1. Chronos’ Society
Greek mythology tells us a cruel story about the world’s origins: Chronos
was the youngest son of Mother Earth, and he killed his father Uranus in
order to take his place. Afraid that his sons would do the same to him, he
devoured each one after his birth.
A paradox thus was born: A father, supposed to take care of his youngsters,
killed them instead.
I have thought on many occasions about this story and how it sadly seems
to represent our society. Why am I saying this? I believe that our society,
instead of protecting our youngsters, is devouring them just like Chronos.
By keeping silent, is an accomplice of the destruction caused by drugs and
alcohol.
We live in an anomic society and this type of society originates crisis. This
happens when there’s no distinction between good and evil, between what’s
well done and not, between what is for the good of the community and what
jeopardizes it. It originates crisis because we have lost the connection
between generations, when the oldest introduced the youngest into society,
teaching values and social norms, introducing them to the world.
In China, the word crisis is made up by two concepts: Danger and
Opportunity. To them, a crisis implies on one hand the danger of
dissolution, and on the other, a growth opportunity.
We are facing a desertion of roles in the family and the community, and
when we leave certain places vacant, others will certainly take them…
We speak about desertion because -as Argentinean philosopher Jaime
Barylko said- there seems to be a fear to parenthood. We delegate out
authority and others than us take our places. Therefore, socialization is
done, not by a father, a mother or an elder, but by the media.
A few days ago I read on the cover of a magazine targeting girls between 9
and 12 that a soap opera actress said that she didn’t practice sex without
love. Is this something that girls this age would naturally think about, or is
it an issue that the media is trying to instill in them?
It is strange but if we listen on the radio that a storm is approaching town,
we will try to take the necessary measures to avoid problems. This is
prevention. However, it seems that it is very difficult to take preventive
actions at home… we seem to believe that the school, or the state should
take that responsibility. We must be aware of the importance of prevention
starting at home, infusing values and ideals, and not relegating this crucial
responsibility.
We must act preventively, as parents teaching healthy standards that will
promote the development of our children. But should we, as citizens, be
contented with this?
2. I believe that we must assume as citizens another level of participation, as
important as the role of the family.
The concept of citizenship includes rights and obligations in relation to
others, with the community. It implies transcending individualities in order
to think collectively. A famous piece by German playwright Bertold Brecht
shows the failures of an isolated society where nothing affecting a neighbor
affects us: “In the beginning they took the black, but I didn’t care because I
am not black. Then they took the Jews but I also didn’t care because I’m
not Jewish….now they came for me and it is too late”.
It seems that many times we tell ourselves “nothing will happen to me,
there’s not such a problem at home”, as if it were a “permission” to step
aside from the social problem that addictions are.
Unfortunately there is always a silent majority that does not intervene, that
does not feel represented in debates, that prefers to keep mum, watching
how others take the initiative.
Those of us who work in the addiction field know, because we face it on a
daily basis, the terrible effects of drugs on people and their families. Many
times we ask ourselves, during discussions on behalf of the legalization of
certain psychoactive substances, why the community doesn’t intervene in a
proactive way.
This lack of participation is used many tomes in debate as proof that the
ample majority of the population either is not interested in the issue or
backs the use of drugs. But when we ask parents if they would be ok with
their kids using drugs, the answers is NO. (I even believe they would think
we are out of our minds for even asking such thing).
The answer to this would be to take a proactive and participative role.
Argentinean sociologist Fernando Bustelo has developed two concepts to
understand citizenship. One is the idea of “assisted citizenship”, of a childish
and passive nature, one that delegates on the state the surveillance and the
exercise of its rights (the silent majority). The other is the “emancipated
citizenship”, one that implies development of social rights “on demand”.
To live in a socially healthy society is a basic right, where parents and their
children can grow in an environment that allows for the integration of all,
and the development of potentials of each family and the community as a
whole.
A passive community does not demand, but an emancipated community
does. The latest makes sure that its demands are taken into account, and
proposes issues in the community’s agenda.
As members of an emancipated society we cannot remain silent. We must
discuss, defend our principles and participate because it’s the only way to
assume responsibility for our families. Our responsibility is for all of us.
3. We mentioned earlier that a crisis means danger, but brings opportunities
as well. We face therefore an opportunity to reverse many of the current
trends. We can become useful for our community, transforming ourselves in
a part of a chain that will extend, propagating healthy social and personal
values.
Each individual must transmit his or her ideals, interest others in the
prevention of addictions, participate and gather in order to influence
agendas. If we don’t do it, others will. And then, we will all have become
Chronos, or at least a silent partner in the destruction of our youth.
Bibliography:
Thucydides, Thucydides and the science of History, Oxford 1929
Bustelo ¬ Minujin, “ La política social esquiva”, UNESCO regional office,
paper presented at the Latin Ameican Development Congress, Río de
Janeiro , 1996
Mario Kupferschmidt
Buenos Aires, Argentina
tangok40@yahoo.com.ar
