ObergComment: Illiteracy or knowledge? Now an existential choice
In times of fake and omission – not to speak of deliberate deception and lies – society’s very foundation is shaken: What can we believe? Who can we trust? What is reliable and truthful information – and how do I know?
Tragically, substantial knowledge with complex reasoning about our complex world and its problems has been overwhelmed by marketing, smart soundbites, tweets and ignorance.
Diversity has been substituted by uniformity, political correctness and, more recently, the awfully destructive cancel culture and its close companion, self-censorship.
People read less, and less and less the long argument – such as (good) books about global problems. Perhaps because we think we are so busy? Whatever the reason, the attention span has shrunk and many have a comfort zone the size of a pinhead.
It bodes ill – no matter the kind of social body in which this disease takes root. It spread like malign cells in a human body.
And it seems that it is OK to lie, not the least for the big and powerful.
•
Many people ask us: What do you think I should read to better understand the world?
Well, you can always turn to TFF – we’ve been around since 1986 and we are not easily fooled. The large majority of analyses, articles and videos we publish is research-based and written by people with enough life experience to be both factual, critical and constructive – and not in need of getting famous or to pursue careers that might tempt them to join the above-mentioned trends.
– particularly when you act too…
Fortunately, there are still lots of good media and analytical bodies that you can rely on – not the least thanks to solid scholarship and integrity. Certainly, TFF is not the only one but even in the field of peace, conflict and future research, a wide-ranging mainstreaming and uniformity have developed. TFF has not and will not go that way.
TFF is also people-financed and all-volunteer. We receive no funds from corporations or governments and have no sugar daddy. These characteristics is a guarantee for you.
However, we think it is our duty to help you find these other good sources beyond ourselves – win-win for us and for them.
Here are our recommended links to media worldwide you may like to consult instead of holding on to your local mainstream media which perhaps you do because it is difficult and time-consuming to find your own way.
And then you have all the Themes on our front pages – in red.
There is enough to throw yourself into!
All in one place. At your fingertips. We call that public education.
•
There is only one – yes, one – remedy in times of fake, omission, conspiracy and propaganda: Substantial, verifiable knowledge created with objective, scientific methods and intentions while also being open about unavoidable subjectivity and consciously promoted values.
Like medicine, peace, conflict and future research is a value-oriented endeavour. Like doctors, we at TFF believe in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, or healing. That is a value orientation in and of itself and we gladly state that nonviolence is better than violence and that our goal is to push thinking and action in the direction of less, not more, violence in our world.
In these times everyone has a choice: To either become illiterate and be fooled – or to be in the know and reveal and ignore the rampant, unethical newspeak that has spread like a pandemic the last 20-30 years, not the least in the fields of conflict, war and peace.
•
If you found this relevant and want TFF to continue to do what we’ve always done, send us the equivalent of a cup of coffee…
PressInfo # 141, December 21, 2001It’s time to prepare reconciliation between Albanians and Serbs PressInfo # 140, December 14, 2001Ibrahim Rugova’s decade-long leadership in Kosovo/a PressInfo # 139, 11. december, 2001En god nyhet: Jugoslaviens Sannings- och försoningskommission PressInfo # 139, 11. december, 2001Gode nyheder: Jugoslaviens Sandheds- og Forsoningskommission PressInfo # 139, December 11, 2001Good news: Yugoslavia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission PressInfo # 138, November 8, 2001TFF co-founder PhD with thesis about young people with roots in other cultures PressInfo # 138, November 8, 2001TFF:s medstiftare doktor på avhandling om unga med ursprung i andra kulturer PressInfo # 137, October 17, 2001A new Marshall Plan: Advancing human security and controlling terrorism PressInfo # 136, October 15, 2001The UN and Annan really deserve it PressInfo # 135, October 10, 2001Preventing a terrorist mushroom cloud PressInfo # 134, 17 oktober, 2001Sverige og 11. september PressInfo # 134, October 9, 2001Sweden and September 11...
Peace is promoted by constructive proposals and dialogue Four preceding PressInfos have expressed concern over — and criticised — the ongoing, militarisation of the EU. Some will say: but there are no alternatives. We believe that there are always alternatives, that democracies are characterised by alternatives and choice, and that openly discussed alternatives will improve the quality and legitimacy of society’s decision–making. In addition, it is an intellectual and moral challenge to not only criticise but also be constructive. If we only tell people that we think they are wrong, they are not likely to listen. However, if we say: what are your views on this set of ideas and steps? — we may sometimes engage them in dialogue and sow a seed. Most people in power circles live their daily lives in in a time frame and a social space where certain ideas, viewpoints and concepts are just not...
