The final century

We survived the last century in spite of much apprehension. There have been two great wars, two market upheavals apart from the Vietnam war. Senator Goldwater wanted to defoliate Vietnam so that the guerrillas could not hide. It is now being done in another country. There is no sign of any let up. Could this be the final century? It is funny how excuses are made. Consider Israel that was created to atone German abuses. But a country in Asia was made to pay the price. If this was the promised land, what about the right of aborigines in their own land?

There are five super powers in the world with veto rights in the council of nations. They are the wisest and most powerful having say in all matters of concern to the world. Nuclear ability is a factor of concern in this empowerment. Meanwhile, some more countries have developed this ability and they are treated with respect, even by their mighty neighbours. The council of the world does not want any more nation with such ability. The responsibility of overseeing is the council of nations headed by the powerful among them. An alternative approach could be to allow each nation to develop its nuclear ability assuming that it will behave better once such ability is attained. Using a Marxian phrase, it may be said that let the weak of the world rise, the world will lose nothing but its arrogance.

In spite of the soothe sayings the last century was peaceful towards the end. Life was good and there was no visible conflict. The last war was a cold war between two superpowers that remained confined to rhetoric. It takes just one person to change an entire situation such as Hitler for a country. Joseph Kennedy was blamed for the fall of NYSE. The weak can only pray. Bible is a poor man's book. The abuses abound in all places, countries and the world. There will be no relief until we find another place to migrate, or invade. Artemis could revive our hope as search for another habitable world continues.

'If I wake up tomorrow' is a cynic's prayer before retiring at night. It can now be a prayer for all of us. Life is getting so uncertain. On the one side there is nature with all its fury from tsunamis to earthquakes to meteors going wild. On the other, there is human with newer abuses on life. Together, chances of waking up next morning is getting slimmer.

In the olden days breaking a glass plate was a way to release one's anger. Now it is the neighbour's window. For a country it is the one across the border, if it is weak. Our choices are getting diversified, mostly encroaching on the rights of the weaker members of the society. This can be seen in everyday rage on the roads,for example.

Human is a very innovative species. Most of their innovations are targeted at other species as well as their own members. The main objective is to exploit an existing situation due to some weakness. I have an uncomfortable experience in one of the suave cities in Europe. As I was driving to another city my car developed a leak. I stopped. Help was immediately available as someone on a bike stopped. He offered help in changing the tyre. The luggage in the car boot had to be taken out to reduce the laden weight. Everything done, he said goodbye and wished me a pleasant journey. Little did I realize that my attaché with valuables was gone with him. So much for help. On second thought, could it be the same person who made the hole in my car tyre? It was easy as he stood next to my car in a traffic light. Should we blame people in our country, one of the poorest, for being deceitful?

As the war rages in Iran the worst suffering countries are the poor ones that are already choked on the throat having problem with balancing their books. With no help around, all they can do is tighten the belt hoping the misery will go away as the powerful take pity on them. But, there are some gainers in such a situation as every manmade misery has a beneficiary. Like they say, misery is the biggest business of the world today as ways are developed to alleviate them. So are the abuses in various forms. If we ever get out of the situation, will there be any lesson learnt? Else, history will repeat itself. The number of cynics will increase with the same prayer said as they go to bed at night.

chowdhury.igc@gmail.com