Why Is there a Need for Uniformity?

November 29 2020

As a child, I had a bit of an inherent wish for uniformity. I always wondered why there were so many different brands of products on store shelves. Why are there so many different building styles? Why do people wear so many different clothes? I wondered why we could not just agree on one model for everything. As I grew up, I realized that such extreme uniformity is absurd, yet I kept wondering why such a need existed in the first place.

Uniformity for the sake of Justice?

The first hypothesis to this dilemma that came to my mind was that uniformity was a form of achieving justice. After all, socialism, which was an ideology built around social justice, has long pushed for uniform city layouts, jobs, and even goods. In the not so distant past, our store shelves here in Algeria were full of identical products without any brands. There was a single type of most types of goods. But was such uniformity a byproduct of central government planning or an intentional aim? I lean towards the latter explanation. Since what justice is there in making different people with different needs buy the same things?

Uniformity for the sake of Simplicity?

Another plausible explanation is that uniformity makes things simpler. We humans have quite a fascination with categorization. Hence, it would make sense for us to simplify our categories. It could be argued that standardization is effective in simplifying many aspects of our lives. This is very notable in electronic products and software. Industries in particular have benefited greatly from standardization. So perhaps, simplicity is in fact the key driving factor for this urge for uniformity. However, this type of uniformity is concerned with standardizing processes and protocols and not the aesthetic uniformity I wondered about.

Uniformity for the sake of Conformity?

Conformity could also be the potential culprit behind this need. It might be an internal instinct to shape the world around us in a unified style. The same instinct that pushes us to behave the way society expects us to behave. Conformity is, after all, an attempt to create uniformity of individual behavior. Aren’t uniforms and unified building styles the ideal reflection of a conforming population? However, even if this conclusion is true, it would only mean that the need for conformity does stem from a need for uniformity. And Therefore, the root of this need is yet to be uncovered.

Uniformity for the sake of Perfectionism?

The idea that conformity and uniformity are two sides of the same coin does offer a clue into their shared root. Perhaps, these needs are driven by the implicit idea that there is a “perfect thing”: The perfect soap, the perfect house, the perfect clothing, the perfect culture, the perfect beliefs, the perfect morals. This need is potentially not a need for uniformity but a rejection of differences. To accept differences is to accept compromises, which is in conflict with the idea of perfection. Then, perhaps if a perfect thing exists, then there must be a choice to be made in defining it. And that would imply a need to reduce said options to minimize the burden of making such a choice. Perhaps we only wish for uniformity to escape the need to make a choice, as choices always imply regrets.

Is this a need worth fulfilling?

It is very entertaining to contemplate one’s implicit wishes, yet uniformity is in blatant opposition to reality itself. It is true that diversity creates conflict, yet it is through conflict that prosperity is procured. One does not obtain new knowledge and insight by reciting the same ideas over and over again. But by contrasting and comparing them to different ideas. It is also in direct opposition to freedom. Even if the ideal solutions exist it would require someone to designate them for others to follow. And this is in complete opposition to individual freedom. As the economist Dr Thomas Sowell once said:

“The most basic question is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best.”

Author: Wail Rimouche

The Rashomon Effect: Is Truth Accurate?

November 14 2020

Five people just witnessed an accident. Will they retell it the same way?

This is where the Rashomon Effect comes in.

The fact the same event unfolded in front of all of them makes it likely they would all describe it identically, but it is not that simple.

What is the Rashomon Effect?

The Rashomon Effect refers to a situation wherein an event is given plausible but different, often contradictory interpretations by the people involved. It is named after Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 movie Rashomon. A murder is witnessed by four individuals, but described in four separate ways despite having all seen the same crime.

Is Truth accurate?

The Rashomon Effect puts theorizes that truth is relative and subjective. The reason there are four versions of one crime in the movie, is because personal interpretation underlies each person’s testimony. It is what hinders the quest for an answer. People’s accounts of certain events depend largely on individual experiences. Something hardly affects two people the same way, and so the mind draws different descriptions. It is their own perceptions of truth that comes to play.

In Rashomon (the movie), the bandit and the samurai’s testimonies are different. The first claims he dueled the samurai in a sword-fight, and successfully killed him. However, the samurai recounts a second version. The bandit let him free and then he took his own life. It is understandable. Both of them, driven by their self-hood, retell the story with their own perception. The bandit wants to prove he killed a skilled swordsman; The shame of the samurai’s wife’s infidelity pushes him to kill himself.

