Though not a generation lost in space, the present conglomerate of downtown protesters do hold the distinction of being the first in history to be prompted by their own reflections. Venture forth onto Main Street any of the recent weekends, and you would have found yourself surrounded by individuals advocating for “cease-fire,” “Peace,” and “No More War.” What may be surprising to some is that the majority of these impassioned advocates have never set foot on the lands for which they are demanding harmonic resolution.

Likewise, those blue and yellow flags found peppered across the countryside, insinuating political support (and perhaps affiliation), are only there because of the magic which we call the internet. Even though some may cast away such critical thinking as harmful to the “cause,” those who have lived through the aftermath of misplaced yellow cake scratch their heads and wonder, “Just how genuine is this whole thing?”

Power and information have always been strange bedfellows. Truly, no one wishes ill will for those suffering at the hands of tyranny; but if we are not to incorporate a civilian review of these matters, how can the average person on the street make a well-informed decision on the level of their political involvement?

How bright and shiny these little screens are, am I right? Point and click, and find another slice of the “real truth.”

Conspiracy theory used to be derogatory, now it just seems to be status quo. Is Trump telling the truth, or is Biden? How simple we would like these answers to be, and how angry we become when shades of gray cast in our own reflections. Wish these protesters well, but do not dare ask them how they came about their information.

As the oft-forgotten saying goes, “Who would ever lie about something like that?”

Ahmad Esfahani

Greenfield