The worst of it
The last few days has been filled with conversation about the future and what we can try to do now to make it better. What is 'better' is hard to say but one thing that is unanimous is that decentralization of control and unique individuals working together to create value are at the core. This place is filled with unique, filled with ideas, filled with talent and filled with people who care about where we are today and where we could be tomorrow. Despite our differing opinions on how to get there, we are unanimous in where there is, is a place where everyone has benefit, everyone has value.
Today, is the day I have been anticipating and dreading: We will visit Auschwitz.
If there is ever a place where we are able to get an understanding of what is possible under centralized control and what is possible when we start seeing each other as numbers rather than humans, this must be it. I do not know what I am going to find there nor what will find me and I feel I am likely going to distance myself from it in some way by viewing through the camera.
people working together can do amazing things and that is both of the most wonderful and the most terrible in nature. There are very few problems we as a global community are unable to overcome yet many that we are unable to overcome because we are unable to overcome one factor, division. The conflict between individuals and groups are both source of inspiration and innovation, as well as excuse to inflict suffering on those we disagree with, those we value less than ourselves.
I have talked about it before from my own perspective but after many discussions it is apparent. The people at Steemfest are decentralized individuals. Very few are living in their place of birth, they are partnered with people who are from other countries, their parents are often migrants, their children of mixed nationality.
Almost by default, they are people designed to search for individual control of their lives, people who are designed to live and thrive wherever they land and, those willing to value people based on what they bring to the table, not their color, race or creed. Steem is filled with hints of what the future could become.
I do not know what Auschwitz will mean to me, I do not know what feelings it will evoke or my reactions to some of the worst humanity has ever known, put on display. Our history is one filled with so much pain, suffering and hardship yet, we have also managed so much beauty, charity and love. We can do better than the pain, we can do more of the love.
Perhaps through our discussions, words and continual conflicts, we are negotiating a path to a future where one day years from no, generations and centuries from now, we have a solution, a community where we as people matter and people who understand that community matters. Whether we get there is not is less relevant than our attempt to get there and our actions now are the only way to make what we all want, reality.
We are the worst of it.
We are the best of it too.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
That is one place I don't think I'd ever want to visit, despite how crucial the history lesson is. I think I get enough of the lesson from a distance.
This is one of the reasons I agree with those philosophers who say the only thing that must not be tolerated is intolerance. If you let it take root, it silences everything else, and then people become capable of horror they thought was impossible.
It is a process of blurry lines because it is often that people take it to mean that everything should be tolerated and accepted. Bad ideas are bad ideas and they must be challenged.
Yes, decentralization of control can give more freedom to most people. However it is also possible to have centralized control over decentralized structures/organizations. This would be even worse than the primitive centralized unflexible control.
enjoyed that. thanks Taraz
you are welcome.
There are very few problems we as a global community are unable to overcome yet many that we are unable to overcome because we are unable to overcome one factor, division.
I think this is one of my primary concern with decentralizing the steem blockchain. So much time and resource are going to be used or wasted on some programmes. I feel we can do so much more together. However, I have come to realize that indeed this is the way to go. Yes, there might be losses but I believe some projects will do far better than what we have achieved so far as a centralized system. The future of steem is bright.
Have a nice at steemfest. Hopefully, we will meet during the next one.
One thing is certain, there are going to be many Auschwitz photos very soon. I am sitting in the coach, might see you soon.
Posted using Partiko iOS
And there was and I am sure more will come still. I know that I am going to have to process some better ones than I have so far.
Broadly on Steemits future - I agree very much with your words. There are so many brave and beautiful people on Steemit, people are trying new things all the time (and make next to nothing for the time).
From my own personal point of view - Today I launched my first ever PVP game (bot driven). A few months ago I had no clue how to program or make a game (being on Steemit taught me) - perhaps this formal communities thing?? will help things, working in communities, treating everyone equal and sharing in benefits is definitely key from my perspective.
Re your visit - I can't imagine what it would have been like going through that, for me I think its important people think about and even visit such places and try to respectfully understand and gain perspective.
I have had a few conversations about this the last few days and I met a few apps that could be leveraged to help community leaders do their jobs and earn without having to post. I have to think more about it and process some of the conversations.
The communities are going to be a vital part of the ecosystem as it will be them that are leveraged by the apps and vice versa.
I think so too. Understanding the best and worst helps actively choose the best.
The cultural diversity is one of the dimensions of Steem that I enjoy the most. I have seen so much and have learned even more as I continue to utilize this platform to meet people from all over the world. Many times after hearing about this situation or that, I feel so privileged to Live in America. The comforts and opportunities that this great country of mine provides most of its citizens is all too, often taken for granted.
I enjoy the diversity also. There is a lot of value in seeing the views we get to see here and solving problems across groups rather than only for individual groups.
I pretty much have the same thoughs regarding today’s trip. I’ve been “looking forward” to it which I know probably sounds weird and strange but I feel as though I’d be upset with myself for not seizing this opportunity to take part in it. I’m sure it will bring a wave of emotions from the obvious disgust and sadness, to the relief that this particular atrocity is done with. Along with fear and concern for what the future holds and if this could happen again some day.
However it goes, I’ll be able to go home and tell my daughter about it. She will be here next year for her senior trip. Her class had a ton of options of amazing places to visit in Europe. They all got together and voted...this is where they chose as one of the stops. That in itself gives me hope for the future. The fact that a bunch of 16 year olds from New Jersey, were socially conscious enough to actually WANT to take part in a visit to Auschwitz that will no doubt be an eye opener for them is weirdly comforting to me. Either way, I’m glad I’m here with all of you today to share in what will most likely be a pretty powerful experience.
It was an experience like no other I guess and for me, a very positive one. Understanding a sliver of that past has to make people think about the future and their current actions toward it. I am glad that people like your daughter have chosen to visit and hope that they will really understand the possibility of being complacent in the face of such ideas.
Yeah, I’m glad I did it. Probably no need to go back for seconds as while it was a moving experience, it was fairly emotional and harsh. Not the kind of thing I want to revisit but I’m happy to have been a part of it.
I wish everyone could have the experience just once. Maybe this world would be a better place if people could see firsthand what happened. Reading and learning about it are one thing. Being there and seeing the photos and belongings put chills into me.
I wish I was there to go also. I think it will be emotional, it would be for me anyway. I've been to many battlefields as you know...Auschwitz is something else again...I won't say have a good time...It wouldn't be appropriate. Just soak it in and take some time to think about the innocent victims of all wars.
I tried to imagine it as it was but fell short by a long way. It is so structured and organised, so cruel.
Great words! One thing I noticed in watching the livestream from the first day which I finally finished, is the diversity of our community! Diversity adds perspectives which are great for the continuing improvement we need to develop and grow the technology we are fostering here on STEEM. We learn a lot from the past and one true lesson has been that we are all different but are citizens of the world and need to work together to make it better!
I mentioned several times at the event, it is more than just diversity, it is filled with decentralized people. 90 percent seem to live in countries they weren't born in, with partners from other countries, parents from another again, and kids who will likely move. It takes a certain kind of person to back themselves in foreign lands and no starting community. It is valuable to understand this.