This is something I feel the need to share with you…not in the name of any company I work for or any organisation or group of people that I might be affiliated with, but speaking for myself – a human being who is at the verge of losing faith in humanity altogether!
Being sensitive to the madness that´s going on in this modern world, it troubles me often to look at dictatorships, religious organizations and cultures, that use the power of the rich and mighty to oppress, control and exploit, -I´d even say abuse – humans and animals on a large scale on a daily basis.
As an artist and a creator, I have always had this deep longing for freedom. Any art is built on freedom! Freedom to think your own thoughts, freedom to express yourself, freedom to self-develop, freedom to look beyond the surface, freedom to speak, preach and be! Freedom in general is one of the most important values we share, alongside equal rights and human rights and communities of good hearted people that look after each other.
Yet looking at the world, I see so many people who don´t have that freedom. And it troubles me to ignore the fact, that our freedom (as defined by the western world) is rooted partially in the oppression and exploitation of those who are not granted these same privileges!
There´s this constant underlying feeling of guilt within me, with a voice that gets louder and louder, begging me to step up for a change, especially in these days that are marked by increased uncertainty and overrun by the silent army of powerful corporations that slowly work on jeopardizing our personal and shared freedom in the western world as well! We sell our souls and data all too easily, and have fallen blind to manipulation, surveillance and the warning signs brought to us by heralds like obvious election frauds in so called democratic countries, facebook data scandals and the like. These same systems also segregate people through controlled propaganda and advertisments as well as curated content, thereby spitting on the idea of liberty of the press.
I have often thought about pouring these thoughts into songs…but there is no tune suited to bring out the depth and importance of the matter!
It hurts to see our freedom shrink, our rights be disregarded and our attempts to fight for a better future suffocate under corrupt economies and the massive digital overstimulation we suffer from these days, numbing our abilities to second guess our norms and habits. It hurts to see young girls cling to antiquated dreams sold through TV shows like Project Runway or the Bachelor, which in essence are disrespectful formats especially with regard to womanhood. It hurts to see people care more for their instagram followers than their actual friends for reasons of addiction and social acceptance- the latter of which has become increasingly hard to gain in the offline world.
And don´t even get me started on the ignorance of people towards “unsexy” topics such as climate change and other global problems. Thank God for young, couragous people like Greta Thunberg….
We could have Paradise on Earth, and yet we got kicked out for a reason!
It´s not the Judge that is to be blamed for the chaos, it´s the murderer who comitted the crime and who still keeps burning bridges! As long as there is no sense of responsibility and no sign of repentance to be found in human nature, as long as we remain stuck in this “power and money only” mindset, with growing egos, and declining acts of mercy, with ignorance and denial being our daily bread, Paradise will remain locked! And my mind will remain troubled! And my heart will keep wailing…
So long,
Katie
For updates on my artistic journey, follow me here: https://www.instagram.com/katie_wellenberg_song/