They first took the black,

        But I did not care about it, for I was no black.

        Next, they took the blue collars,

        But I did not care about it, for I was no blue collar either.

        Then they arrested the miserable,

        But I did not care, for I am no miserable.

        Then they caught some unemployed people,

        But as I have a job, I did not care either.

        Now…Now they are taking me,

        But it is already too late. As I did not care about anyone, no one cares about me now.


        The dramatic poem above belongs to the well known German poet and playwright Bertold Brecht, who lived back in the 20th century.

        Poetically outlined by the thinker, the drama belongs to the human being, and Brecht invites us to meditate over the aspects of indifference.

        The individual life that prioritizes the self on top of the others, presents itself as one of the most serious problems of humanity nowadays.

        Selfishness, greed, and fear transform great part of people into automaton islanders.

        Yes, automaton, for they avoid thinking, reflecting, and observing under the fake excuse of lack of time.

        Automatons plug in sockets in the morning and unplug at night without really having taken part of their day, without really taken part of their own lives.

        Islanders because they isolate from people, from human contact.

        You cannot trust anyone, you cannot count on anyone. Everyone is a suspect… – some will say.

        On their islands, they use high tech gadgets made only to help men on their chores, to help them keep a safe distance of the world.

        Virtual seems to be safer and easier than real. We fool ourselves under the name of a so-called safety and thus stop worrying about others, and start living on a constant Geronimo!, as if desperation were of great help.

        And the further we go, the harder the come back.

        The friendships neglected throughout childhood and adolescence are now a missing part for many men and women victimized by psycho problems, such as depression.

        Strong family relationships based on complicity and care may disappear in the future, and thus make it hard for us to open our hearts, for we will have nobody to speak with.

        It is time to act. To act while there is still time.

        Is it so hard to give attention and to care about those that surround us?

        Is it so hard to break through this indifference barrier and ask: How are you? –, really meaning to know how somebody else’s life is?

        The World is not about the self, but it is about the others. The World is us.

        We are all exposed to the same kind of experiences, the same proofs, and the same learning experiences.

        It is time to act. It is time to care more.

* * *

        Brake the ice of indifference and you will notice that the waters that will flow will quench your hardest thirst.

        Wake up today, and you will notice the sunshine is safer than the darkness of your closed eyes.  

Spiritist Moment Team based on Bertolt Brecht's  poem (1898-1956).
March 13 2008.