(460 words, less than 3 mts read)
In writing this piece, I took a fictional flight into the sky to gain an overview of the state of the world today.
It was quite a turbulent ride, looking down at the chaotic and disturbing scenes all over the global landscape.
It is a stage of worldwide volatility and instability, marked by agony, affliction, protest and censored silence. The planet Earth is dotted with wars and conflicts, poverty and hunger, mass movements of people across borders and within boundaries, violent and deadly racism against minorities, while it is gasping for breath with massive environmental destruction.
Why is the world going through such a catastrophic situation?
Who are the individuals entrusted with the fate of billions? Leaders emerge under various banners—democracy, socialism, communism, authoritarianism, and now, the newest trend: militarism.
Have these isms miserably failed to give the people of the world peace, prosperity, equality, and dignity? The ruling gangs are steering the political vehicles and trampling upon humanity.
It is often said that a toxic mix of arrogance, narcissism, ignorance, and indifference characterizes the current evolution of prominent world leaders. That is true.
However, it is also true that they often lack the fundamental values of humanism, empathy, wisdom, intelligence, and even education. Instead, absurdity and madness dominate their thinking and administration, executed through vigorous and violent operations.
It is against this background and apathetic attitude that senseless rules, laws and armed campaigns are advanced, resulting in dire situations, deaths and destruction that people face.
Nationalism is aroused while stupidity dictates the agenda of the world’s autocrats, elected in real or fake democracies, and by other backroom systems.
The fear factor is often stirred up. Sovereignty, security, the economy, culture and religion are wielded like swords, particularly against minorities, immigrants, and dissenters.
Populist illusions drive economic policies. Tariffs on imports are slapped on the pretext of boosting the country’s economy, creating employment, and making the nation “great again.”
Conflicts and clashes are staged, and minorities are blamed. They’re hated and victimized. Homes are bulldozed to carve a one-culture, one-religion and one-language in a multicultural society, along with the promise of “good days” ahead.
Offense is the weapon of defense against an enemy that does not exist or is perceived. Destructive, deadly and lengthy armed campaigns are unleashed to crush people who are of a different race, causing a punishing carnage, even with a crusade of decimating them.
Civil wars and strife are a familiar scene from continent to continent, like fighting between street gangs.
In this scenario, we see misguided, reckless and ridiculous leaders handling the governance of nations with ruthless disregard for the public.
Are fools and idiots running the world? The evidence overwhelmingly says yes.
However, the tragedy is not that fools run the world; instead, the greater misfortune is that we, the people, empower them to do so.
-Promod Puri
Promod Puri.com 