This world has always had its problems — it never was, and probably never will be, any better than it is at the very moment. The difference now is that we can see it all. Technology has developed, and with it, our sense of awareness.
Once, people were busy sweeping only in front of their own doors; today, with a phone in our hands, we can see an ordinary day of a person we would otherwise never meet. Even now, you are reading my thoughts, and normally, we might never cross paths.
The more developed and connected we become, the more sensitive and reactive we grow. The easier it gets to reach basic needs, the more we focus on expressing ourselves. These days, everyone can be an activist, an advocate, a spokesperson for something — demonstrations, labor strikes, social media campaigns, petitions, or simply sitting in front of a building to make a point. There are countless ways to show your stance, to raise awareness, to push for change.
But vandalism is not one of them. Intentions may be good, but your freedom ends where it interferes with someone else’s.
Recently, two members of Futuro Vegetal were charged with a crime against heritage after allegedly throwing biodegradable red paint on a painting by José Garnelo at Madrid’s Naval Museum on Spain’s National Day. The museum says the artwork has been restored. But does that make the act acceptable?
After all these years of progress, do we still not see that every extreme action gives birth to an equally extreme reaction? These works of art are part of humanity’s heritage — irreplaceable, fragile, and deeply symbolic. Damaging them in the name of a cause does not make you right; it just weakens your argument. You cannot claim to fight for life while destroying what was created to celebrate it.
It seems these days, it’s easy to be something else. If I say, “I identify as a kebab fairy,” few would dare to question me — not out of understanding, but often out of fear of offending. But does that logic justify everything? Just because something feels right in the moment doesn’t mean it is right. So, you just cannot be an overly ardent advocate of something just because you think you are right when you start justifying and normalizing vandalism at some point.
Why is it always the finest pieces that become the target? If you damage something that belongs to everyone — something that carries shared cultural meaning — you’re not an activist, you’re a vandal. And when you devalue the very cause you claim to defend, the message you try to deliver fades into noise.
If we truly want change, we need to find ways that invite dialogue instead of destruction. Real change requires collaboration — a shared cause, a collective benefit. The world already has enough broken things; we don’t need to add art to the list. This is the best time to be human, and to channel our will toward change for the good of all of us.
We should remember that whatever the cause we stand for, it is about us — the ordinary citizens of this world, regardless of our beliefs, identities, or orientations.
True activism seeks to heal and connect, not to separate and destroy.
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Between Everywhere and Nowhere 
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