“Historical development attests that we, humans, have been trying so hard to free ourselves from various kinds of bondage but in the process, we have been unwittingly, if not unconsciously ‘creating’ other kinds of enslavement as well…” ~ Leofina Jane G. Galleta
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An airport is such a paradoxical, if not a lonely place to be; it magnifies how humans are enslaved by movements and by change. What’s odd and ironic about it is that some of us think of this as sign of freedom and progress– that of progressive civilization, and that of a truly interconnected and highly globalized world.
Right. Or, let me rephrase that– it could be right. Humans can now freely go to any part of the world as long as such is legally allowed. And probably, even at that point wherein we’re initially making a decision to do something like that, we are getting more convinced with the idea that we’re simply making something that an emancipated creature like us normally does.
We’re free to make a choice. We’re free to move. Sure thing. But are we, really? Does social mobility, territorial openness, and freedom of movement really signifies freedom?
The skeptic observant in me can’t help but think that the scenario am seeing while sitting on this airport lounge – people almost bumping into each other but totally unmindful with another person’s presence; some rushing to different directions so as not to miss their flight; some are sitting across each other but too engrossed with the screens of their mobile devices — is but a manifestation of another form of enslavement– an enslavement of that desire for movement, for action, for change.
However, am not really sure if this is but a natural social phenomenon (social change) or if this is simply a ‘given’ consequence of the so-called emancipated society we claim we’re living in right now.
I just can’t discount the possibility that under the guise of freedom and perceptions of progressive undertakings. We, humans have settled on the thought that we are now in control. Not so fast. It could be that in reality, we are still bonded and quite powerless to a degree; we just think that all these free-flowing movements we currently enjoy in this fast-paced mobile world we’re in right now are really signs of emancipation, freedom, and progressive state of being.
For all we know, it could be that all these are but manifestations of ‘another kind of enslavement’ that emerged in parallel with the design of this mobile world we’re now living in. It could be that in reality, we are still in that same predicament — “like human-puppets bound on strings that only move according to the dictates of the ‘invisible hand’ holding the threads.”
©2011leofinajanegalleta, 15 December 2011,
(airport lounge - Ninoy Aquino International Airport)
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While sitting here again in an airport lounge waiting to board my flight, I decided to edit this post which has been originally published on Aug 13, 2011 @ 3:38, and expound my thoughts a little further. In the original post, I focused on my “feelings’ that airports symbolically represents fragmentation, disconnection, separations, alienation, isolation. I do intend to write a more thorough and more encompassing post– including its possible connection to globalization, social cohesion and human connections, etc. as well.
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Hi Jane – an interesting topic – freedom & liberty.
It is critically important to discern the difference between conceptual reality and actual reality.
We may have concepts regarding freedom & liberty, which encourage the belief that either can be gained or attained – but often these concepts merely move us between sets of conditions – & conditional liberty or freedom cannot possibly be the real thing.
To discover whether freedom & liberty actually exist, we need to look at our being – in a way that removes our perception from its limited sphere of conditions – in a way that reveals our being, simply and naturally – effortlessly – as a constant fluidity – mysteriously and miraculously sustained by invisible and unknown laws – the imminent authorship of which, belongs to a truly awesome & cosmic power.
We need to see that what we are – is a creative opportunity – unfolding at the pace of our life & growth – moment by moment – breath by breath.
Aside from our rigid beliefs and conceptualisations about life – only this opportunity affords us true liberty – true freedom – a liberty & freedom which, if they are not already our birthright – cannot possibly be attained.
So the changing face & pace of the world, of civilisation – do nothing to alter this fundamental attribute of existence – that life is a creative opportunity – conditioned only by those limitations we apply to ourselves – time & space are merely the vehicle through which absolute liberty becomes cognizant of itself.
Thank you for this contemplative feedback Tim!:-) As always, your comments are like brilliant gems hanging in my blog.
Cheers! – Jane
Sa aking komento ngayong araw, hindi na ako sisisid sa dagat ng metapisikal, tulad ng ginawa na ng katotong nauna sa aking magkomento ..” “.. Maganda naman ang kanyang komento … …
Ang maidadagdag ko lang marahil ay ang hudyat at paalala na, ang lahat ng Airport mga sentro ng surveillance. Mula ng pinasok ang mga makabagong teknolohiya, tulad halimbawa ng mga retinal scanners, biometric devices, atbp, lalong umangat ang pagdami ng datos na makukuha ngayon mula sa bawat taong dumaraan dito. walang sinisino yan, maging tero-bomber man yan o isang ordinaryong manlalakbay lamang. Makatuwid ay lumilitaw nanaman ang isyu ng privacy para sa indibidwal.
Tulad ng sinulat ng isang kritiko na tinitira ang Facebook, ang “transparency” ay para lamang sa mga institusyon, mga gobyerno, mga korporasyon. Walang sapilitang transparency para sa indibidwal, kundi ang siyang dapat palakasin ang proteksyon sa pamamagitan ng mga saligang-batas at gobyerno ay ang kanyang “privacy”. Subalit ang ganitong proteksyon ay hindi nangyayari sa realidad, dahil na rin “bantay-salakay” sa maraming bansa ang kanilang mga gobyerno, na nakikipag-kutsabahan sa dambuhalang mga korporasyon, kahit pa ito’y tinatawag na “demokrasiya”.
Hi Jane! I love reading this blog and I can’t help myself but think about things that I do when I’m at the airport or sitting by the airport lounge. True, we humans have a tendency to think that just because we are moving and trotting from one distant place to another, we feel that we are progressing or enjoying a principle of freedom. And yes, I think we are just drawn to the requirements of the present times…we are so busy with activities that gives us bondage to things that are temporal and not really doing activities that we are naturally and genuinely enjoying. True eh?