I’ll be honest with you, I believe I may have never heard or begun to appreciate this band if it weren’t for one of my favorite movies, The Matrix by the Wachowskis. The song plays at the perfect moment, right at the end of the movie when Neo, having become the One, hangs up the phone and shows us he can fly.
The lyrics of “Wake Up” form a sharp critique of racism within the American government, even going as far as implying its involvement in the assassinations of prominent African-American figures.
Lack of awareness
Racism in governments and organizations is just one aspect of the broader lack of awareness in our society. This ignorance exists everywhere, even – or perhaps especially – at the top of hierarchies. What’s truly unfortunate is that for some, this lack of awareness is intentional. It’s simply easier to live in a world where money reigns supreme, allowing them to swim in a pool of wealth like Uncle Scrooge.
The song’s title, “Wake Up,” reflects what we all need to do: become aware of how the system can work against us. Over-consumerism is one way our society enslaves us, marketing goods we don’t need but still buy. Over-consumerism is also linked to overpopulation, and both contribute to the current degradation of our planet.
We need to change mentalities on a global scale if we are to address these issues. Tending to a small wound won’t help if the entire body is rotten to the core.
Things can change if we all work for it
The good news is that the picture isn’t entirely bleak. There are already countless people doing their best in this world. However, many of us believe we’re doing our best when we’re not. Just like those at the top, we put on our own blinders, refusing to see the truth: we all bear some responsibility, regardless of where we are in the hierarchy. Only by acknowledging this responsibility and taking action can we bring about real change.
Our world is changing rapidly, with information from one side of the planet instantly available on the other. While mentalities won’t evolve as quickly as information spreads, once people across the globe begin to share the same perspective on the state of humanity and our planet, and recognize the role we all have to play, we’ll start to see meaningful progress.
#tales-posts
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