How the PN’s “Loneliness Strategy” Betrays Thomas Merton and the True Value of Solitude
Thomas Merton (1915–1968), Trappist monk, writer, and contemplative thinker.
Once again, the Nationalist Party is making noise about “combating solitude,” complete with a new National Advisory Council on Loneliness and fresh regulations. What they call a crisis is nothing more than their fear of independent minds.
They deliberately confuse loneliness (a painful lack of connection) with solitude (the deliberate choice to be alone). These are not the same, and the PN’s refusal to see the difference exposes their shallow, controlling mindset.
Thomas Merton put it perfectly:
“If we want to be truly ourselves, we must learn to be alone, because it is only in solitude that we can hear the voice that tells us who we are.”
Merton, who lived in monastic silence, understood that real self-discovery happens away from the crowd, the noise, the hashtags, and the political spin. In solitude, we escape the constant demands of society and digital distraction. We confront ourselves honestly. That inner voice, raw and unfiltered reveals our true character, values, and purpose. It is uncomfortable, often terrifying, but essential for genuine growth, creativity, and inner strength.
The Nationalist Party wants to “combat” exactly this. A citizen comfortable with solitude thinks for himself. He doesn’t need endless government validation, emotional safety nets, or party loyalty. That independence terrifies politicians who thrive on agitation and dependence.
Instead of another bureaucratic strategy and advisory council, we need the opposite: the courage to embrace solitude. Turn off the noise. Sit with your thoughts. Listen to that quiet voice Merton described.
When enough people do, the PN’s hollow posturing will be exposed for what it is – the desperate sound of politicians scared of silence, because silence reveals their irrelevance.
