Welcome to Two Plus Two
2+2=5. Or does it? Welcome to Two Plus Two, a commentary on sociocultural and political issues, allergic to spoonfed groupthink.
'Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.' — George Orwell
I hope it’s not too tacky to start with a quote by Orwell, but he just happens to be one of my favorite writers. Well, here I am, giving a go at writing again, after years of abstinence (don’t count those three lifestyle articles I published for a Spanish women’s magazine) and with a whole new purpose.
These past years have been a lesson in contemplation, in reflection, in trying to make sense of a news and media reality that seems to be more and more out of sync with the reality I live in. I consider myself to be politically moderate (liberal with some dashes of conservatism maybe), an average person with convictions that nobody would consider strange or offensive.
But then, and I believe this development was propelled by the pandemic, things gradually started to change. Political opinions and discussions became more dogmatic and less open, journalism became more dominated by ideology and less concerned with facts. The political spectrum became utterly skewed towards the far-left up to a point where anyone considering themselves moderate like me was labeled right-wing. Certain criticism suddenly put you in the category of conspiracy theorists or hate-mongers. According to general opinion, my opinions were now supposedly “extreme” or “absurd”, even “radical” or “hateful” because I refuse to agree that two plus two should make five.
So the purpose of this Substack is, in Orwellian terms, to say that two plus two does equal four, even in a postmodern, post-truth society. It’s about analyzing and questioning this new dogmatism and to mold my ideas and opinions into something resembling a decent, maybe even thought-provoking commentary that I hope readers will find interesting.
Welcome to “Two Plus Two”. A place without groupthink, free thoughts only.
About the author: Born 1987, with roots in Germany and the Philippines, living in Spain. Constantly curious and eager to learn new things. Freedom > safety. Your own opinion > groupthink. Coffee > tea. Currently reading: “If We Were Villains” by M.L. Rio.