PressInfo # 141, December 21, 2001It’s time to prepare reconciliation between Albanians and Serbs PressInfo # 140, December 14, 2001Ibrahim Rugova’s decade-long leadership in Kosovo/a PressInfo # 139, 11. december, 2001En god nyhet: Jugoslaviens Sannings- och försoningskommission PressInfo # 139, 11. december, 2001Gode nyheder: Jugoslaviens Sandheds- og Forsoningskommission PressInfo # 139, December 11, 2001Good news: Yugoslavia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission PressInfo # 138, November 8, 2001TFF co-founder PhD with thesis about young people with roots in other cultures PressInfo # 138, November 8, 2001TFF:s medstiftare doktor på avhandling om unga med ursprung i andra kulturer PressInfo # 137, October 17, 2001A new Marshall Plan: Advancing human security and controlling terrorism PressInfo # 136, October 15, 2001The UN and Annan really deserve it PressInfo # 135, October 10, 2001Preventing a terrorist mushroom cloud PressInfo # 134, 17 oktober, 2001Sverige og 11. september PressInfo # 134, October 9, 2001Sweden and September 11...
Peace is promoted by constructive proposals and dialogue Four preceding PressInfos have expressed concern over — and criticised — the ongoing, militarisation of the EU. Some will say: but there are no alternatives. We believe that there are always alternatives, that democracies are characterised by alternatives and choice, and that openly discussed alternatives will improve the quality and legitimacy of society’s decision–making. In addition, it is an intellectual and moral challenge to not only criticise but also be constructive. If we only tell people that we think they are wrong, they are not likely to listen. However, if we say: what are your views on this set of ideas and steps? — we may sometimes engage them in dialogue and sow a seed. Most people in power circles live their daily lives in in a time frame and a social space where certain ideas, viewpoints and concepts are just not...
PressInfo # 141, December 21, 2001It’s time to prepare reconciliation between Albanians and Serbs PressInfo # 140, December 14, 2001Ibrahim Rugova’s decade-long leadership in Kosovo/a PressInfo # 139, 11. december, 2001En god nyhet: Jugoslaviens Sannings- och försoningskommission PressInfo # 139, 11. december, 2001Gode nyheder: Jugoslaviens Sandheds- og Forsoningskommission PressInfo # 139, December 11, 2001Good news: Yugoslavia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission PressInfo # 138, November 8, 2001TFF co-founder PhD with thesis about young people with roots in other cultures PressInfo # 138, November 8, 2001TFF:s medstiftare doktor på avhandling om unga med ursprung i andra kulturer PressInfo # 137, October 17, 2001A new Marshall Plan: Advancing human security and controlling terrorism PressInfo # 136, October 15, 2001The UN and Annan really deserve it PressInfo # 135, October 10, 2001Preventing a terrorist mushroom cloud PressInfo # 134, 17 oktober, 2001Sverige og 11. september PressInfo # 134, October 9, 2001Sweden and September 11...
Peace is promoted by constructive proposals and dialogue Four preceding PressInfos have expressed concern over — and criticised — the ongoing, militarisation of the EU. Some will say: but there are no alternatives. We believe that there are always alternatives, that democracies are characterised by alternatives and choice, and that openly discussed alternatives will improve the quality and legitimacy of society’s decision–making. In addition, it is an intellectual and moral challenge to not only criticise but also be constructive. If we only tell people that we think they are wrong, they are not likely to listen. However, if we say: what are your views on this set of ideas and steps? — we may sometimes engage them in dialogue and sow a seed. Most people in power circles live their daily lives in in a time frame and a social space where certain ideas, viewpoints and concepts are just not...
PressInfo # 141, December 21, 2001It’s time to prepare reconciliation between Albanians and Serbs PressInfo # 140, December 14, 2001Ibrahim Rugova’s decade-long leadership in Kosovo/a PressInfo # 139, 11. december, 2001En god nyhet: Jugoslaviens Sannings- och försoningskommission PressInfo # 139, 11. december, 2001Gode nyheder: Jugoslaviens Sandheds- og Forsoningskommission PressInfo # 139, December 11, 2001Good news: Yugoslavia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission PressInfo # 138, November 8, 2001TFF co-founder PhD with thesis about young people with roots in other cultures PressInfo # 138, November 8, 2001TFF:s medstiftare doktor på avhandling om unga med ursprung i andra kulturer PressInfo # 137, October 17, 2001A new Marshall Plan: Advancing human security and controlling terrorism PressInfo # 136, October 15, 2001The UN and Annan really deserve it PressInfo # 135, October 10, 2001Preventing a terrorist mushroom cloud PressInfo # 134, 17 oktober, 2001Sverige og 11. september PressInfo # 134, October 9, 2001Sweden and September 11...
Peace is promoted by constructive proposals and dialogue Four preceding PressInfos have expressed concern over — and criticised — the ongoing, militarisation of the EU. Some will say: but there are no alternatives. We believe that there are always alternatives, that democracies are characterised by alternatives and choice, and that openly discussed alternatives will improve the quality and legitimacy of society’s decision–making. In addition, it is an intellectual and moral challenge to not only criticise but also be constructive. If we only tell people that we think they are wrong, they are not likely to listen. However, if we say: what are your views on this set of ideas and steps? — we may sometimes engage them in dialogue and sow a seed. Most people in power circles live their daily lives in in a time frame and a social space where certain ideas, viewpoints and concepts are just not...
