Waiting for Suddenly

Photo by Randy Jacob on Unsplash

“How did you go bankrupt?" 
Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.”

― Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

Gradually, we allowed business to go from something that lubricated society to something that controls it, until suddenly we realised the price of "infinite growth"

Gradually, we allowed democracy to turn from a value, to an episodic festival, until suddenly we realised it had become programmable.

Gradually, complacency turns to concern, turns to confusion, to bewilderment, to anger, to a short period of calm until suddenly.

Gradually, we turn from passive subjects to passive consumers, to realise we have become consumables until, suddenly, we become active citizens.

I wonder when suddenly will be?