The Weekender: A Sign of the Times
Three stories, perfectly packed for your weekend. Today's edition: on what it means to be human, the idiocy of America's flirtation with Russia, and a zeitgeist of doom.
Meet The Weekender, a weekend digest that highlights just three reads from the week and why they’re worth your time.
There are no Halcyon Days to look back on.
The times we live in now are the only possible times, and the only ones in which we have the privilege to exist. The longer we scrutinize history, the more it becomes evident that every time had its struggles and existential questions directly in proportion to the technology, economics, and social constellations of its particular time and place. We are no better nor any different than our ancestors or our successors. What matters is how we face the challenges of today.
Our three stories this week present three different aspects of our current setting.
The definition of what it means to be human is getting jackhammered by technology. Our first story examines what that means physiologically. How malleable is our definition of humanity?
George Orwell’s 1984 retains power because it has maintained its relevance by continuing to interpret the irony of moral inside-outness. Russia is not a state to be admired. Putin is not a leader to be respected. Yet some elements in America want to do both things while living comfortably in United States, a perfect example of doublethink, a point made well in our second story.
Finally, how are we supposed to think holistically about what’s going on? Is it right to lament our current situation, or is there a way to live differently? The negativity and pessimism are not helpful, and our third story explains why, giving some ideas for a path forward.
Welcome to The Weekender 🫨
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