Beating the heat

Welcome back.

Recently I've roused my imagination out of a long slumber and allowed it to explore the smooth, ruffled pages of several different books: Books of the creative mind, books of fiction, but books of caution as well. These books remind me how applicable themes in fiction can be to the reality I find myself in.

It's times like these, times where in reflection I see the world to be such an absurd place, in which I see how existentialist ideas could come to be. Is it not an ironic thought that these books of fiction may very well be predictors of the fate of our world? That, for us to learn from mistakes, those mistakes may often be the devises of writers and poets? Perhaps it's best this way, as fact is so easy to distort and stretch. Fiction will always be just that, but rarely needs to be taken at face value, and good fiction always has more to it than a simple tale. So right now, as I reflect, I wonder where it is we may be going.

I say the world is absurd not to complain arbitrarily, but rather to assess the methods and results of society in producing, or failing to produce a meaningful, intelligent, virtuous people. Perhaps the world is too grand a word, when really I'm more focussed on the society in which I live. Anyways, the issues I've been reading about involve censorship and a failing of democracy. I'm not one to complain about the state of things at the moment, as really I don't have any greater solutions. However, it is out of a speculative possiblity that I turn my mind to such issues.

What if we abandon reason and logic as primary means of thought? What if, as a result, we also lose a desire for literature and thought provoking conversation? Furthermore, what if this brings us to a place wherein we choose not to think for ourselves? And even furthermore, what if this leads to rebellion? War? Can it be stopped? If so, by whom? What would we do to prevent rebellion from breaking out again? Who should be in control of such power, combined with such paranoid fear of damaging the system that keeps balance, no matter how brutal that system may be?

Now here's the absurd part... Are logic and reason the primary means of thought within our society? Perhaps for the individual, but for the group? I can't say so. Is there really a pervasive desire for thought provoking conversation in society? There are groups, forums, and clubs, yes, but again, do they exist among the majority? I'd have to say no. So, are we thinking for ourselves? Really? Who told you what to buy, where to buy it, and for what reasons? Interesting. Rebellion? Check. War? Check. Not solely due to these reasons above, but definitely due to disharmony of types, sometimes in rejection of oppressive forces. Finally, who comes in to stop these wars and skirmishes? What are their motives, and what do they have to gain? Maybe these things above seemed like arbitrary, far off questions of fiction, but perhaps they are more real than we'd have thought.

In Farenheit 451, the oppression came in the form of book burners. This begs the question for us, how can we beat the heat? How do we prevent things from getting so bad that we no longer have the ability to stand against oppression? The answer is so simple, just think. This answer, however easy it may seem, can change your life. Think. Don't do it because you're told, however. You'll never do it right if your motives aren't intrinsic. Think, empower your mind with the ability to say no, and not because someone else says no, but because you reject the yes. Social commentaries in the form of fiction are great beginnings of this notion. they force you to digest not only a tale, but also a paired idea.

Set free your mind, break away from your plugged in existence long enough to think. Is this what we want? Twitter, facebook, status updates, gps tracking, summaries and highlights? Don't log on with your mind turned off, think as you go along, and if it doesn't seem right, avoid it. Nobody is going to do it for you, in fact, some benefit when you're most ignorant. This summer, when you're drenched in sweat and hiding from the sun's powerful ways, find more than one way to beat the heat.