The Rashomon Effect addresses memory subjectivity.

Memory isn’t photographic, contrary to popular belief.

In 1932, Frederic Bartlett conducted a study to research the reconstructive nature of memory, and how it is affected by previous knowledge. Participants listened to a story, and had to retell it. When recounting later, details became less accurate, and more personalized as they each drew from their own culture to fill in the gaps. Thus proving that memory is a subject of personal interpretation.

We tend to alter our memories in a way that makes the most sense to us.

The Rashomon Effect: a term for unreliable eyewitnesses.

Eyewitness testimonies are the strongest evidence against criminals. However, social scientists showed that eyewitness identification is not as faultless as people think. And that causes wrongful convictions. Experts, since then, strive to reform the accuracy of eyewitness identification.

Author: Nour Nachoua Nait Ali.

Ayahuasca Ceremonies, the Alternative of Psychotherapy for Amazonian Tribes

November 8 2020

culture, psychology, therapy, travel

Ayahuasca retreats are becoming popular in the west, so what is Ayahuasca? It is a traditional psychoactive brew made from two plants: the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) which grows in the Amazon, and a shrub called Chacruna (Psychotria Viridis), which contains the hallucinogenic drug Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). So Ayahuasca is illegal in the UK, the US, and many other countries. Ayahuasca retreats are common among indigenous tribes for psychological healing.

It is a sacred beverage that the indigenous tribes of the Amazon in Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador consume as part of a shamanic procedure. Ayahuasca causes hallucinations and has therapeutic effects, that is why it attracted the attention of western medicine as a possible treatment for depression.

Ayahuasca literally translates from the Quechua language of the North Andes as “soul vine” or “vine of the dead”. For centuries, Natives have used it in spiritual rituals and ceremonies because of the belief that it brings a better sense of self and heals the wounds and trauma of the past. They also believe that Ayahuasca ceremonies help them to transcend consciousness in order to communicate with their ancestors and reconnect with the spirits of the forest.

The scientific evidence on ayahuasca is limited, but it activates repressed memories in ways that allow people to come to a new understanding of their past. In some cases, it helps people work through memories of traumatic events. So neuroscientists are beginning to study ayahuasca as a treatment for depression and PTSD.

What Are Ayahuasca Retreats and Why Are Westerners into Ayahuasca?

In recent years, eastern philosophies have influenced westerners. These philosophies support being in a higher state of consciousness beyond the physical world. So, Ayahuasca retreats sound like a perfect way to reach that state.

The number of visitors from North America has increased over the years. It has become popular worldwide among those who want to heal from past traumas or simply experience an Ayahuasca journey. Some people say that a single Ayahuasca retreat is like a decade of therapy in several nights. Others think this is an overstatement, but they do not deny its therapeutic effects.

Shamans strongly recommend that they should supervise Ayahuasca ceremonies. Those who take the retreats need someone to look after them carefully. An Ayahuasca ceremony leads to an altered state of consciousness that lasts for many hours.

Many people travel to countries like Peru, Costa Rica, and Brazil, where Shamans offer Ayahuasca retreats. These experienced shamans prepare the brew and monitor participants for safety.

Ayahuasca ceremonies are usually held at night and last until the effects of Ayahuasca have worn off. After the shamans who lead the ceremony prepare and bless the space, Ayahuasca is served to participants.

After consuming the Ayahuasca, most people start to feel its effects within 20–60 minutes. The effects are dose-dependent, and the trip can last from 2 to 6 hours.

The Effects of Ayahuasca Ceremonies

In its most common form, Ayahuasca is a strong-smelling brown liquid with a bitter taste. Its effect is related to the age, quality, and type of plants used. In addition, the psychoactive potency of ayahuasca differs according to the environmental conditions of their growth, the ratio of their combination, and the amount of processing they undergo.

Weaker doses of ayahuasca produce a detachment from one’s body and surroundings. This allows a mental objectification and critical examination of the smallest of details, feelings, and thoughts. Stronger forms of the liquid cause visual perception of irregular shapes, colorful geometric patterns, fleeting images, and out-of-body experiences or dream-like visions. People who went through Ayahuasca ceremonies say that they had flashbacks from the past in which they saw important events of their lives from different angles which changed their lives.

