Veja magazine
recently published an at
least provocative
article about the
confrontation between
the feeling of nostalgia
and current reality.
Based on several
studies, the authors
hinted that, nowadays, a
picture prevails in
which the past emerges
as something romantic
and nostalgic, while the
present is permeated
with pessimism and
dissatisfaction. As it
usually happens, matters
like this are subject to
the most varied
interpretations and
opinions, depending on
the observer. In
general, there is a
conviction – grounded or
not – that things were
much better in ancient
times.
That said, it is
consensual, for example,
the opinion about the
extraordinary advances
obtained in the
technological field in
the last decades, but
they do not mean that
life has improved. In
fact, in the past there
was a simplicity that
doesn't exist today,
because, in this regard,
it is worth remembering
that now we have to have
passwords for
everything, and they do
not guarantee us the
desired security. In
fact, in many cases the
opposite is observed. To
illustrate my reasoning,
who hasn't gone through
the experience of
calling a company's SAC
and feeling, at a given
moment, abandoned and/or
neglected? The
unpleasant sensation of
typing in a menu, which
does not quickly and
solicitously provide
assistance to our needs
by another human being,
is not just a nostalgic
expression, but the
realization that we are
not relevant enough.
Many companies, still,
literally push us
towards the ubiquitous
chats or Apps to search
for a solution – which
does not always happen –
to our problems.
In this way, a
conclusion emerges very
clearly in this
comparison: in present
times, little value is
actually given to the
relational aspect, to
frank and personal
conversation and, by
extension, to the
authentic exchange
between human beings in
which one can always
assess true emotions.
and underlying facial
expressions. It is for
no other reason that it
becomes increasingly
difficult to know the
inside of the other, as
well as what is, in
fact, in his soul. All
this broad technological
apparatus that today
“serves” us has,
paradoxically, brought a
high distance between
people, as never before.
Definitely, such a
conclusion is not at all
positive from the
perspective of the
immortal Spirit.
However, the new
generations are no
longer sure. Many
already know that
attending college will
not necessarily give
them a passport to
professional success. In
fact, there are
occupations seriously
threatened by the
proliferation of
artificial intelligence,
to the point of seeking
a moratorium, as
recently seen. In the
past, it was normal for
young people to move up
the career ladder, gain
financial independence,
leave their parents'
home and form their own
family as natural
processes.
Unfortunately, the same
healthy cycle is no
longer fully observable
today, as many young
people are unable to
move forward or find a
way. This result, let's
face it, is not an
indicator of prosperity
and social progress.
On the other hand, I
remember my mother as a
central figure in the
composition of the
home's harmony, always
present to give advice
and guidance. I observed
the same picture, by the
way, in the family of my
friends. But it is also
an undisputed fact that
modern reality is in
stark contrast to that
of the past, in which
women dedicated
themselves full time to
the home, undoubtedly
making it more solid.
For various reasons,
women entered the labor
market, dramatically
changing this situation,
not least because the
modern patriarch is no
longer able to earn
enough income to support
his family alone. Some
argue that such a change
has caused some
disruption in homes, as
mothers are no longer
fully available to care
for the family as was
the case before.
At the same time, the
coldness of family meals
due to the intensive use
of cell phones is
already a topic of wide
debate. Some, in fact,
expressly prohibit the
use of these devices on
such occasions, so that
healthy dialogues take
place between members.
Nor is it simply
nostalgia that people
were more discreet in
their sexual conduct.
They had the modesty to
keep certain things just
for themselves, unlike
the present day in which
certain themes and
inclinations are wide
open. In fact, many
artists and celebrities
today expose, with the
greatest naturalness and
without ceremony, their
preferences and tastes
that would make even the
Marquis de Sade blush.
There is undeniably a
frenetic need to exhibit
bodies entirely or
partially - at best -
naked, as if we lived in
the middle of the Garden
of Eden.
Still others feel
compelled to give an
opinion on any subject
without any ethical
restraint, knowledge or
training to do so. In
other words, we live in
a context where
eroticism and ignorance
have assumed a
preponderant role,
bordering on bad taste
and debauchery. By the
way, swearing or abusing
foul language has become
absolutely commonplace,
including – God help me!
- in some journalistic
programs, former
stronghold of the
letter. In the modern
world, there is little
appreciation for
elegance in language,
for a demure and serene
style in behavior and
for behavioral balance.
In the contemporary
world, there is a great
division between people,
with little respect and
tolerance for other
people's opinions.
Still on the behavioral
side, it is worth
mentioning that one of
the surveys, which
served as the basis for
the article cited above,
bears the worrying data
that 200,000 people
heard over a decade
declared that there was
an ethical and moral
setback in 84% of the
questions asked. Indeed,
it is a pillar in
people's spiritual
development. After all,
without a clear and
healthy direction in
this regard, the
individual will
certainly reap bitter
results in his life
trajectory.
In this sense, it should
be noted that the
institutions – pillars
of society – are in deep
crisis and their
representatives only
deepen it, since their
interventions are
generally disastrous.
Their speeches and
attitudes often denote
complete lack of control
and incompatibility with
the position they
occupy. It is worth
remembering that a
well-known journalistic
commentator expressed
his dissatisfaction with
this state of affairs,
attributing it to the
lack of ethics and
morality in force. It is
true that we – as a
nation – have always
fallen short in these
very important
dimensions, including in
the past. But in the
current context, it is
undeniable that they
have reached another
level of “moral
degradation”, in the
words of the
aforementioned press
professional.
To try to explain such a
gloomy perception, one
can conjecture that
perhaps the necessary
emphasis is missing in
current times that there
are also good things
happening. Clearly yes.
However, they seem
unable to overcome the
contrary perceptions of
pessimism and
discouragement. In any
case, the subject is
complex and demands
further analysis, which
would certainly tire the
reader in a single
article. However,
“...the time has come to
make men know the
truth”, as Allan
Kardec once said.
This truth, which
encompasses the reality
of the immortal Spirit,
calls us to make changes
in our way of seeing and
being.
Therefore, the time has
come to look more
critically at our inner
selves and ask whether
we are really
contributing to a better
world. In this sense,
let us keep in mind that
God (always) expects
from us actions and
attitudes aimed at the
greater good so that the
planet can be, finally,
regenerated and life, by
extension, increasingly
better for everyone.
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