Divide and Confuse

This first post will serve to introduce what I think is the main issue we should be facing (at least, within the developed world). Above political, economic or cultural squabbles, we should be trying to change our perceptions of these very realms before each side/interested group blindly vies to modify them to their own desires.

Why our perceptions? Well, our views on things are essentially shaped by the information we receive. Statistical science would suggest the more information we accumulate, the more likely we are to have a clear grasp of all the factors that come into play and, hence, of the bigger picture.

With this in mind, our perceptions of aspects of society become even more important than the notion of the objective or true nature of each one. For example, popular opinion of a country's domestic or foreign policy could incite a government to declare war, even if the policies in questions aren't damaging. Simply because of the opinion of a people, simply because it is popular, people lose their lives, economies crumble, societies are suffocated. For evidence, look no further than every instance of colonialism supported by the people of the colonizing country.

In the past, racist ideologies have been used to justify these takeovers: propaganda made people fear and hate, making it acceptable and even a responsibility to bring "civilization" to these foreigners. A desperately ethnocentric view that set the groundwork for Africa to become plagued by the poverty, corruption and conflict that continues in many parts of the continent today.

But shaping public perception need not be about things like war and conquest, especially today when wars are making themselves more scarce than before (or have possibly worn out their usefulness). It could be about a direction to take economically or passing a law. But who wants to convince people of these things? Well, it would depend on who has an interest in them. More often than not, corporations spend millions on lobbying and advertising to secure a market for their product. By that I don't just mean showing you an image of a new specialty drink at Starbucks to make you want to buy it.

Recently, the Keystone XL pipeline that would stretch from Alberta to the southern U.S. has caused a lot of controversy. Supporters of the project in Canada like a certain Mrs. Marshall and M. Levant have been very active and have a very well-funded campaign to get their message across that the oilsands are the ethical choice to secure petrol. It is obvious that the oil companies involved have an interest in keeping "movements" like this well-funded and keep negative coverage low (as well as invest heavily in positive coverage). This shapes the public perception of such a project, decreases resistance for an operation that calls for land to be cleared of anything living and leaves gaping chasms and lakes of toxic waste (not to mention the possibility of spills).

This is despite the knowledge that we could, if we decided to, opt for other forms of energy. The point is, a corporation cannot be counted on to do what is anyone else's interests but that of its shareholders (and then some...). And with them being behind massive campaigns to shape public opinion, can we really take what they say at face value or should there be critical thinking rather than rhetoric?

The message I want to convey is: WAKE UP! Very influential groups are working to further goals that conflict with what an overwhelming majority of people want. But because they're able to pass their goals of as innocent or beneficial with the resources at their disposal, they are realized with the help of people who, if they were to hear these ideas reformulated, might change their minds..and possibly become quite flustered.I don't think this message will reach many, if anyone, but if I can even reach one person to keep themselves informed and see through the mire of false facts and fantastic fallacies, it will have been worth it.

I consider all these political and cultural lines to be often emphasized to keep people into arbitrary factions that prevent them from realizing that they have common goals, but formulate them differently. This is changing with the help of social media and online communication in general and I am optimistic. That doesn't mean we can't speed change up a bit, without having to depend on some political/cultural figure to act as a leader.