People react to Ayahuasca differently. Some experience euphoria and a feeling of enlightenment, while others go through severe anxiety and panic. It is not uncommon for those during Ayahuasca ceremonies to experience both positive and negative effects from the brew.

The tribes that use ayahuasca see purging (vomiting, crying, laughing…) as a vital part of healing. When you purge, you’re expelling all the negative energy from the body. It helps to get rid of the anxieties, fears, regrets, and hatred.

The Benefits and Side Effects of Ayahuasca According to Medicine:

Research has shown that Ayahuasca retreats improve the mindfulness capacity for the brain and emotional regulation. It may help with depression, PTSD, and anxiety. However, it may interact negatively with other drugs, and it could be dangerous for people who have a heart condition. As for mental illnesses, it may worsen the situation for those who have a history of psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. There have been several death cases due to this brew during Ayahuasca ceremonies, but it never happened in clinical trials.

Scientists need more research to determine if doctors can use Ayahuasca as a potential treatment for certain medical conditions in the future.

Sources:

The Last Shaman 2016 (Netflix Production)

Healthline.com

BBC News

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj.

Understanding the Electoral College

November 5 2020

electoral college, US elections

Can a presidential candidate still become a president even if they lose the popular votes?

The answer is yes, and that’s because of the “Electoral College.” Everyone who followed the Trump vs Clinton presidential elections in 2016 knows that Clinton won the majority of votes, yet it was Donald Trump who became a president because he won in the electoral college.

Also in 2000, it was Al Gore who won the popular vote, yet George W. Bush gained more electoral votes after a contested Florida recount and a supreme court decision. The same thing happened in 1888, where Benjamin Harrison defeated Grover Cleveland in the electoral college even though he lost the popular vote.

The Electoral college also awarded presidency John Quincy Adams and Rutherford B. Hayes in the elections of 1824 and 1876.

What is the Electoral College?

Unlike what the term might suggest for most people who are unfamiliar with the US elections, this is not a college in the sense of a “School” or an “Educational Institution.” The electoral college is an assembly of electors who represent the 50 states in America.

These electors are selected every four years a couple of months prior to the election day by their respective state’s political parties. They meet on the first Monday after the second Wednesday of December in an election year, then they cast the ballots for the president.

Note: Under the “Electoral College” process, each state holds a certain number of “votes.” There are a total of 538 electoral votes, and each state has a number of votes depending on the size of its population.

How did this the Electoral College evolve?

The Electoral College was founded in 1787 under the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The founders wanted to create a mechanism that does not only depend on popular majorities or congress.

When I interviewed Sue KopenKatcef who is an award-winning veteran broadcast journalist, I asked her “What is the point of the electoral college? Why are things that complicated?”

She pointed out that after US independence, the founders created the electoral college for two reasons.

First, they somewhat believed that people were not smart or informed enough to decide solely by themselves, so there has to be an elite involved in the process.

Second, it was created to give more power and recognition to small states.

And when I asked, “Isn’t there a fear that those electors in the electoral college could be bought?”

She said that there are laws in many states that oblige the electors to vote the same way their state voted, and it is very very rare where electors break their pledges.

It’s worth noting that there has been a lot of complaints against the electoral college. Prior to the ratification of the 12th amendment in 1804, candidates who received the second highest number of electoral votes became vice presidents.

When will the Electoral College vote take place?

It is usually the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December on the year of the presidential elections. That’s when electors meet and vote. In 2020, this date is going to be Monday 14 December 2020.

Author: Abdelwahab Ait Tayeb.

How Important Is Foreign Policy in US Elections 2020

How Often Does the Presidential Debate Change People’s Minds?

Left and Right Wing Politics Explained

How Important Is Foreign Policy in US Elections 2020

November 2 2020

With the United States in the midst of presidential elections, there has been a global interest in how the results will in any way influence the rest of the world, but has foreign policy been anything important to address for the two parties’ campaigns?

According to the Pew Research Center, nearly eight-in-ten registered voters (79%) consider the economy to be the top important issue for them to decide about who to vote for in the 2020 presidential elections. The economy has always been a very important subject, but what is different this year is the coronavirus pandemic with more than 230 000 deaths in the country.

