I try to accomplish something worthwhile every day, but I frequently run into difficulties. I have noticed that people are becoming less interested in intellectual pursuits. Media commentators and social media analysts have noticed that people prefer to spend their time on social media discussing less serious issues of life, society, and humanity. I fully understand that life is not always about living on complex issues; we also need social connections, lazy time, or simple topics to discuss to bring social happiness or fulfill individual social interests. But we must have a balance of lighter and heavier topics for greater fulfillment and meaning.
It saddens me to see academics more concerned with titles and status than developing new theories and ideas and nurturing the young. We have stopped thinking for ourselves and have become satisfied with instant pundits who pass judgement on everything. Our constant need for reassurance is a damning indictment of our age. Where have all the new chess grandmasters, innovators, musical prodigies, and budding philosophers gone? When we are not busy preening ourselves for our next 'Selfie,' we seem to worship at the temple of consumerism. Insecurity and gossip dominate our lives, causing us to avoid the unfamiliar, which causes us to think and reflect.
Individuals who wish to pursue a career in politics must be aware of the dangers that await them. Since the atmosphere into which they are thrown has echoes of the gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome in many ways, the word 'arena' is a suitable one to employ. We must ask ourselves this question whether we are part of the baying multitude who either demands that a combatant be saved or insists that they are put to death. In the past, politicians have been associated with unethical practices. This is not because politicians are inherently dishonest individuals but because power, by its very nature, draws those who see the potential for personal enrichment and financial gain. Many politicians are people of principle and conviction, whilst others have less lofty goals and show little concern for the people whose careers they ruin and destroy as a result of their actions and words, as is the case with many business leaders. The selfishness and obsession with one's interests drive these individuals rather than the desire to serve the public or the nation.
We have all recently encountered a significant problem in this highly complex and hegemonic environment. Following the Second World War, the Ukrainian conflict is one of the world's most seismic events, having already claimed the lives of numerous civilians and wreaked havoc on contemporary civilisation. This article does not examine who is to blame for the conflict or its causes but rather the intellectual mindsets that exist at times of crisis and how they react so poorly, particularly in relation to freedom of speech. Each big news organisation appears to be biased and following its agendas. I have been astounded by how the media has already begun to distort every aspect of this war and how Western politicians have attempted to restrict certain forms of media freedom—in today's modern world, shaped by globalisation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is hard for any media outlet to function impartially in today's environment, as we see daily when major news organisations fail to educate the public about the truth. Everybody began criticising the Russian news media. I am not a fan of any single media platform, but I feel that people should have more opportunities to learn about diverse narratives. Individuals must choose what they will accept or reject.
The violent and vindictive attacks are set to intensify in the coming weeks, illustrating how poisonous and specific despicable segments of our society have become. Rather than acknowledging that people hold divergent ideas, it is now acceptable to denigrate them. What message is this sending to the youth? Individuals who profess to embrace free speech and liberal ideas appear to be drinking a poison that undermines society's fabric. These behaviours and attitudes must be addressed immediately.
The ability to express oneself freely and without fear of repression is critical for any democratic country or administration. Because genuine challenges, directions, and debates provided by freedom of expression assist every democratic state in formulating and developing better laws and policies. The ability of the people to speak freely without restrictions or fear of repression by the government is the main prerequisite of free speech, and it is regarded as the first condition of individual freedom. It is enormously essential in making democracy transparent and beneficial to people's freedom. Because of the exceptional communication of the twenty-first century and the progress of the Industrial Revolution, it has recently become widely acknowledged that the right to free expression is a fundamental slogan of a democratic society. It must be protected, and the state is responsible for doing so. People's freedom to speak freely is one of the essential liberties of a free and civilised society, and it plays a vital role in the progressive evolution of society.
The right to free expression is established in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it is explicitly provided to the people in most countries by legislation. However, the reality is a little different and mixed. Freedom of expression is protected nationally in some democracies and wealthy countries, but it is severely restricted in others, and bipartisan policies are regularly blamed in others. Nevertheless, in undemocratic, fascist, and totalitarian regimes, where restrictions and repression are common, the topic of freedom of expression can be perplexing. But my point is not about these countries' freedom of expression. My debate is primarily concerned with the so-called freedom of expression in the West or the developed world. In today's social media age, when freedom of expression is perceived as direct intimidation, bigotry, and intolerance, including the dissemination of damaging misinformation, it is understandably concerning, and so-called freedom of speech may sometimes cause more harm than freedom good.
Shortly after the outbreak of Ukraine war, the entire Western world began imposing a series of economic sanctions on Russia one by one. Russia Today was the first to strike. The European Parliament, the United Kingdom, the United States Congress, and other allies has spoken out against Russia-based news organisations. This major Russian media outlet was shut down in front of our eyes. However, it is worth noting that in response to European restrictions against RT, Russia took retaliatory action against several western news organisations, including the BBC and Deutsche TV. Immediately, western media, intellectuals, politicians, and members of civil society branded Russia as the world's most dictatorial country, devoid of any concept of freedom of speech. However, they did not feel the urge to examine themselves in the mirror. This is referred to as a double standard. As though you are indifferent. The Western world has breached the right to information freedom by blocking Russian outlets and limiting public choice.
The prohibition is a one-of-a-kind restriction on freedom of expression, a violation of one of the most cherished and glorious liberties in Western liberal democracy. This isn't just a case of violated press freedom; it's part of a long-term strategy to destabilase Russia. The two-pronged policy of the Western world is inhibiting the progress of democracy and human development. "I may disagree with you, but I will support your right to die," English writer and philosopher Evelyn Beatrice Hall told French philosopher Voltaire in 1906. Both free speech and free press depend on this.
I'm left wondering what we're doing to inspire the next generation. Are we instilling in them the ability to think for themselves? Are we assisting them in their quest for new knowledge? Have we supplied them with the compass necessary to find their way to the ancient wisdom? Each of us may contribute. "The world is a vast gymnasium where we come to strengthen ourselves." Swami Vivekananda's (1863–1902) remarks are a challenge to all of us. We will never progress if all we do is engage in the superficial. Each of us must serve as a role model for others. We are continually admonished to take care of our bodies and seem attractive, yet our true worth is found.