Tag: History

  • Gut Feeling

    Gut Feeling

    An encounter in an infinite universe…A comfort as if you’ve known each other for years, so natural, so relax…Yet secretly a quiet distance remains. It’s hard to call it a gain or a loss. Neither good nor bad. Perhaps this is exactly what we mean by being. One can feel close without knowing. Maybe not at…

  • The Absurdity of Mediocrity in Modern Democracy

    The Absurdity of Mediocrity in Modern Democracy

    A Brief Essay on Absurdity and Mediocrity What I mean by absurdity are things like political decisions, people attacking or killing one another, constant arguments, threats, statements, mistakes, and failures — all of it. Sometimes, after reading a piece of news, we find ourselves saying, “No way, this can’t be real.” Other times, “How can…

  • Nationalism in Today’s World: A Double-Edged Sword

    Nationalism in Today’s World: A Double-Edged Sword

    Nationalism: A Modern Virus with Ancient Roots Migration waves, economic crises, escalating wars — all these global issues have, perhaps inevitably, fueled a resurgence in nationalism. After all, blaming others and resorting to conflict often feels easier than working together to solve problems. In this piece, though my thoughts may not be perfectly organized, I…

  • The Night of Science: Celebrating Unity and Diversity

    The Night of Science: Celebrating Unity and Diversity

    The Night of Science and the National Anthem Last year in June, we had the annual Night of Science. Coincidentally, it was also the opening match of the European Championship. The university was broadcasting the game live in the courtyard, and naturally, everyone had taken their seats, waiting for the kickoff. Night of Science: An…

  • Empathy vs. Division: The Future of Democracy

    Empathy vs. Division: The Future of Democracy

    Introduction: Is Democracy Still the Least Bad Option? In one episode of Battlestar Galactica — if memory serves — a character answers the question, “Why democracy?”Their reply: “Because it’s the most tolerable among terrible systems.” In another scene, from Horace & Pete, a heated argument between a Republican and a Democrat is pierced by a…

  • Exploring East Germany’s Propaganda Machinery

    Exploring East Germany’s Propaganda Machinery

    NOTE: Everything mentioned below is real and has actually happened. There are no hidden references or innuendos. I had passed by this place many times before but never went in, partly because of its location and partly because the sign looked like a tourist trap. But this time, due to the rain, I decided to…

  • The Cycle of Tyranny: From Democracy to Oppression

    Plato argued that the result of excessive freedom brought by democracy is also excessive slavery. In such a system, where everyone has a say, the poor begin to seek justice against the rich and see them as enemies. Over time, when disagreements reach a point of no return, the majority—the poor—choose someone to lead them.…