“An idea whose time has come is stronger than all the armies in the world.”—Victor Hugo
POWER
Ideas are powerful. We cope with death based on our idea of the afterlife. We love people based on our idea of who they are. We spend ungodly amounts of money based on our idea of a brand. The influential nature of ideas gives creativity power. Creativity is the vehicle your mind uses to package and share your idea with the world. Every war we’ve ever fought, shift in humanity’s eras, economic revolution, social justice movement, scientific breakthrough, and artistic trend can trace back to one idea someone had. They probably weren’t the first to think of the idea, but they were the first to share the idea in a thought-provoking impactful way.
CREATE THE FUTURE
Chaos theory is a branch of mathematics that studies how things that start simple can become unpredictable and complicated. A known example of the chaos theory is the butterfly effect. This effect states that a butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world can cause a chain of events that leads to a storm happening somewhere else.
The chaos theory shows that seemingly simple systems can have unpredictable outcomes. It helps scientists understand things like weather patterns, an animal’s behavior, and planetary movement. The world is a complex and interconnected place. Even the most minor things can make a huge difference.
Creativity spreads the same way. Tupac once said, “I’m not saying I’m going to rule the world or I’m going to change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world. And that’s our job. It’s to spark somebody else watching us.” Your ideas have the power to change the world. Some ideas are more impactful than others, but everything you create will influence the trajectory of humanity. Each contribution has a ripple effect, influencing the next generation’s ideas. Ideas have power and influence that transcends the limitations of time. Economist John Maynard Keynes suggests, “Ideas are immortal, and as such, they are the most powerful force in the universe.” The future is impossible to predict, but instead of speculating about what could happen in the distant future, get out and create the future you wish to see. Participate in the creator’s shared responsibility of shaping our destiny. The future belongs to the creators who create it.
CULTURAL GENOCIDE
The fairy tales, plays, songs, paintings, and other forms of art from the past give us a glimpse into who we once were. The artifacts we investigate are all preserved art from the past. That means the art of today will become the artifacts of tomorrow. It’s our footprint in the sand of human history that preserves the stories of our time. When you create something new, you’re contributing to our story. Protect your creations to secure your place in the shared human consciousness.
Creativity is so powerful that destroying it is an act of warfare. This process is called cultural genocide. It’s when an invader asserts dominance over the natives by demolishing their physical artifacts such as artwork, music, architecture, and literature, as well as the suppression of cultural practices, traditions, and languages. Art is the heart of a culture. Without it, the cultural ties that bind the natives together unravel, weakening them for generations to come. Once the invader strips the culture of its essence, they replace the art with their own and exploit or appropriate the resources they have left. They forcefully plant their ideologies in the native’s minds knowing that one day, generations later, the natives will completely forget their cultural heritage.
In the late 19th century, Native Americans in the United States experienced a tragic example of cultural genocide. The U.S. government forcefully removed Native American children from their families and communities. They relocated them to boarding schools where they forbid their native languages and traditions, including banning traditional religious practices like the Sun Dance and the Ghost Dance.