Saturday, while on my way back home from the hairdresser’s, I happened to notice one of my high school teachers walking on the pavement. I rolled down my car window, gave her a warm greeting, and decided to step out of my car to continue the conversation which lasted for about fifteen minutes. After catching up, I asked how long she’d been retired. Four years, it turns out, and thoroughly enjoying it, having recently returned from a four-month trip to some far-off place. However, she should’ve retired much sooner. As she went on to explain, she was in her late fifties, looking forward to a timely exit in about two or three years, when the government raised the retirement age several times in quick succession, putting it out of reach every time.
Put yourself in her shoes. Imagine the government making you a promise as a young twenty-something, only for them to renege on that same promise years later, as soon as it inconvenienced them. How would you feel? Not too pleased, I imagine. But I’m also guessing this story doesn’t come as a complete shock. We’ve grown accustomed to these type of things – governments breaking promises or government officials just outright lying. Coupled with all sorts of scandals in other institutions (like news, religion, and universities), it’s no surprise that trust in traditional authorities has fallen of a cliff.
So, what’s the next step, when trust has faded away? Well, people take to social media, hoping to find someone to listen and look up to.
One such person was Jessie Lee Ward. She had a bright personality, very hyperkinetic, with a knack for firing off one motivational talk after the other. She also happened to be in the MLM industry – the type of business which constantly has to explain that they’re “definitely not a pyramid scheme”. A few months ago, she found out she had stage four cancer. The doctor recommended her to start chemotherapy straight away, telling her she’d be dead by October otherwise. Instead, she chose to go with ‘magnetic treatments’ and ‘red light therapy’. You can guess the results.
Obviously, I’m not pushing anyone to do anything. You don’t want to listen to your doctor? That’s on you.
But do you know what I do have a problem with? People who promise cancer patients that magnets will somehow cure cancer, as well as those who promote the very same idea to their thousands of followers – causing more people to fall victim to such nonsense. I also take issue with the far-too-common notion that a ‘positive mindset’ alone can conquer all obstacles – it obviously can’t. It’s this blatant disregard for the truth that’s the real issue here, as it ultimately poisons our society, no matter whether it’s from traditional or… alternative sources of authority. And I can’t help but notice it doesn’t just come at a cost for the victims, it also comes at a cost for the perpetrators. Food for thought.
Kind regards
Vincent J. Dancet