The flaws of individualistic thinking

You can’t personally change your way out of systems that degrade your very existence.

Call it political polarization,

The spread of misinformation,

Or social media subjugation.

But our current state of reality is marked by theories of individualism that doesn’t actually exist.

Under the individualistic theory, everything signals virtue.

Your politics? Virtue.

Your personal style? Virtue.

Your work? Virtue.

And why?

Who supposedly chooses your politics? YOU!

Who supposedly chooses your personal style? YOU!

Who chooses what you do for a living? YOU!

Not your relationship with societal systems and governance and not the path dependencies that literally shape your beliefs and values.

Only YOU!

Because, at some point, we were all played,

Indoctrinated,

And brainwashed into believing that our value relies on our strict individuality –

Rather than the communities, family units, and relationships that make life enjoyable,

Bearable,

And possible.

We were taught that these systems are to be upheld

And that the system is flawless, without fail.

We even believe that one‘s perceived failure to uphold specific virtues and values is an individual fault, rather than systemic design.

Systems designed to reward careless apathy and malice for the sake of increasing capital, rather than rewarding empathy, humanity and respect.

Systems that deliberately brainwash the people into individualistic thinking, rather than holding communal perspectives.

Think the “loneliness epidemic”,

Which is not limited to those assigned as male,

But is a systemic issue facing all generations.

Loneliness is imposed on the masses by design to make us believe that virtue is the same as value,

To lead us into a manner of thinking where those who do not share our values are not worth our time or energy.

Justification for disposing of entire human beings serves to prevent us from solidarity on economic class, racial, and other lines imposed upon us in the context of globalized capitalism and systemic white supremacy.

And cruelty, of course, is the point.

The aesthetic of revolution will not save us, or anyone else.

Many of us live in societies that prioritize anger and clout over good faith efforts to make mutual aid accessible.

Education, shelter, and food. All should be considered human rights as they are all human needs.

Without food and shelter, education is impossible. If education is not possible, then we risk accepting ignorance as the norm.

Thinking of political discourse, not, as an individual virtue, but a collective, social responsibility.

You, alone, do not owe someone education, food or shelter assistance but, as societies, we owe it to each other to meet the material needs of our neighbors and even others outside of this scope whenever possible.

Mutual aid is also necessary when keeping the people deprived of their basic needs has become weaponized to uphold and consolidate fascistic power.

You, alone,

Those who think like you, alone,

And those who suffer, alone,

Cannot make or force change.

Most positive social and economic change has come as a result of basic education, basic conversation, and basic conversion.

Not dogma,

Not rage,

Not by inflicting trauma,

But by meeting each other’s needs

And literally just having the necessary, but difficult, conversations.

When you are knowledgeable and empathetic, you are not “better” than anyone else, the system designed you to be the exception, not the rule.

Thus, it is the collective responsibility of you and others like you to make that knowledge accessible.

In the same way, those with material resources (even if meager) and empathy have the collective responsibility of providing aid to those without.

A culture of individuality has only led to mass selfishness and nowhere to turn as the aesthetic of revolution yields zero material results as it entails no actual action – only the perception of action.

Transforming our respective societies into cultures of mutual awareness and aid will also be difficult,

But it is the first step to ensuring that we can come together to craft the necessary solutions for the problems we face,

Whether it be the genocides in Gaza, Sudan and the Congo, or the climate crisis.

Nothing can be done until we come together,

And prioritize mutual aid and respect over selfish and egotistical aesthetics.