In the ongoing rally by the US presidential contenders to gain people's trust and support, I thought I should reflect a little about the thoughts that go on in my mind. They are thoughts that extend well beyond the scope of the forthcoming US presidential elections.
What I have an issue with is when selfish, self serving, pretentious, unscrupulous bullies assume that they are worthy of that position and when sadly they succeed!
More than two thousand years ago the collapse of the Roman Republic occurred at the hands of military individuals who used their military might to secure political power and prominent leadership positions. It is noteworthy that accumulation of wealth in those days was almost exclusively achieved via gains from spoils of war. It is also noteworthy that history shows that personal ambition and devious manipulation by the political leaders had much to do with the collapse of the Roman Republic!!
Fast forward to the 20th and 21st Century AD (Aka as CE), I wonder if, apart from the tremendous evolution in Science and Technology and diverse ways of accumulating wealth, has the world witnessed a true reform in the methods and ways adopted by those seeking to get to the helm and those who've succeeded in getting there?
Devious rhetoric by politicians and gullibility of the masses over the years seems to indicate that the answer to that last question is a resounding "absolutely not!!!"
So, is the world changing?
Well, let me put it this way: The world continues to rotate around its axis once a day and revolves around the sun once every 365.25 days without any noticeable change.
Perhaps the power seekers believe that, like the rotation and revolution of the world, their world is unchangeable. Alas, perhaps in their assumption, they are right too!!!
Hani Badawi
October 2, 2016
Hani Badawi
October 2, 2016
