Why haven’t we found Utopia?

My mother was talking with me last night in the kitchen, lightly discussing the way in which people think. We started on the topic of science — how the act of asking ‘why’ incessantly has allowed humans to discover phenomenon we never would have discovered otherwise. Or has allowed us to understand things we otherwise took for granted, and evolve through our application and development of technology.

I mentioned the limitations associated with organised religion, and the way in which it has generally divided sects of man-kind for millennia, and continues to do so. She retorted that it gives a lot of people direction and meaning in their lives, which I understand. But my argument was focused around crediting free-thinkers of our relative civilisations as to our gradual progress as a species, as well as a civilisation.

She through a question my way, which is so friggn’ obvious, and so simple, that I was left dumbfounded and fundamentally unsettled;

“Man has sought peace and refuge from war, famine, prejudice and pain for millenia — so why has he not achieved it yet?”

I’m a problem solver. I love to sit down with a question and come at it from different angles. I preach about peoples’ perspectives and mind-sets plaguing their general well-being, causing them a great deal of stress and discontent. I love to think.

But I’ve never sat and thought, ‘why are we not living in a Utopia’?

Before anyone catches me out on a lack of thoughtfulness invested on the topic, or just a lack of effort in investigating potential reasons, please allow me to think out aloud.

Is the simple answer that we will never experience a Utopia because it is an irrational and unrealistic concept? Is it just a ridiculous notion?

Perhaps the gurus and hippies of our world are misguided in their hope that love will prevail over all else?

Is it not indicative of our past and history that differences between people will constantly cause fighting and disagreement, on both a social and global scale?

Point me in the right direction, if you would so kindly? Anyone?

Because this is perhaps a fundamental question which a great number of people should ask themselves. It may in fact relieve the curiosity and questioning of millions as to what lies in store for us, and whether we can overcome all the problems in our world?

Not in an “oh fu**, we’re doomed” kind of way. But just to clarify the meaning a lot of people give to their existence.

I know, for one, that I would like to rid the world as much as I can of sadness and negativity. If I can. I’ve managed to do it mostly for myself, and it’s a continuous journey I’ll admit.

But seriously — fu** depression, anger and sadness. We’re better than that.

And if I WAS to quickly think about why we still struggle with differences, prejudices, famine, war, sadness and plenty more — I’d say it’s largely due to attitude, cultural isolation and the constant mind-set that we base our actions and intent on past events.

Straight up, we live in the past a lot. We could say that greed will always rule over thousands and millions, as it has in the past as well as present. And if we don’t kill ourselves in some epic pandemic, then perhaps it will continue.

But to me, it’s an archaic concept. Greed over resources that are finite doesn’t seem…well, smart, does it? So that’s one thing to overcome.

The next is some global conscious realisation that it’s attitudes and perceptions of past events that taint our interactions and decisions in the present and future. Racism, sexism, other-ism’s — they’re all currently very relevant concepts that we use to label different kinds of prejudice.

So the moment we can start to break down the barriers we’ve created not only within different cultures, but between cultures, I think it’s fair to say that sh** will get a lot simpler.

Beyond that — I don’t know.

Everyone gives meaning to their own life — that’s awesome, and I don’t know how much more of an answer anyone is entitled to give than that. But I know plenty of people don’t see it that way, or don’t even realise it, and don’t even get the chance to live free of fear and pain and suffering, because of our current state of affairs.

Anywho. I’ll be here. Thinking of whether we’ll ever be able to pull this runaway train up. I think we will.

If you’d be so kind as to leave your thoughts on any of the ideas outlined above, it would be sincerely appreciated. I acknowledge this is a forum as well as platform for free-writing, so go ahead and interact with criticisms, feedback, advice or just food-for-thought. If it’s constuctive, it is all very much welcome!