Av FRANK SØHOLM GREVIL 16 augusti 2004 Vi er nu nået til tredje akt i det absurde teaterstykke, der i analogi med de store skueprocesser i Moskva 1936-38 er blevet døbt ‘Grevil-sagen’. Første akt bestod i min anonyme fremlæggelse af egenhændigt nedklassificerede rapporter i Berlingske Tidende i februar og marts. Andet akt udgjordes af min fremtræden med navn og billede i Information i april samt den efterfølgende mediestorm, som uden min direkte medvirken kostede en forsvarsminister taburetten samt en sigtelse for brud på tavshedspligten. Tredje akt bliver en retssag, hvor jeg står tiltalt for at have overtrådt straffelovens bestemmelser om uberettiget videregivelse eller udnyttelse af fortrolige oplysninger. Statsanklageren har ovenikøbet valgt at påberåbe sig særligt skærpende omstændigheder. Da jeg aldrig har modtaget betaling for at stille rapporterne til rådighed eller lade mig interviewe, må det skærpende bestå i, at “videregivelsen eller udnyttelsen er sket under sådanne omstændigheder, at det påfører...
Af Svenska Irakkommittén mot de Ekonomiska Sanktionerna (SIES) 13 september 2002 FN:s ekonomiska sanktioner mot Irak har nu pågått i tolv år och drabbat det irakiska folket med svåra lidanden. Enligt FN:s egna siffror har mer än 1,5 miljoner människor, varav ca 600 000 barn, dött som en direkt följd av sanktionerna. Dessutom har ett lågintensivt bombkrig mot landet pågått under dessa år. Av all denna förödelse- orsakad huvudsakligen av amerikansk och brittisk politik- har Saddam Husseins brutala och diktatoriska regim snarast stärkts än försvagats. Nu förbereder USA under president Bushs ledning ett storskaligt bombkrig mot Irak som kommer att innebära ett ännu större lidande för civilbefolkningen. Ett sådant krig kommer dessutom att ytterligare undergräva freden och säkerheten i världen. Att upprätta en demokratisk regim i Irak är det irakiska folkets angelägenhet och får enligt folkrätten inte ske med krigshandlingar utifrån. Folkrätten och FN:s stadgar måste respekteras. Vi vädjar till...
In times of fake and omission – not to speak of deliberate deception and lies – society’s very foundation is shaken: What can we believe? Who can we trust? What is reliable and truthful information – and how do I know?
Tragically, substantial knowledge with complex reasoning about our complex world and its problems has been overwhelmed by marketing, smart soundbites, tweets and ignorance.
Diversity has been substituted by uniformity, political correctness and, more recently, the awfully destructive cancel culture and its close companion, self-censorship.
People read less, and less and less the long argument – such as (good) books about global problems. Perhaps because we think we are so busy? Whatever the reason, the attention span has shrunk and many have a comfort zone the size of a pinhead.
It bodes ill – no matter the kind of social body in which this disease takes root. It spread like malign cells in a human body.
And it seems that it is OK to lie, not the least for the big and powerful.
•
Many people ask us: What do you think I should read to better understand the world?
Well, you can always turn to TFF – we’ve been around since 1986 and we are not easily fooled. The large majority of analyses, articles and videos we publish is research-based and written by people with enough life experience to be both factual, critical and constructive – and not in need of getting famous or to pursue careers that might tempt them to join the above-mentioned trends.
Fortunately, there are still lots of good media and analytical bodies that you can rely on – not the least thanks to solid scholarship and integrity. Certainly, TFF is not the only one but even in the field of peace, conflict and future research, a wide-ranging mainstreaming and uniformity have developed. TFF has not and will not go that way.
TFF is also people-financed and all-volunteer. We receive no funds from corporations or governments and have no sugar daddy. These characteristics is a guarantee for you.
However, we think it is our duty to help you find these other good sources beyond ourselves – win-win for us and for them.
Here are our recommended links to media worldwide you may like to consult instead of holding on to your local mainstream media which perhaps you do because it is difficult and time-consuming to find your own way.
And here is our link collection to a lot of analyses, serious debates, theories, concepts, ideas and self-learning.
And then you have all the Themes on our front pages – in red.
There is enough to throw yourself into!
All in one place. At your fingertips. We call that public education.
•
There is only one – yes, one – remedy in times of fake, omission, conspiracy and propaganda: Substantial, verifiable knowledge created with objective, scientific methods and intentions while also being open about unavoidable subjectivity and consciously promoted values.
Like medicine, peace, conflict and future research is a value-oriented endeavour. Like doctors, we at TFF believe in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, or healing. That is a value orientation in and of itself and we gladly state that nonviolence is better than violence and that our goal is to push thinking and action in the direction of less, not more, violence in our world.
In these times everyone has a choice: To either become illiterate and be fooled – or to be in the know and reveal and ignore the rampant, unethical newspeak that has spread like a pandemic the last 20-30 years, not the least in the fields of conflict, war and peace.
•
If you found this relevant and want TFF to continue to do what we’ve always done, send us the equivalent of a cup of coffee…
Peace & future researcher + Art Photographer
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