In four posts till now, I’ve established that there are very clear indicators that India and Indian army are doing badly - but still being applauded. I will continue to keep building up the case in the coming posts through illustrations in several fields. however, one question is already popping up.
Why do people not see what’s staring them in the face?
And, what can be dome about it?
I’ll provide my understanding of it here. It’s important to discuss possible solutions because that is what we discuss problems for. Merely building up a case that all is not well is complaining, not productive thinking.
I see several possible reasons why people do not see what is so clear.
It could be that people don’t consciously sit down and think dispassionately for 15 minutes about ‘How are India and Indian Army doing?’ Living their lives, they simply do not focus on that one issue. Unless someone brings the question to focus.
Even when the point comers up for rumination, it remains to be an academic one. In such a scenario, the point of view that is most popular is usually taken, Most people do not like to be seen as different from the common man. And unfortunately, what is the opinion of the ‘common man’, is what we see or hear as being shown or told to us as the ;common man’s opinion.
We make our decisions on community affairs based on what we believe the majority is doing. It feels comfortable to go with the crowd. Vox Populi, Vox De - the voice of the people is the voice of God. This notion is strengthened by our belief that the ‘voice of the people’ is an aggregation of people like us and the image we see in the mirror is our actual image. But what if the mirror were warped, and what you see there is not an aggregation of opinions of people who think like you – though you think they are?
This is called False Consensus or Collective illusion.
Breaking such a mirror is essential if it willfully contorts reality. If not done, more and more people will believe that the grotesque image they see in it is true public opinion, and it is their duty to strengthen that image. All their subsequent efforts go to sanctify that grotesqueness.
I believe that the present regime has bought Indian media to such an extent that they are presenting a ‘false illusion that not only is everything well, things are actually great. In such a situation, the common man thinks that the safest thing is to simply say, ‘Yes, I too say that not only all is well but are great.’
But that is not the real consensus. So, you shouldn’t go along with it, merely because you believe it is common consensus.
If you are one seeking an improvement in India and the Indian Army, it becomes your to create different situations which force the people to spend the 15 minutes to introspecting the real state of India and the Indian army. Getting people to see the real picture will not be easy but we must still do our duty.
The overall solution seems to be that responsible citizens must force a discussion on these important issues and present the reality, backed by irrefutable facts.
Don’t flinch from it. One good way to argue is to bring the focus back on what would any citizen really want.
Surely, people want prosperity for themselves? If that is what everyone wants, the one thing government must provide is ‘prosperity’. If there is no prosperity, there is no democracy. By that definition, India does not have democracy, while China has. Their people are more prosperous.
In Nehru’s time, we had freedom of speech and hatred but not enough prosperity. Today, we have neither prosperity nor freedom of speech and from hatred.
Prosperity for most - and not just a few - can come only from economic justice.
All this, and more, is what we Indians decided unanimously when we set out our constitution, is –
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic, and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship;
EQUALITY of status and opportunity.
and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.
Let’s properly use the Bharat Mata ki Jai (Victory to my motherland, India) and Vande Matram (I salute my motherland) slogans.
Let my country have the best economy. Vande Matram
Let it have an effective army. Bharat Mata ki jai
Let it be a model of social cohesiveness. Vande matram.
Let it have the best job situation. Bharat mata ki jai.
5 - Basically, what's the problem (and a possible solution)
In four posts till now, I’ve established that there are very clear indicators that India and Indian army are doing badly - but still being applauded. I will continue to keep building up the case in the coming posts through illustrations in several fields. however, one question is already popping up.
Why do people not see what’s staring them in the face?
And, what can be dome about it?
I’ll provide my understanding of it here. It’s important to discuss possible solutions because that is what we discuss problems for. Merely building up a case that all is not well is complaining, not productive thinking.
I see several possible reasons why people do not see what is so clear.
It could be that people don’t consciously sit down and think dispassionately for 15 minutes about ‘How are India and Indian Army doing?’ Living their lives, they simply do not focus on that one issue. Unless someone brings the question to focus.
Even when the point comers up for rumination, it remains to be an academic one. In such a scenario, the point of view that is most popular is usually taken, Most people do not like to be seen as different from the common man. And unfortunately, what is the opinion of the ‘common man’, is what we see or hear as being shown or told to us as the ;common man’s opinion.
We make our decisions on community affairs based on what we believe the majority is doing. It feels comfortable to go with the crowd. Vox Populi, Vox De - the voice of the people is the voice of God. This notion is strengthened by our belief that the ‘voice of the people’ is an aggregation of people like us and the image we see in the mirror is our actual image. But what if the mirror were warped, and what you see there is not an aggregation of opinions of people who think like you – though you think they are?
This is called False Consensus or Collective illusion.
Breaking such a mirror is essential if it willfully contorts reality. If not done, more and more people will believe that the grotesque image they see in it is true public opinion, and it is their duty to strengthen that image. All their subsequent efforts go to sanctify that grotesqueness.
I believe that the present regime has bought Indian media to such an extent that they are presenting a ‘false illusion that not only is everything well, things are actually great. In such a situation, the common man thinks that the safest thing is to simply say, ‘Yes, I too say that not only all is well but are great.’
But that is not the real consensus. So, you shouldn’t go along with it, merely because you believe it is common consensus.
If you are one seeking an improvement in India and the Indian Army, it becomes your to create different situations which force the people to spend the 15 minutes to introspecting the real state of India and the Indian army. Getting people to see the real picture will not be easy but we must still do our duty.
The overall solution seems to be that responsible citizens must force a discussion on these important issues and present the reality, backed by irrefutable facts.
Don’t flinch from it. One good way to argue is to bring the focus back on what would any citizen really want.
Surely, people want prosperity for themselves? If that is what everyone wants, the one thing government must provide is ‘prosperity’. If there is no prosperity, there is no democracy. By that definition, India does not have democracy, while China has. Their people are more prosperous.
In Nehru’s time, we had freedom of speech and hatred but not enough prosperity. Today, we have neither prosperity nor freedom of speech and from hatred.
Prosperity for most - and not just a few - can come only from economic justice.
All this, and more, is what we Indians decided unanimously when we set out our constitution, is –
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic, and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship;
EQUALITY of status and opportunity.
and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.
Let’s properly use the Bharat Mata ki Jai (Victory to my motherland, India) and Vande Matram (I salute my motherland) slogans.
Let my country have the best economy. Vande Matram
Let it have an effective army. Bharat Mata ki jai
Let it be a model of social cohesiveness. Vande matram.
Let it have the best job situation. Bharat mata ki jai.