Recently by Simon Black: Young People: Get Ready to Grab YourAnkles
One of my favorite movies is the Matrix. I remember when it came out over 11 years ago, my best friend went to go see it. He called me immediately afterward and said, “I just saw the Matrix. You need to stop whatever you’re doing and come see this movie with me right now.”
Sure enough, the movie was spectacular… and if you haven’t seen it, you should check it out. The action sequences and special effects were mind-blowing for that era of filmmaking, but what really made this movie timelessly brilliant was its philosophy.
In the movie, the main character ‘Neo’ recognizes that the world he’s living in is based on lies and misdirection. He know’s that something is wrong, but he’s not exactly sure what, or why.
The Matrix [DVD] (1999)
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Neo is given a choice. On one hand, he can find out the truth, nomatter how ugly it may be – this is represented by a red pill. On the other hand, he can go back to blissful ignorance, which is represented by a blue pill.
He chooses the red pill… and the true nature of the real world isn’t like anything he had imagined.
Seeking out the truth is a scary proposition for most people; finding out that many of our core institutions and beliefs are built on a mountain of lies is unsettling, and it goes against basic human instincts like acceptance and security.
Choosing to ignore the truth, however, is like going up against a force of nature. You might be able to sustain a city under sea level or at the foot of a rumbling volcano for a while… but at some point, mother nature is going to wash everything away with one awesome display of power.
Similarly, the truth can kept at bay for a very long time. Politicians and institutions can pass off their lies and corruption as reality for decades, centuries if necessary. But like a great storm, the truth will eventually surface and wash away their fraud.
People who maintain an open mind and choose to seek out the truth early can get ahead of the storm. People who refuse to acknowledge the obvious facts around them will get caught up in the tidal wave.
