Introduction: A Period of Uncertainty and Despair
We find ourselves in an era marked by uncertainty, leaving many feeling despair as one chapter of history closes without clear understanding of how we arrived here, while another unfolds with unpredictable consequences. For some, cruelty seems to loom closer, while others wield it as a tool for revenge, finding satisfaction in the suffering of others. The question arises: does humanity still exist amidst those in power who yearn for a glorified past that never truly existed?
The majority of humans, who do not aspire to wield omnipotent power (“sueños son, aunque ninguno lo entienda”), still yearn for fulfilling lives, the preservation of common good, and respect for fellow humans and all living beings. Many seek change through their daily actions or envision collective action as a means to bring about change, echoing Arendt’s thoughts on the power of communal action.
Silent Mourning: The Accumulation of Unacknowledged Loss
Today, for many, despair takes root in silent mourning. The accumulation of unacknowledged losses, swept under the rug, rendered invisible by pressing needs, does not disappear. These unspoken losses linger like thorns, knots, or stones within individuals, families, and communities. As people increasingly confront the void left by absence in this century, they can no longer deny the gaping hole of loss.
- Mexico mourns the loss of 800,000 lives due to the pandemic.
- Daily disappearances and murders leave gaps, with victims often erased from official records by indifferent authorities.
- Individuals detained and imprisoned in facilities like the “Alcatraz of the Crocodiles” or distant detention centers face an uncertain future, regardless of the political climate in their home countries or neighboring nations embroiled in conflict.
Collective Mourning: The Path to Healing and Unity
Should we, as a nation or society, fail to recognize and mourn collectively post-pandemic, how can we unite against the violence and cruelty of recruitment and extermination camps, massacres in the sierra or central regions? How can we acknowledge daily losses of those seeking better lives and face persecution?
Facing the Horror of Ongoing Conflicts
As wars continue to cast their shadow over various regions, turning peace into ash in the mouths of perpetrators, how can we remain silent amidst the repetition of atrocities once deemed unrepeatable? How do we rise against such ignominy?
Personal Grief: The Pain of Loss
Alongside collective mourning, many grapple with personal losses. The death of a loved one, even in natural circumstances, leaves an aching void that fragments one’s sense of self, family, and routine. Though we may deny death or struggle with life, eventually, we must accept that our paths will diverge.
In these dark times, acknowledging what has been lost, reclaiming a sense of the common good, and mourning together defies this new order of cruelty and indifference.
