snip
To have a chance to fully understand all this, you have to go way back, to the times around WW1.
You will probably see why it's best to not take any sides.
Narratives are stronger than facts (did i say that before?)
We may evolve beyond this, i'd suggest after some thousand years, at best.
Our brains are too small to withstand narratives, which make us stop thinking, or think less.
The good news: We have evolved so far that we are able to identify problems. Now we have to take the bigger step to be able to solve them, without causing more problems.
Maybe the 90% of our brain potential most of us don't use (according to Albert Einstein) would come in handy...
It's bigger then that. Stories are no less important then facts. Every single thing that is man-made started as a story. And identity is based on stories, some of those stories we call 'history'. Much of what is going on in the world today revolves around identity, just look for it in the speeches of politicians from all walks of life.
One of those (hi)stories is the reason why western European countries are so eager to help Ukraine. Our stories here on the European continent are intimately intertwined. And we recognize ourselves in them. Humans are more inclined to help those whose identities resemble their own.
Century of the Self is must-see stuff!!