Paris From a Taoist Perspective
Empires rise, empires fall, and mankind keeps screaming about right and wrong as if nature gives a damn. Strip away enough comfort, and the civilized man becomes a predator. As a Taoist, I see no reason to fight the storm. Let the world tear itself apart. I'll spend my short existence living, helping those I can, and refusing to become another self-righteous fool screaming at the wind.
Paris From a Taoist Perspective
Have you seen what's been happening in Paris lately? What side are you on? Is what they're doing right or wrong? And by whose authority do you make that judgment?
Are you Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, or maybe an atheist? Your beliefs will likely determine your judgment. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone thinks theirs is the righteous one.
So, as a Taoist, what's my judgment?
To me, this is simply nature taking its course. When a hurricane tears through Florida, does my judgment stop the storm? Does calling it evil change its path? Of course not. Nature doesn't give a damn about my opinion.
This is what happens when a society lives in a K-shaped economy for too long. The few rich get richer while the many poor get poorer. How long do you think that can last? Do you really believe there's enough police and military to protect everything? Hell no.
Humans can only take so much pressure before compassion goes out the window and the predator comes crawling out. Strip away enough comfort, security, and hope, and you'll see just how thin that civilized skin really is.
So what would I do if I lived in Paris?
I'd stay inside and watch the storm pass. Just as the Protestant Reformation is now buried in history, I see these events as already belonging to the past. Nature will do what nature does, whether I approve of it or not.
You might scream, "That's not right! You have to stand up for something!"
Do I?
Empires rise, and empires fall. Governments come and go. Religions flourish and fade. The righteous scream, the wicked laugh, and eventually, every last one of them ends up in the dirt.
And so will I.
So why should I waste my short existence consuming myself with the endless problems of mankind? I would rather spend my time finding joy, helping those I can, and living a life worth living.
The storm doesn't need my opinion, and the world doesn't need another self-righteous fool screaming at the wind.
Let nature take its course. I'll take care of what is within my reach.