How many, in particular privileged westerners like us, are given for 'cured' or at least 're-habilitated' through a range of expensive mental therapies against 'depression' only to continue living as productive parts of our culture, as if repairing a faulty piece in a a brutal machine so that it keeps on blindly working? When often what really weighs unbearably in our hearts is that enormous, unworded, overwhelming sadness accumulated since childhood on perceiving suffering and injustice, the monstrous cruelty of the belicose patriarcal culture in which we are born. That alone can make one feel ashamed of experiencing bliss or happiness, of enjoying the beauty life can offer. Yes. Let us rage. Let us also question our dangerous gods, and keep ourselves on the lookout in and outwardly, alert, curious, informed, making, loving, pushing for change.
Thank you Rachael...i deeply appreciate your response....
Thank you, Robert, for your enlightening piece.
How many, in particular privileged westerners like us, are given for 'cured' or at least 're-habilitated' through a range of expensive mental therapies against 'depression' only to continue living as productive parts of our culture, as if repairing a faulty piece in a a brutal machine so that it keeps on blindly working? When often what really weighs unbearably in our hearts is that enormous, unworded, overwhelming sadness accumulated since childhood on perceiving suffering and injustice, the monstrous cruelty of the belicose patriarcal culture in which we are born. That alone can make one feel ashamed of experiencing bliss or happiness, of enjoying the beauty life can offer. Yes. Let us rage. Let us also question our dangerous gods, and keep ourselves on the lookout in and outwardly, alert, curious, informed, making, loving, pushing for change.
Most of us feel totally helpless and like your dear friend depressed. Yes we are all rapidly becoming desensitised by the media coverage.
“Later that night
I held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered
‘Where does it hurt?’
It answered
everywhere
everywhere
everywhere.”
-Warsan Shire
thank you and what a beautiful quote.......
Not my only takeaway from the article of course, but I was struck by the beautiful description ‘my wife/lover/friend/everything’