Power


There is a great deal of wailing over the reality of suffering in our world, which seems tired and often war torn. The world filled with those oppressed by governments, only interested in its survival and furthering of the careers of those in control, while the people are often sacrificed for the satiation of those who crave power and wealth. This of course also means, indulging to the max, the very human tendency towards greed, and what is willingly done to fulfill that desire. So the many suffer and the few prosper in many parts of the world. It almost can become boring, but only because of its dreary repetition, wearily played out over and over again, usually after some kind of revolution, making empty promises of some kind of secular redemption, which never comes. Of course religious overthrows are no better as history will testify. Be it secular or religious, the beast is the same, and when let loose only ruin and suffering follow. All in the name of some higher good, forgetting the value and worth of each individual, who has the misfortune of being in their sphere of influence, until death do them part.

I think the will-to-power is the greatest cause of suffering in the world, where even those who start out with pure intentions to serve, often get swallowed up in the belly of this ever hungry, unsatisfied beast. For in truth, most of us have no idea how we will act if power is presented to us and we in turn embrace it. The world becomes a chess game; the common people become the pawns willingly sacrificed for the ‘higher good', which means of course, what is good for the higher players in this deadly game. The young are often the fodder used by those in power, no matter what the government stands for. It is the young who die on the battle field. Those who have never even begun their lives; dying for the political ambitions of those older and more powerful, who use all manner of propaganda, to send the young to their early graves, making them heroes, which in fact they often are. With all the pomp and ceremony that can be brought to the fore. Yes the top soil all over the world is enriched by the bodies of the young, who gave their all, to satisfy the desires of their elders, for power and yes revenge.

Also the victims of wars, the women and children, old men, killed; often caught between two sides, each punishing and killing for helping the other. It is weariness at times beyond bearing. Another absurdity that we have to choke on, as we watch helpless, unable to bring any kind of change, for deep down there is the knowledge, that each of us is part of the problem. So much desire to conquer, so much anger to unleash, yet to no avail, for it only fuels the rage of those who are conquered, tortured and imprisoned; so the wheel turns endlessly, without rest or respite, our species tied to it with self made chains.

I think that all governments are corrupt; also politicians, who for the most part have to sell their souls if they wish to have any kind of clout in the world. It is so easy to become corrupt, to lose ones way, to allow idealism to be buried under the weight of pragmatism and yes, favors owed to those who make it possible to even run for office. I doubt that if I had that kind of power it would leave me unaffected. It is a heady drug, power, the crowds, and the applause, those who follow blindly; yes intoxicating. I have no doubt that I to would become part of the problem if I was in office. So I am not condemning those men and women who lead us, or those who rule in other parts of the world. It is easy to fall; at least it would be for me.

I have no answers, or easy ones; the kind that many want to receive. There is no ‘ one size fits all' answer to mankind's problems, for they come from within, from the heart, often filled with desires almost impossible to fulfill; yet there dictating to us often on an unconscious level, ways to live them out, or to seek out what they promise. What makes our desires ‘evil' is what we are willing to do to satiate them. It seems that there is no end to what we as a species can do.

So is it all bleak? No, of course not; nothing is that black and white. It is just our struggle. Perhaps one day we will truly understand, on the intellectual, emotional and spiritual levels, the irrationality that we are often prone towards, and to find a way to slowly grow through or past it. The seeds are already there, for in the world there is at least the idea of ‘individual rights', something missing in ages past. So yes we grow slowly as a species, but it always better to hope than to despair. Change cannot come from our leaders, since the paradigm used for leadership is based on power and control and yes defense. Which is still needed, if truth be told; for the world is still a very dangerous place. So armies, weapons, and yes, young men and women to fight and die, are still needed. We are caught as the saying goes: "between a rock and a hard place". I guess we will be there until our knowledge of what needs to be done, will mature into the desire to do whatever it takes to achieve it. I suppose that means looking within for the enemy, instead of without. Sounds simple, but it is probably the most difficult lesson we need to learn if we are to mature and grow.