I have always liked the stories of ancient myths and how ancient civilizations gave meaning to their lives through them, telling these stories generation after generation becoming part of the collective unconscious over time. The psychologist Carl Jung in his studies established what are known as archetypes, these archetypes are representations of our symbols and idealizations, thus we think, reason and imagine through them. It is interesting, as one part of the world's intelligentsia dismisses myths as primitive imagination while another part places great value on it, so much so that scholars, scientists and researchers named their findings from the most famous myths.
In this way, we can find examples such as the Apollo Space Mission, named after the Greek god Apollo, god of the sun, of knowledge and of the arts in general. We can also find in the medical sciences the symbol of Caduceus, said symbol so ancient in humanity that there are records in the first civilizations of Mesopotamia, which means the wisdom of the serpent, a highly respected and venerated animal in ancient times. And just like medicine, astronomy, knowledge in general is represented through mythological symbols that have always been present in the general culture.
I have found a mythological allegory very useful to represent our responsibility in the use of technological means and social networks, and how these could compromise our freedom and our security. Let's talk about Odysseus, the mythical hero of Homer's Odyssey, the only one of the Trojan war fighters who returned home using his wits and cunning, unlike the other heroes who were semi-divine in nature, Odysseus being a mere mortal He knew how to overcome the obstacles that appeared on his way. One of his greatest adventures and one of those that best reflects his ingenuity is his encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus. Son of the god Poseidon, Polyphemus was a horrible giant who fed on men, possessed a tremendous strength and only one eye, Polyphemus lived on an island where they had no law and did not apply the regulations and customs of man.
The story tells that Odysseus found an island that he set out to inspect with his men, they found a giant cave where there was food, they made the decision to serve and eat. To his surprise, the giant who lived in the cave returned to lock up his flocks, Polyphemus rebukes the intruders and begins to eat them one by one. Odysseus using his cunning offers the giant a very strong wine that begins to drink it, while taking a sip he asks Odysseus what his name is, to which he intelligently responds: My name is Nobody. This answer will help him to get out of the immense trouble, once Polyphemus falls asleep, with the help of his men, he sticks a stake in his only eye, leaving him blind and sore. Polyphemus yells at his brothers who have seriously wounded him and they approach him and ask him who the person who wounded him was and Polyphemus between screams answers: No one has hurt me, No one has left me blind! Hearing the incoherent response, his brothers leave, thinking that Polyphemus has gone mad.
In the previous line we can clearly see two symbols of struggle, cunning against brute force, reason against violence. However, if we pay attention to why Odysseus hid his name it was so as not to complicate the situation he found himself in; in frank disadvantage against an invincible giant, who also had bigger and more powerful brothers. Polyphemus thus comes to represent the surveillance exercised through the internet, it is Big Data, it is Big Brother. We cannot fight him, once we become part of his system, once we accept the terms and conditions, once we press the ENTER key. Polyphemus controls everything in his cave, nothing escapes his immense eye that sees everything, and before him, men are nothing more than data that he will devour one by one.
In the context of the "alleged" coronavirus CODVID-19, this Polyphemus has reached higher levels of strength and control, and we men, unlike Odysseus, say our names, our data, all our information to be controlled and monitored We do it with such complacency that the tyrants of the past would long to live in this time. For example, if we live in China, where Polyphemus is more powerful, we can even be devoured, that is, disappeared without leaving any trace. Contrary to Odysseus, we have no way of closing the all-seeing virtual eye. So now China is selling a giant surveillance control to the West, a recognition software to monitor the streets and classify who complies with the social distancing. This is simply one of many cases. Tech companies are the highest-priced companies on the stock exchanges and are gobbling up traditional competitors. Our citizen rights are being annihilated as the power of the state grows without control and without limits.
In parallel with this, citizens have been terrorized by the media and have given up the freedom to move freely through the streets, accepting a mandatory quarantine, while losing our lives and our jobs. Politicians and powerful people tell us to stay in our houses while we run out of food, while they put us under perpetual surveillance, while they mark us as cattle, while they label us as "positive" or "asymptomatic" as if this coronavirus were AIDS of the 21st century.
Contrary to the mythological story, we do not have a plan to escape from the cave of this Polyphemus, this system has us trapped, because apart from the fear that stupidity has also instilled in us, it is more destructive and contagious than any kind of virus. Just enough to see social networks as people instead of questioning this current situation, they wallow in the mud of stupidity and ignorance. This time locked up without leaving has helped me to reflect and question, but at the same time it has filled me with deep disappointment when seeing how most of them do not realize where they are taking us. No wonder Bill Gates gives press conferences very smiling to see how his "predictions" go, on the other hand, the Chinese communist and totalitarian regime increases its profits destroying the economy of the West, its factories do not stop while the rest of the world locked in a concentration camp.
I am in favor of individual freedom and contrary to the Chinese totalitarian control system, that is why we must use the networks that do promote freedom of thought and true freedom of expression. If we want to be free again, just as Odysseus wanted to return home, let us not give up our fundamental rights, let us not compromise our privacy and our identity under the pretext of security. It is important that the moment the system has the power to annihilate you, it does not know your name, your address, your health insurance or how much your salary is. Sometimes I think it is too late, but seeing how life is in China, and how here in Venezuela they control us like farm pigs. I don't want the other countries to fall. Let's be Odysseus, and when the government decides to destroy us and devour us, we will be surprised to meet NO ONE.
Como que Orwell es tu escritor favorito... Excelente articulo.
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