Joanna Nordyńska – Passers by – essay

passers by

The hustle and bustle of the street. Cars pass each other, disperse; people skulk by and disappear into the alleys. Most don’t know each other. We don’t know where they came from nor where they’re going. They carry their bags, their problems. Feel some joy. It’s us, PEOPLE.

Man is said to be the most advanced organism on earth and, in the hierarchy of terrestrial life, the apex of the evolutionary pyramid. When considering an archetypal perspective of the human species there are, apart from obvious herd tendencies, features that facilitate intellectual development of the species. Man is often brash, inquisitive, and stubborn. These conditions foster an impetus to cross new boundaries, both realistic and ambitious. From time immemorial man has made great efforts to discover the unknown, to overcome the insurmountable, to understand the incomprehensible. These bounds are constantly shifting. We are constantly making new discoveries, though it would seem intuitive that realms of knowledge yet unexplored should be diminishing. After all, how many more songs can be written from the same sounds? How far into space can we voyage? How many more tiny particles exist unbeknownst to us? What else can films surprise viewers with? And yet, the human imagination is amazing. Augmented by ever more advanced technology, it allows us to unravel many of life’s greatest mysteries; create new tools, devices, and amenities; help overcome disease – all of which contribute to the protraction and improvement of our lives. Do you agree? Of course you do. Any sane person would, so long as they did not delve deeper into the darker sides of human activity – a side also driven by imagination and stimulated through technological development, e.g., the development of a new, silent, sonic, biological or chemical or who knows what other weapon. However, temporarily focusing on the positive aspects of man and assuming pure intentions, it could be argued that we seek and discover in the name of the common good – each of us according to ability and interest. Some want to climb as high as possible, others to dive as deep, while still there are those who want to discover a new species of fauna or flora or come up with the best remedy for a runny nose. The only question is whether we can appreciate and respect these aspirations. There is a huge variety of individuals in our species. Purportedly we are family-oriented herd animals with interpersonal relationships, exerting mutual influence on each other; but we are still fundamentally self-determining individuals. If these individual units cannot channel a sense of community and shared responsibility, then solidarity in humanity’s struggle for survival is a pipedream. We will slowly degrade ourselves and our environment – indeed, we are already doing so. There are certain important aspects of life for which we should be accountable – regardless of national, social, or political affiliation. Unfortunately, awareness of such concepts is quite low. We live according to the principles of «after me the flood» in conjunction with «what good can one person do? Everyone can do good although evil is always easier… as some of the world’s oligarchs know only too well.

Until something changes, we will continue poisoning ourselves with our food, our drink, our air, burying ourselves in plastic, and slaughtering each other. No one wants to die, obviously, but there are those willing to slaughter out of sheer greed or lust for power. They are just waiting for an opportunity”. I wrote this observation a few years ago. Has anything changed? It seemed that experience, knowledge, as well as rapidly improving methods of communication would come together and enable everyone to fully appreciate, for example, peaceful living. How does this line up with reality? One isolated man cannot inflict evil on a global scale, no matter his determination; however, such men usually attract whole networks of cohorts.

We don’t like to be lectured; and in truth, this is no appeal for self-betterment. I am not playing missionary. I merely observe events and form conclusions. Everyone instinctively resists the notion that – under the right circumstances – people can still be barbarians, do they not? I am not a scientist, sociologist, nor philosopher. I am simply an ordinary PASSERBY through life, just like we all are, and I am merely imparting my own reflections and ruminations. Having said that... I do not believe that our species is integrated and I suspect most people believe similarly – they just aren’t vocal. The world is governed by money, while money itself is governed by a small group of de-facto executives. We are suffering from an incurable disease that we are power-

less to fight. This disease manifests itself as commercialism and the drive to dominate. We ostensibly decry snobbery and consumerism, but the slightest hint of a black-something sale the shoppers’ flock. Regardless of whether we need it or not, the occasional odd purchase seems harmless. Thus, we surround ourselves with heaps of unnecessary junk. Evolution – slowly, imperceptibly – persists, and the impacts of a more comfortable lifestyle can already be noticed, if by no other sign than by the reduction of our dentition (fewer people are developing third molars, and the ones that do erupt are diminishing in size. We are unlikely to ever discover exactly where evolution is taking us – but is it headed in a positive direction? There is too much egotism, anger, ruthlessness, and greed (the escalation continues) and too little empathy, kindness, and sincere charity in people. I do not believe that this will change because this is how we have been for ages, and while our world shrinks the problem grows. So, from time to time, wars break out. They show just what cruelty we are capable of levying against each other. The question is whether sudden surges of solidarity are able to tip the scales back into balance, and if so, for how long. All who are born must die. Sometimes willingly. Sooner or later. Independently, with assistance, or for want of assistance. The undeniable fact remains that we are all mortal. However, we can live our lives admirably or less so, helping or hindering one another. Which of us will there be more of? Perhaps we should come to our senses.

We are just PASSERSBY.

[JN]

Krzysztof Wiśniewski

Ola Haydamaka

u k r a i n e

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