I saw all of humanity laid out before me. The clueless, dopey boyfriend who can’t take a hint from what his girlfriend was actually saying. The womanizer, at the most manly of carnival games, showcasing his muscles with a small harem cheering him on. The suspected pedophile trying to lure his grandchildren over to spend the night while politely resisting parents made every excuse possible. Juxtaposed, one table away, the great father leads his sons to a war veteran to show their respect. It choked me up as I watched and wondered how he became so great a man. Across the park I watched the acrobatic stage performers wow their audience with fire and tricks. At another meager and partially hidden stage a hobbyist made clay pots and explained his craft. Intelligent parents nodded on eagerly while their bored children stared off at the excitement locked away. An intelligent father with his UV protection goggles and perfectly trimmed appearance followed alertly behind his beautiful, but seemingly disinterested wife and child. She led, he followed. This was contrasted by the confident old lion of a large family leading his pride around the park, dictating where and when the fun should be had. The women of his pride followed with careful smiles while the children followed with frowns.

It is an amusement park built for commoners. A world of branded shops and cheap goods. Containing an image of humanity that is full of errors and flaws. People resisting the embarrassment of participating and creating a tension that was palpable. This force is inadvertently reshaping our minds. It diminishes creativity and erodes confidence. We will one day destroy our humanity to escape this fear and suffering while elite individuals rise above it. They see the truth of their actions and find ways to resolve them instead of perpetuating them naively. The top strives for perfection while the bottom becomes a machine. This is why it’s so important to carry the torch as soon as you can see it. To redirect that force at yourself in hopes that it saves the souls of those around you. Else we extinguish the flame that has burnt so many generations and all be consumed by the wickedness of social pressure.