Mar 7 • 16:00 UTC 🇧🇷 Brazil Folha (PT)

The ghosts that rule us

The article discusses a philosophical reflection on the nature of reality and visibility, starting with a quote about ghosts and touching on recent statements about extraterrestrial life by Obama and Trump's political maneuverings.

The article begins with a thought-provoking paraphrase of a quote typically attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche that suggests the presence of 'ghosts' in our lives is not due to their invisibility, but rather their overwhelming visibility in the real world. This leads into an analysis of how such 'ghosts', whether they be figurative or literal, exist within the sociopolitical landscapes we inhabit. The author references Roland Barthes, who critiqued bourgeois myths and provocatively pondered the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrial beings as reflections of humanity's own fears and aspirations, indicating a complex relationship between culture and the unknown.

The article then shifts focus to contemporary figures, highlighting recent remarks made by former Presidents Obama and Trump regarding aliens. Obama’s admission of the reality of extraterrestrials, despite his personal lack of evidence, stirred significant public interest, particularly given his access to classified information during his administration. This claim seemed to echo Barthes' sentiments about visibility and belief in the presence of unseen forces influencing societal narratives.

Finally, the narrative connects these discussions to broader implications of leadership and governance in the face of extraordinary claims, hinting at the ongoing tension between truth and political expediency. Trump's reaction, juxtaposed with Obama’s, underscores the varied uses of such discourse in the political arena, particularly in the context of crisis management and public perception. The article invites readers to consider how the 'ghosts' of past ideologies and contemporary politics continue to shape our understanding of reality.

📡 Similar Coverage