A writer is a journalist who sees both sides of the medal.
Lockdown
In my memory, 2021 will remain a year of anti-lockdown protests. I had never been big on demonstrations, but at that time, authorities had prohibited public gatherings, which is why I made sure I was there. At times, I felt like a democrat who was exercising his right to protest. At other times, I felt like an anarchist disobeying the rules of the corrupt government. But in all fairness, I was just a bloody freelance journalist seeking a story. And I’ll tell you what—when thousands of people gather in the centre of London when they are not allowed to—that is one hell of a story. I don’t know what moral or ethical values stopped other media representatives from covering those protests, but I was never going to miss the party.
Migration
When a person comes to a new country, there is a chance they won’t be able to let go of the social conditioning because, essentially, the conditioning gives us a sense of self and identity. Therefore, people will associate with their national values even closer, find more countrymen from their respective countries, cook their national foods and sing their national songs without letting the new culture influence them. The second option is to drop their national identity altogether and embrace the social and moral values of their new country. They pick up the new accent, learn to admire their new culture and to obey new kings and gods. In other words, they assimilate. Somewhere between those two options, or perhaps beyond them, is the process of becoming free of social conditioning.
Nationalism
Why nationalism? What is the point of it? Well, it is about identity. Of course, it’s about identity. Nationalism gives us a sense of self. Few identity boosters are as potent as national identity. We haven’t done anything to acquire it; we were born with it, yet we take so much pride in it. It provides us with superficial meaning and makes us feel superior to others. Most of the time, our sea is bluer and our mountains greener than those of other nations. If we can’t pull that off, as is the case with some erratic countries, then surely our tall churches will make us better than others. If we, as a nation, are plain poor, well, we will claim that poorness and unprivileged status, and if nothing else, that will make us feel more just than others. If not superior, then we will be at least different, and that will suffice. Whatever our nationalism comes with, it gives us a sense of self and separation from others. Nothing grounds us in our national identity and stops us from spilling over into the vast realm of nothingness (which is at the same time ultimate everythingness), as borders.
Migration—The Only Thing I Truly Believe in
I was underground, waiting for a train to Signal Iduna Park, where Germany would play Denmark in the first round of the knockout stage of Euro 2024. A train approached and I was re
When did Journalists turn into Fans?
Although educated to be impartial, a journalist often get carried away by emotions. For a journalist is just a human. Where there are emotions, there also exists bias. It is, there
Hierarchy — Fundamental Law of Family and Nation
When it comes to nationalism and right-wing ideologies, family is of supreme importance. According to such beliefs, family is at the centre and at the centre of the family is a man
Ego can make you seem like a relentless pursuer of excellence, but it can also make you seem like a selfish chaser of personal acknowledgment. Cristiano Ronaldo is often seen as both. In his insatiable desire to conquer the world, he has created the god-like image of a man who was born to be the best—CR7!
Against the backdrop of Ronaldo’s controversial return to Manchester, two football fans engage in a philosophical discussion to determine whether football can be anything else but a never-ending clash of egos. The game’s greatest artist, Ronaldinho, wasn’t burdened with leaving a legacy behind. He simply played—free of expectations. As a result, he got a standing ovation from Santiago Bernabéu while dressed in the Barcelona shirt.
In these challenging times, can we find a harmonious balance between Ronaldo’s tenacious ego and Ronaldinho’s unrestrained love for the game?
The most beautiful realisation I have come to—We are all fucked up, one way or another 🙂
