Lost Possibilities?
This isn't the most famous door in the world, despite what you might have thought at first glance. Its resemblance to the iconic entrance of 10 Downing Street is striking, yet this unassuming entrance lies a few hundred metres away from where the Prime Minister's residence stands, shrouded behind layers of iron gates, surveillance cameras, and armed police officers. Once easily accessible, a symbol of power at the heart of the community, today, the barriers seem to reflect not just physical security but a broader sentiment: the perception that our world is more dangerous than ever.
But is it really?
It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that danger is multiplying. Every headline blares with crises, offering yet another reason for us to worry. The physical and metaphorical barriers reinforce the idea of a world on the brink. Yet, my own experience of crossing continents to see the reality of life around the world tells me the opposite is true. By nearly every measurable standard—violent crime, war casualties, life expectancy—we live in the safest era in human history. It is a paradox of the modern age that even as danger diminishes, our awareness of it grows, magnified by the relentless connectivity of a digital world.
I can't help but wonder if, perhaps, the real challenge facing our society is not how to further fortify against the dangers we face but how to rediscover the openness we've lost. After all, a locked door may provide security, but it also shuts out possibilities of the world beyond.
