you look at them. Your mother, your father, your best friend… all in restraints of their own making. You’re the only one free to wander around, it seems. Do you attempt to free them? Are you the sort of person who would try?

Maybe you do try to free them. Maybe you realize you can’t free the ones that are happy, that they like their restraints.

The angry ones have complex restraints, where if they fight against them they can’t get out of them. The harder they fight, the more tight the restraints become.

The sad ones don’t fight at all, locked into a position with desolate eyes staring at things you can’t see.

At some point, you begin wondering how you’re free and they aren’t. How is it that you’re the only one wandering around? How is it that you’re the only one that’s free?

It dawns on you.

You’re restrained by trying to help them get out of their restraints.

Delusion.

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protect delusionYou were born in a place on a planet. Where this happened defines your nationality, for better or worse.

This does not mean you should not travel to other parts of the world outside of the resorts and tourist destinations to meet people around the world.

You were born into a culture which shaped how you think. A religion was passed down to you; before you could speak you were surrounded by that culture and religion.

This does not mean it’s the right culture for you, or it’s the right religion for you. This is not even a factory default setting in a human. You are free to choose others, or free to choose none.

You were born into a socioeconomic situation. This will either give you opportunities that those without will call privilege, or will keep you from opportunities through your lack of privilege. There are myths and legends of hard work making you a financial success – and then there’s the story of Sisyphus.

It’s better not to be Sisyphus.

Oh, and you were born a particular shade of humanity – but that too doesn’t define you.

These are some common delusions we propagate from generation to generation.

It’s time to stop. Think. Choose.

The Walls

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The walls guide our path,
The walls guide us –
Little solace in the windows
When we are seeking the door
And sometimes, a mirage appears
Our need creates our illusion.

We try to open the door, to fight our fate
Trying to put an end to the debate
The fight was good but the walls have won
The battle is over, the war never done
Eyes closed with consternation
Hiding our eyes from
Accidental reflections.

The walls guide our path,
The walls guide us –
Little solace in the windows
When we are seeking the door
And sometimes, a mirage appears
Our need creates our illusion.

We try to open the door, to fight our fate
Trying to put an end to any debate
The fight was good but the walls have won
The battle is over, the war never done
Eyes closed with consternation
We shield ourselves from
Accidental reflections.

Written in the 1990s.