the right side of history

Why is Greta Thunberg so triggering for certain men?

“Because of what she represents. In an age when democracy is under assault, she hints at the emergence of a new kind of power, a convergence of youth, popular protest and irrefutable science. And for her loudest detractors, she also represents something else: the sight of their impending obsolescence hurtling towards them.”

The future is networked and feminine. Our market-dominated era is waning. A new network-dominated era is emerging. We need leadership that goes beyond capitalist, market-oriented thinking. This is a fundamental shift in our deeply held belief systems. It is going to hurt. Like the Protestant Reformation after the advent of print technology, it will likely be messy. Reactionary forces are already fighting the patriarchal market economy counter-reformation. They may win the battles but will lose the war — because every generation dies.

“We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words.” —Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018)

We can decide on what side of history we want to be. We can also do our small part. Each of us can make sense of some of the complexity around us — climate change, refugees, populism, surveillance, misogyny, etc. We do not need to do it alone. An aggressively engaged citizenry is the counter to the demagogues. Don’t hide. There is no escape. We are all in this together.

“Politics hates a vacuum. If it isn’t filled with hope, someone will fill it with fear.” —Naomi Klein

My small part in the revolution is helping people to think. Sensemaking, especially in a sea of misinformation, is a critical skill. I keep exploring and testing better ways to Seek > Sense > Share. I base these on what we have learned so far — such as the need for range & inefficiency — and where we need to go — such as retrieving gender balance.

As Greta Thunberg said, “You don’t need to spend two weeks on a boat to do your part to avert our climate emergency. You just need to do everything you can, with everyone you can, to change everything you can.” The same goes for every necessary change in society. Our hope for the future is that together we can make the network era smarter.

Image: GapingVoid.com