Left or ??

Sadness and disappointment feel like autumn to me… And when I try to distract myself—by reading the news or listening to something—it only pushes me to the limit. Everything has become polarized, left or right, with nothing in between.

Everything is extreme now. Everyone is trying to impose their own opinion.

I used to be part of  Socialist Democratic Party, the left, and I was proud of it. Back then, it felt balanced, normal, and not against anyone. But today, the left feels unrecognizable—boycotting sports, concerts, and so many other things—instead of engaging in meaningful diplomacy and dialogue.

What is becoming of the Left today—whether we speak about the Democratic Party in the United States, PSOE in Spain, the PES in the European Parliament, or PSD in Romania?

This is not a rhetorical question, but an honest one that many citizens should ask themselves. Too often, political debate has been reduced to choosing sides—frequently the most extreme ones—rather than seeking real solutions.

Traditionally, social democratic parties built their identity on principles of solidarity, social justice, diplomacy, and tolerance. These values created balance and gave citizens confidence in the future. Today, however, many people perceive the Left as increasingly fragmented and radicalized—focusing on culture wars, boycotts, and symbolic battles—while neglecting the values of dialogue and compromise that once defined them.

Perhaps it is time to rebuild a more balanced alternative, one where respect, tolerance, and diplomacy form the foundation. Only then can we have a constructive discussion about rights, responsibilities, and the role of science in shaping public policy.

Politics should not be a competition over who has more rights than others, but a shared effort to guarantee dignity and opportunity for all.

Science should be given the place it rightfully deserves, not undermined or boycotted out of ideology.

Patterns

 

What’s going on with all this obsession? To be more precise, I’m just trying to understand why someone can be so submissive to a person who is only playing with them.

Sometimes this kind of “game” may not even be intentional, but in the end, it’s still a game. Why do you need to act like a jerk just because a woman treats you with love and respect? What exactly are you trying to prove? Absolutely nothing. You’re just an old, frustrated man—misogynistic and disrespectful toward women—while at the same time trying to appear modern.

Yesterday I spent the whole day listening to my friend talk about this guy. I tried to gently remind her that she needs to stand up for herself, but in the end what she really wanted was reassurance that he would come back to her.

It was hard for me, because I could see how much she was hurting. I told her, “I don’t think he respects you, and it’s unlikely that will suddenly change.” But even after he treated her badly again, she was still hoping things might work out.

I realized I was starting to feel overwhelmed by hearing the same painful story over and over.

When I thought about it more, I understood that she probably calls me because I truly listen, even when others don’t. Many of her friends have pulled away because they can’t handle hearing the same patterns repeated. I’ve told her before—and I still believe this—that talking to a therapist might help her break out of these cycles. She deserves so much better than to keep choosing men who treat her poorly and expecting a different result.

In a pathological relationship, the warning signs are there from the very beginning, but usually we lie to ourselves. We project onto that person what we want them to be, but if they are not truly like that, the result is a disastrous relationship filled with pain and lies—and in the end, no future at all.

When I try to understand why we choose certain types of people—or, more broadly, why we choose a particular type of person to spend our life with—most therapists say it comes from the patterns we experienced as children. They argue that we are unconsciously drawn to what is familiar, even if it isn’t always healthy.

I’m not sure if I completely agree with this. On one hand, it makes sense that our early experiences shape our view of love and relationships. But on the other hand, the idea that we are almost “programmed” to repeat the same patterns feels frustrating to me. The first time I heard it, I remember getting really upset—it felt like my freedom of choice was being denied, as if I had no control over who I am drawn to.

Maybe there is some truth in it, but I also believe we can become aware of these patterns and make conscious choices. Just because we grew up seeing one type of relationship doesn’t mean we are doomed to repeat it forever. Awareness, self-reflection, and healing can give us the power to choose differently.