Preconceived ideas, despairing clichés, a reactionary right-wing that deliberately plays on the populist patriotic anti-elite and white supremacist sentiment.
Silent crickets, carriers of a “demiurgic confusionism,” far from “equal respect and equal attention” that knows how to generate collective energies.
This overestimation is strong on all subjects plowed by the populists. Public ignorance is favored; crude information and misunderstanding on many topics are preferred. Social pessimism is the breeding ground for their culture.
For many, we are being invaded by Muslims when they are 7% according to INED (the national institute of demographic studies), by immigrants who are all potential delinquents (in fact, 15% of the prison population).
In fact, the truth is quite different: for 70 years, a large part of the world has been experiencing an exceptionally long peace. Europe, a theater of wars since the 15th century, has become a political community.
Life today is better than at any other time in history thanks to the spirit of innovation, the benefits of liberalism, and globalization.
We are not in mass prosperity, but how can we deny the general enrichment of populations and overall well-being, even if the rise of inequalities must be contrasted with adequate and effective social policies.
Violence is declining everywhere in the world, and jihadist terrorism remains very marginal.
Societal issues, even if to varying degrees, are recording epochal and unthinkable advances.
A few figures…
Since 1990, infant mortality has been reduced by half, endemic diseases are declining, malaria by -47%.
In 1957, illiteracy affected 44% of the population; today, 85% of adults can read and write.
12.7% of people live on at least $1.90 per day, +37% compared to 1990.
Respect, security, and equality levels for women are incomparable to the past. Emancipation is underway. According to UNESCO (2012), the enrollment rate of girls in secondary education has increased from 53 to 80% in South Asia, from 74 to 97% in East Asia, from 27 to 46% in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Everywhere, the rise of technology is breaking down barriers, facilitating education, commerce, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment inherited from the Enlightenment.
Yes, this world is far from perfect; it is not the best of all possible worlds, but is everything so bleak?
by Garibaldino
