Ignorance is Not Bliss, Wake Up
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela
The times that we are living in could easily be scenes from an R-rated, dystopian film. In fact, that is a precise description of how it feels to view the news. Genocide, war, systemic racism, poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, homelessness, human trafficking, and gun violence are not even half of the crises our world currently faces.
What’s even scarier than the turmoil surrounding us, though, are the people who wake up and choose oblivion. People who see the lives of others being destroyed and think, “that has nothing to do with me.” Those who mindlessly reject the very knowledge that their ancestors died for. If you are experiencing bliss amidst your ignorance, trust that it will not last much longer.
KNowledge is Power
Knowledge is one of the most valuable assets one can posses. Once it is yours, it cannot be taken away from you. We are extremely blessed to have access to a plethora of resources regarding any topic in existence. There are physical books, electronic books, articles, academic journals, newspapers, magazines, videos, podcasts, museums, and fellow human beings to learn from. Despite the abundance of knowledge right in front of our faces, many people remain happily uneducated.
Our collective ignorance allows the evil on Earth to effortlessly prevail. While everyone is Keeping Up With the Kardashians — laws are being made, lives are being lost, and Mother Nature cries for help.
Lessen Your Distractions
In an article published by the Daily Orange, Sofia Aguilar states, “We could choose to spend that [free] time reading, texting, indulging in self-care or sitting alone with our thoughts, but instead, celebrity life gives us an outlet to not exist in the space we are presently in. For a moment, we can remove ourselves from reality.”
By making these points, I am in no way suggesting that celebrity drama is below me. I recently enjoyed refreshing my X timeline during Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud as much (or maybe more) than the next person. However, I always make a conscious choice to indulge in the content. It is important to note that the power to alter our social media algorithms lies in our hands. If there are nothing but mind-numbing memes, explicit pictures, goofy videos, and celebrity news on your timeline… that is what you are feeding into the most.
Sofia further explains that ”following celebrity culture is not in itself a bad thing if we’re using it ironically or for amusement. But I know too many people who would rather obsess over what Kylie Jenner is doing than keep up to date with current events around the world.”
I concur that following celebrities is not bad in itself. Especially for celebrities like Kehlani, whose incessant advocacy for Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Yemen, & Haiti has showcased how those with large platforms can use them for the greater good.
Educate Yourself
Learning is an empowering process when the information being absorbed is of substance. The best thing about learning is that the only one in control of what your mind intakes is YOU. Not your family, not your friends, not the media, not any institutions. Knowledge must be something you crave beyond obtaining a degree. Each of us are students of life with eternal access to enlightenment. Any and everything is a teacher, if you are willing to listen.
Please stop finding comfort in self-imposed ignorance. If not for yourself, for your peers and your future descendants. As stated by the legendary Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
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