Day 22 - The Politics of a Burning Building: Crisis of Trust
Tonight we are continuing in the
series "The Politics of a Burning Building". For the full context of
this series, please check out -
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The Burning Building -
Imagine
that you are in a burning building along with a thousand other people, and
there is only one exit. Above this exit is a sign that says
"Survival". This exit to "Survival" is only big enough to
fit two regularly sized people at a time, or one large person at a time, or one
person with a disability that requires that they use a wheelchair or be
assisted by others in order to pass.
You
realize that there is limited time before the structure collapses above you and
the fires engulf the entire building. If everyone finds a way to cooperate and
calmly proceed through the exit to "Survival", moving at a reasonable
pace and ensuring that people who require assistance are helped along the way
so that they do not become blockages for the rest - it is likely that everyone
will make it out safely to "Survival" with some time and effort.
If
the people do not cooperate in consideration of each other's common need to get
to "Survival" and adapting as a group to meet that need, then there
will be chaos, disorder, and panic. Energy will be wasted trying to find or
force a path to "Survival" and this will ensure casualties, as well
as risking the fires spreading more quickly during the commotion. But those who
are first to act on instinct and can fight best, will get through
"Survival" first and ensure they are not left behind in the chaos.
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Thus far we took a look at some
concepts having to do with the crowd during an emergency or crisis event and we
had a look at how there may be an expected tendency to believe that a large
crowd will 'instinctively' act irrationally and will behave in ways that are
not considerate of what is best for all when their lives are threatened. We
will visit this point again but for now we will first have a look at the
"Keepers of the Peace" in the world system who have the
responsibility of ensuring that there is order amidst the chaos, and how things
can be different in a way where people are given clear instructions and
practical understanding instead of being treated like herd animals who must be
whipped into compliance.
Here is a recap of this dimension of
the "Keepers of the Peace" :
"The Keepers of the Peace - This would be those who realize that there must be order if all are to survive, but there are those who refuse to cooperate and must be forced to comply for the good of all, and at times must be forceful and confront those who refuse."
So here we
are looking at, in terms of our story of the burning building - those who take
it upon themselves to ensure that people do not behave irrationally because
they understand that when there is a crisis or emergency situation, there must
be some kind of structure or order that all can understand and follow, so that
time and effort and in some cases resources that are needed for
survival of the group are not wasted in fighting amongst each other or becoming
distracted and disorganized, which makes it
much more difficult for the group to reach it's common goal, which in
this case is reaching the exit door of "Survival".
But what
about those "troublemakers" who just don't seem to get the picture,
and just do not want to cooperate, and generally make a mess of things for
those who want to cooperate and work together? When it is clear that
cooperation is necessary if the group is to get to "Survival", how do
the Keepers of the Peace get through to those who just refuse to cooperate?
Here it is
important to realize that unless we are able to see and understand the reasoning of others and become aware of how it is that they reached their decision
instead of condemning them and treating them as enemies or "threats"
to the common goal of "Survival"- attempts to enforce upon or change
this behavior will only be seen as authoritarian and imposing without real
consideration. This kind of "Do as I say" method cuts off
communication and in fact compromises TRUST.
In the
example of our burning building - the most important thing that a "Keeper
of the Peace" must do is to remain calm and stable - to not give in to
irrational decision making or to act solely in response to any "bad
behavior" by trying to overpower it by force or authority.
The manner
in which a crowd is addressed during an emergency influences how they
will respond throughout the situation. When they are shouted at and told
"DON'T PANIC! Do not fight each other. Do not endanger each other. DO NOT
RUN FOR THE EXIT" - this may get some people to stop running, but at the same
time gives NO practical reason or solution and addresses the crowd as though already assuming it is being irrational and untrustworthy.
If instead
people are addressed in a direct, but not emotionally charged manner and given
the message "Proceed cooperatively toward the exit so that crowding does
not impede evacuation", the likelihood
of practical group movement and cooperation will be noticeably higher.
The reason
for why this is the case has to do with the assumptions that one makes about
others WITHOUT first taking them into practical consideration, or building effective
communication and trust. If it was already assumed that there WILL BE trouble
makers who will NOT "listen to authority", this assumption will only heighten
and trigger that very response, and instead of focusing on communicating
clearly and taking the time to establish trust, the focus is instead placed on
how to be MORE authoritative and MORE forceful, which in turn further erodes
communication and trust and increases the likelihood of "rebellions"
incited by those who react to the "raised stakes" and increased militancy of the
authority.
Here we are
beginning to see another vitally important concept that the REAL Politician
must consider - Whenever there is an established authority or position of
influence or control that is responsible for ensuring the safety and well being
of a population - the KEY to ensuring that there is an effective system in
place requires that the REAL Leaders first understand and consider the position
of the population, and develop REAL communication and relationships of
trust - ensuring that the leader does not become a dictator or
tyrant - and to ensure that if there is a crisis or emergency, that there will
already be in place an effective communication and relationship of mutual trust
- where the population can in fact TRUST the leadership, and the leadership can
equally TRUST the population.
How can this
be established? The same way that it can be established by parents, who again
are the most influential Keepers of the Peace in our world currently. When
parents communicate and share with a child as though the child is an equal
instead of a subordinate, the child's ability and desire to communicate will
naturally increase. When children are equipped with and supported with an
effective vocabulary, they are better equipped to articulate their needs as
well as what their issues and problems are. When children are provided with
clear explanations and shown the practical consequences of certain actions or
behavior, they will develop on their own the most effective corrective
behaviors because they will not be doing it out of fear of punishment, but out
of actual understanding. The more we develop a child's ability and skill with
self-stability and common sense problem solving that isn't emotionally charged
or backed by fear of punishment, the more effective the child becomes at being
their own parent, and the more likely it is that they will be better parents
for any children of their own.
Likewise,
when those in power and positions of guardianship in the current world system
consider the populations to be lesser beings that must be forced and controlled
in order to "behave" the right way and not endanger themselves or the
delicate relationships of the world system, then there will be more distrust
within the population who become more separated from political and governmental
awareness, and will lose interest in developing more meaningful
engagement/communication.
When people
abuse their power and influence and exert oppressive control or induce a state
of dependency upon a population, that population will either go into revolt or
will give in to the inferiority and lose sight of personal responsibility or
dignity - in one case creating a volatile and violent population opposed to
authority, or an overly subdued and docile population incapable of self
movement.
But when
people are encouraged educate themselves and develop an effective awareness and
articulation about the world systems, they become far more capable of making
effective decisions for themselves and their communities. When people are given
an effective education so that they can communicate equally with leaders and the
government, where the actual issues can be discussed openly without fear of
judgment or misunderstanding, then it becomes possible for the those in the
world system - those who stand as Keepers of the Peace in the world - to
equally articulate their troubles and concerns and explain to the population
what is needed and required for our world system to best for all.
When we STOP
treating people as 'citizens' the way parents treat children as
"inferiors", and instead developed and encouraged political awareness
and practical understanding of world issues, our governments stop being centers
of public control and instead become administrators of a REAL government system
that is of the people, by the people, and for the people.
In the next post we will have a deeper look at the "Unfortunate" and understand their place in the context of our shared crisis.
Continue to the next segment "Mass Desperation"
In the next post we will have a deeper look at the "Unfortunate" and understand their place in the context of our shared crisis.
Continue to the next segment "Mass Desperation"
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