Most Of Us Have No Idea Of What Is Happening In The World Right Now

Summary

The author reflects on their personal disconnect from global events, particularly the war in Ukraine, acknowledging a shift from a once informed and engaged perspective to a current state of ignorance and detachment.

Abstract

The author, once knowledgeable and passionate about geopolitics, admits to a growing detachment from world events, specifically the war in Ukraine. Despite being in Europe, a place she once considered safe from conflict, she finds herself disengaged, neither informed nor involved in the crisis. She contrasts her inaction with the efforts of those donating time and resources, and recognizes her privilege of living unaffected by the war. The realization of her ignorance prompts a moment of introspection, questioning whether her focus on self-preservation is truly beneficial, given that engaging with the world's issues could also contribute to her own salvation. She grapples with the tension between the desire to remain informed and the emotional toll of awareness, ultimately deciding that it is better to remain silent than to spread misinformation. The author concludes with a glimmer of hope, acknowledging her potential to change, and expresses a desire to re-engage with the world through writing and informed thinking.

Opinions

The author views herself as having regressed in her awareness of global issues due to a lack of engagement and use of her knowledge.
She feels a sense of guilt and inadequacy for not contributing to the efforts to support those affected by the war in Ukraine.
The author believes that remaining silent is preferable to contributing to the spread of disinformation, even if it means inaction.
She holds the opinion that personal salvation could be intertwined with a commitment to understanding and engaging with global problems.
The author recognizes the humanity of refugees, empathizing with their plight despite not feeling compelled to take action.
There is a conflict within her between the perceived futility of staying informed, given the emotional distress it causes, and the importance of being aware for personal growth and contribution to society.
She sees potential in herself to break out of ignorance by seeking information and resuming her passion for writing, which could lead to a more informed and engaged life.

Most Of Us Have No Idea Of What Is Happening In The World Right Now

I have always considered myself an intelligent woman, but lately, I have been losing my grip. The brain is a muscle, and the less you use it, the smaller it gets. I know that. I haven’t been writing here because I don’t feel I have anything to say. I am watching the world as it’s happening in a parallel universe from my life.

When my partner told me about the War in Ukraine that first morning of the invasion, I grabbed my bag and went to the gym. As I could be bothered with the news. Then, when I actually stopped to watch the news, I got scared, and I cried. I know I am not a bad person, but I am also not great as well. Many people are donating their money, their time, their energy to help people; I am not. I am living my life.

As a teenager in Brazil learning about geopolitics, the concept of a war happening next to me was very unlikely. We did have some “narco wars” in Brazil, the police against the drug dealers killing hundreds of innocents, but nothing like a European war scale or other wars financed by the USA and Russia in African and Asian countries (and even in other countries in Latin America). Brazil is a pretty chilled country with no enemies. So being an adult living in Europe and knowing that here I might face a war is a pretty scary thought.

I will be honest; I stopped understanding geopolitics when I was accepted at the top university in Brazil (USP). I knew almost everything about the wars happening in the world during that period when I knew I was going to be tested, and I needed to have that knowledge (and I was actually passionate about it, I want to be a doctor without borders). I got accepted at university in 2009, so for more than ten years, I knew nothing about what was really happening in the world regarding wars. So I can’t write about what I don’t know. I don’t know anything about what is happening in Ukraine. I don’t have a clue. I am the average ignorant person. Once I Wanted To Save The World, Now I Just Want To Save Myself. The funny thing is I am not really sure if I am saving myself, and the truth is by saving the world; I could actually save myself as well.

The only thing I can understand is that refugees are ordinary people. They leave their houses, their belongings, their jobs, their lives because they have no other option. Nobody wants to leave their lives behind to be dependent on other people. And in this, I can see myself, but not enough to do something, not enough to help.

Another thing that I can also understand is that I am helping more by being silent. It’s better to admit I can’t talk about something than saying something wrong and spreading disinformation. I see random posts on Linkedin (regarding the war in Ukraine), which I don’t understand, but I don’t comment, I don’t like, I don’t share. I just do nothing.

It’s complicated because part of my brain is like you need to be a little bit more aware of what is happening in the world; you can’t just live to go to the gym. And another part of me is like, well, you were the person that knew about what was happening in the world, and what did you gain? Sadness, stress, frustration, anger…

I know I am not alone, and I also know that there is hope for me because I know I am ignorant; I know I could know more and do more. It’s a matter of wanting. I know I want to write, so if I want to write, I need to think. To think I need information… I can’t just exist. Well, let’s see where this takes me. I hope to be back tomorrow, see you then :D.