obdurate
obdurate
unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding
A lot of effort is spent trying to convince folks they shouldn’t care so much.
We’re told that most of the problems are beyond us, better left to the wizards. What do peasants like us know about magic? Can we tell the difference between an inconvenient solution and an impossible one? Not according to their tomes.
Harsh waters continue to rise, and those on the bottom few rungs will be the first to face the waves. Higher rungs could pull them up, but they’ll get wet in the process. The people running the death machines, those at the top of the ladder, don’t like getting wet.
They pretend that there’s dignity in staying above the fray, but there is nothing noble about ignoring the plight of others. There is nothing savvy about putting more value on margins than the people earning them. There should be no pride in disregarding the waterlogged cries from below.
Indifference can trick us into thinking it’s compassion. In a world where attention is so often negative, it’s easy to believe that there’s a sort of mercy in keeping ours away. That reasoning is seductive, but don’t buy into it. Listen to those closest to the water. What are they asking others to do?
There are so many things we can do to preserve the lives of others. Whether it’s starting to mask in public again, getting certified to administer NARCAN, or volunteering for a local board so a bigot doesn’t take the seat. Find a way to be one of the helpers.
Leaving that to someone else is how we got here.
ContextFall