As the country continues to struggle with Covid-19, foreign policy has fallen to the bottom of the issues Americans worry about. In a survey by the Pew Research center published in August 2020, the top priorities for Trump supporters are:

_The economy (88%)

_Violent crime (74%)

_Immigration (61%),

_Gun policy (60%)

_Foreign policy (57%)

On the other hand, the largest shares of Biden supporters highly rate

_Health care (84%)

_The coronavirus outbreak (82%)

A sizable majority also view racial and ethnic inequality as important to their vote (76%).

People usually care more about the policies that affect their lives the most. There is no wonder that healthcare, covid-19, crimes and economy are overhead, especially in these unprecedented times. Either way, Foreign immigrants in the US still rate high foreign policy because relevant political decisions related to that topic can affect their lives directly.

US Ambassador Charles Shapiro said during in the Foreign Press Centers program:

“Probably the one exception on foreign policy is that recent immigrant groups, of course, care about relations between the United States and their country of origin. The Indian Americans care tremendously about US-India relations and the same is true of Greek Americans, Turkish Americans, so there are groups that care way more about foreign policy, but they are a small percentage of the total voting population.”

Author: Abdelwahab Ait Tayeb.

Why Is It Never the Algerian’s Fault?

November 2 2020

It would only take listening for a few minutes to Algerians casually talking in a cafeteria or public transit or even their own job to notice how the topic of conversation eventually drifts to their daily problems. This is perfectly normal especially in a society suffering from countless social and economic issues. Yet, the notable part is the rationalization of those problems. There seems to be a consensus on who is responsible for our issues among Algerians and it’s definitely not ourselves.

When things go wrong who do we blame?

We Algerians have a tendency to blame the myriad of problems we suffer from on this abstract concept of “The people.” We call it different names: “society”, “the nation”, “the people”. But in essence it basically means “All other Algerians except for me and the people I like”. Even government bureaucrats blame the government itself for their problems as if it’s not made up of people like them. It’s as if a portion of Algerians holds a monopoly on evil. While we are simply innocent victims suffering from their deeds. But in reality we all have a hand in our current predicaments.Yet we insist on using this abstract “people” as a scapegoat to slip away from taking the blame. In order to reinforce this idea we always seem to take pride in mocking other people’s mistakes to distract ourselves from our own deeds while they do the same with our mistakes. It is true that people are not equally problematic but our whataboutism is far from reasonable.

Digging up the root cause

In order to understand a mindset that is shared by an entire nation we need to dig into their common history. Looking back, the main culprit is undoubtedly our socialist mindset. Socialism has been the standard ideology adopted and glorified in Algeria since its independence and it still persists in our heads and practices to this day. But wait, hold on, socialism? Isn’t that an economic system? What does it have to do with personal responsibility?

I have heard no better yet simple words explaining this phenomenon than those of Nobel Prize winning Economist Milton Friedman: “… The modern view is very different… It has become that after all the individual was an innocent puppet pushed one way or another by the social forces that impinged on him.That you could not blame an individual anything that was not his fault. It was society that was responsible”

The Myth of Collective responsibility

Socialism is not merely a way to allocate a nation’s resources. It is a mindset based on collectivism: the idea that we act, not as individuals, but as a society. It assumes that people are one unified homogeneous entity that strive for the same goals and pursuits. That our problems are caused by our collective decisions rather than our individual choices. This would imply that the individual is nothing but a cog in a machine, pushed by social and economic factors without any free will of their own.

Based on the dogma of collective responsibility, an individual person cannot be held responsible for their own actions. This implies the assumption that society is be held responsible as a whole. That all problems can only be solved as a society rather than every individual facing their own issues. This belief eventually morphs into a sense of helplessness, and sedation.

Socialism is a system based upon surrendering to the rule of a central power. To await the intellectuals and leaders to rise up and guide us all to our prosperity rather than strive for it ourselves. Afterall, It was no coincidence that socialist nations developed cults of personality around their leaders.

What can be done about this?

It is true that the socialist system in Algeria, at least symbolically, was abandoned decades ago. Yet, the mindset that was shaped and created within it still thrives. The best proof for this mindset is, ironically, the fact that the first idea that occurred to me as an attempt to solve this issue was social action. To try to solve the problem of acting as a society by doing exactly that. The true solution, however, is to take responsibility for our own lives and inspire others to do the same. To face our own flaws and failures rather than put the blame on others. To strive in making our own businesses, fixing our own streets, thinking for ourselves, and building our own lives. Not in isolation of social factors but despite them.

Monthly Archives: November 2020