“In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
By their very nature, human beings are generally compassionate. Although some do tend to show signs of tyranny or criminality, rarely do individuals go around hurting others. The reasons for deviance can be a mix of psychological, social and environmental factors, relatable to socio-economic conditions, family structure, types of companionship, addictions, exposure to violence or even biological/neurological problems. Sometimes, extreme circumstances can also trigger someone into criminal culpability despite feeling remorse, but these are isolated incidents. Overall, a normally functioning society comprises members who are keen to help each other like good neighbours.
Insecurities in humans cause suspicion of others, resulting in separation and estrangement with allies. No wonder friends break up, families get scattered, regions get divided into smaller units with thick invisible walls in the shape of borders sketched by world leaders with unstable mindsets. One imagines that by drawing themselves into so-called secure zones, they would live happily ever after — but unfortunately, world history tells us that this is not the case.
If humans had been able to appreciate the concept of peaceful coexistence, generously sharing natural resources with those who are deprived, allowing freedom of movement to all, and being open to different cultures and traditions, then perhaps these artificial limits called countries would not be adorning the political landscape of this Earth. From space, however, one can visualise the beauty of this planet in its full glory without these man-made divisions.
As in the popular television series Star Trek, extra-terrestrial creatures might be prone to admiring the Earth from a distance with much envy — just like the way Captain Kirk and his team felt while travelling to exotic planets. Nevertheless, the fact is that we are divided and separated.
A world convention denouncing wars and lunatics, killings of innocents and ending animosities should be convened that must lay down new standard operating procedures for all countries
The Earth’s yin and yang imbalance has led to masculine energy disregarding sense and sensibility. Now emotions like control, revenge, subjugation, terrorism etc. have taken precedence over the softer values of love, empathy, acceptance and tolerance that are attributed to feminine energy. Consequently, the likes of Jacinda Ardern and Angela Merkel are fading into the background, while aggressive people like Benjamin Netanyahu, Narendra Modi, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin and their abettors are hell-bent on destroying whatever little humanity is left in this world.
By their idiocy, they think they can overpower nations — but the truth is that their actions are giving rise to many new Osamas bin Laden who will one day want to take revenge for their miseries from subsequent generations who may have had nothing to do with their tragedies in the first place, and this insanity is bound to continue. Politics of revenge and destruction has a very short life, as is evident from the last century. Europe, which became a hotbed of war, is now one of the most peaceful and developed regions, while the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), once a superpower, not only lost its hold but also disintegrated into many independent states. Countries made up of different regions should have learnt their lessons from this historic episode.
The United States of America, fortunate to be on a continent flanked by two major oceans on either side, should behave in a manner befitting its grandeur. However, the role it is playing in world politics can have a backlash on its own people. Instead of protecting its mammoth war industry by encouraging localised wars in distant lands and providing moral as well as material support to warlords, it should go for introspection and save its own might, lest some of its states declare independence. The innumerable domestic problems relating to natural disasters (hurricanes, wildfires), racial discrimination, poverty, crimes, teenage perversity — especially in relation to guns in schools — need to be addressed before extending advisory services to others.
Agreed, not every country is self-sufficient in natural resources, food and other necessities that are fundamental to human living. This does not mean that a bully is allowed to come and snatch these by subjugating or eliminating the locals. Gone are the days of conquerors like Alexander, Genghis Khan, Attila, Vikings, Spartans, Ghaznavids, Ghorids, Mughals, and Abdalis. With their powerful forces, they were able to swoop down on weaker nations in search of treasures — water, land, energy, and of course precious stones. This is in addition to wars based on ideologies or fought in fear of external threats.
Today, the needs of the world have changed remarkably. For example, with rapid growth in technology, rare earth minerals (copper, lithium and nickel) are in high demand — of course besides oil, water and fertile land. Therefore, regions where they are available in abundance are becoming arenas of conflict. For short-term material gains, layer upon layer of double-crossers are easily purchased to infiltrate within the ranks and files of power politics, eventually becoming agent provocateurs for overthrowing legally formed governments — just because they appear unyielding to the demands of global ruffians. Such acts are done with the intention of weakening nations to the extent that they are left with no choice but to surrender their pride and wealth.
Adapting to changing times would require a more robust attitude, whereby world leaders should be approaching a more sensible attitude — displaying characteristics of goodwill, unity and compassion. One can never forget the way Jacinda Ardern, then Prime Minister of New Zealand, tackled the Christchurch mosque attacks in March 2019. Like George W. Bush, she could have involved the whole world in her internal crisis, but she chose to adopt a humane stance whereby not only were the victims accommodated, but the perpetrator was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 2020.
A world convention denouncing wars and lunatics, killings of innocents and ending animosities should be convened that must lay down new standard operating procedures for all countries, wherein trading and sharing with one and all the fruits of natural resources could be made possible. Otherwise, we would be condemned to continue with these disgusting and insane means of destroying each other.
“Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism — how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.” — Albert Einstein