Does it make any sense to resist the powers that rule our lives? Can any individual make any difference in a world in which global power is concentrated in just a few hands? Yes, and on both questions. If we do not put up some resistance, these powers will only grow. And they will grow until they overwhelm us completely. What can we do? Where shall our energies be focused? The only thing most of us can do is to change for the better the world directly around us. Every single thing we can do, no matter how small and apparently insignificant, will eventually count. Almost irrelevant by themselves, these small improvements will add up. By and by, they will counteract the powers that rule our lives, no matter how great and how concentrated they may become. All we must keep in mind is that we can overpower anything in our path only by being nearly powerless and nearly invisible. Our resistance will make a difference only if we do not become powerful enough to become a target for the powers that rule our lives. Now, why am I putting all of this down when it is so very obvious? Only because I am reminding myself of something I have managed to forget so many times already.

Addendum I (February 10, 2009)

There was a lively discussion at my poetry reading in Pula. I am now in daily contact with a number of people who attended the event. One of them is Adriano Černulj, with whom I have exchanged a whole bunch of electronic-mail messages in the last few days. He joined the discussion with a seemingly simple question, which could be paraphrased thus: “We are entangled in so many minor issues close to home, but much of what is happening to us is coming from far away, where real power lies. What are we to do?” Then and there, I could not come up with anything that would satisfy him. But this morning I got another message from Adriano, who came across this piece: “This is the answer I was waiting for!” I can only hope I will not forget it yet again.

Addendum II (September 18, 2015)

Having come across this piece quite by chance, I immediately remember the motto that has become ever closer to my heart lately: “Think locally, act locally.” The smaller the locality, the better. And the smaller the actions, the more successful will they eventually become. The powers that rule our lives will eventually be overpowered by myriad little actions that are within our own powers here and now. The only missing thing is the common goal and the underlying acceptance of the clever motto. Too much to ask for, I guess.