With growing support over the choice of abortion, a higher minimum wage and minorities’ rights, Western societies to say the least, are demonstrably leaning towards a progressive worldview. Although devotion towards progress is a righteous act, it could mutate into a blind obsession that impedes real societal growth. Such desire causes people to succumb to a “blame instinct” that directs attention away from the real problems. This is demonstrated by the public’s attitude towards the drowning of 4000 refugees in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015. Additionally, banning “offensive speech” on university campuses highlights the role played by educational institutions in promoting exclusive definitions of progress, thereby failing their task to cultivate students’ minds essential for society’s development.
A deeply-rooted thirst for progress can be the exact cause of its restriction. The world is unpredictable, confusing and frightening, which is intimidating for people. Naturally, they tend to seek consolation via finding a clear, simple reason for why something bad has happened. This leads to exaggeration of the responsibility of particular individuals or groups for major issues, an instinct termed the “blame instinct”. Coupled with a desire for progress, this instinct intensifies. With an obsession to blame someone comes the end of looking for explanations elsewhere, therefore, holding onto an old and rigid mentality undermines the ability to solve the problem and grow as a result. In 2015, the drowning of 4000 refugees in the Mediterranean Sea was reported via releasing images of children’s bodies washed up ashore, evoking horror and compassion. Europeans simply blamed the greedy smugglers for this. However, the real culprit is the EU policy. It dictates that boats can be used for one trip only, making it impossible for smugglers to afford proper ones, so they had to settle with inflatable ones instead. Additionally, refugees arriving at the airport need to be distinguished from illegal immigrants via validation, which is impossible since it usually takes 8 months. Hence, these policies really make a mockery of the Geneva Convention that entitles a refugee from seeking asylum. People have an instinct to find someone to blame, but they rarely look in the mirror. Without breaking this mentality, any proposals for achieving progress are futile.
Instead of cultivating people as assets for progress, educational institutions further the development of rigid mindsets such as the “blame instinct”. Colleges have far-reaching influence since future leaders receive education there. Unfortunately, it appears that universities have become horribly corrupted by a one-sided and dogmatic practice leaning heavily to the left. Only progress defined by the leftist is regarded as real progress, and anything that dare stand in its way will be prohibited and attacked. Discriminatory beliefs such as racism should, of course, be minimised. Nonetheless, if taken too far, it incites extreme political correctness. Highly restrictive speech codes are now the norms on campuses. For instance, a college student in California was told that he could not protest NSA surveillance outside of a tiny “free speech zone”, an area that comprised only 1.37 % of the campus. This opposes the freedom of speech-a cherished progress the modern society has made. Ironically, such conduct to achieve progress opposes what the conductor stands for.
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