In my study of history, government, the military, and the world situation I think it is a given that the world is very unstable. We live in a world of uncertainty with great potential for an explosive event to trigger a cataclysmic event seemingly just around the corner...
While we can rejoice that the world has seen the demise of three dictators this year we must acknowledge that there are several more still in power. In the wake of the dictators who were removed we have religious extremists who have the potential for imposing extreme forms of rule on the populace. We are naive in the west (especially the US) to assume that countries who cast off a dictator will embrace western style democracy. It simply is not going to happen.
It is my opinion that it will simply be a matter of months before something happens in Iraq after the American troops are withdrawn. Turkey is already targeting the the people in the north (the Kurds) and Iran has old grievances to settle with Iraq (going back to the Iran-Iraq War not so many years ago).
The world is not a settled and stable place anywhere it seems. I look at events such as in Greece and the religious sectarianism in other places and contemplate countries such as Packistan who have nuclear weapons and shudder to think what might happen. Those who do not want to believe what the true intention of Iran is with respect to acquiring nuclear armaments are naive.
When we consider the forces arrayed against Israel one has to conclude that there are some real dangers lurking and simply waiting for the one event to trigger a confrontation. The one event, like the assasination that led to World War I, makes me wonder about the fate of mankind. Israel, it seems, is always put into the position of giving in - the exchange of over 1,000 prisoners for one captured Israli soldier is but the latest in a series of situations facing the Israeli people.
It is incredible to contemplate that the Taliban is simply waiting in the wings for the withdrawal of the Americans from Afghanistan. Dare we think about the day when we withdraw and the Taliban reemerges and leads women out to the soccer field to be shot in the head simply because they dared to learn to read? Will the tribes who hate each other in Iraq self imolate after the Americans withdraw?
Should we care about events elsewhere in the world? If history teaches us anything the answer has to be that we should care - indeed, we must care. We still have forces arrayed in Western Europe because historically the invaders moved through the Fulda Gap. Indeed, we have forces in places like Japan and South Korea so that America can project military might in the event an ally is over run or invaded.
The world is not a safe place, the weapons that are proliferating are more harmful that people are willing to contemplate. The damage that can be inflicted is unlike any that we have known in all of history.
How does one keep a sense of being secure in such a profoundly difficult and unsecure world? The fact is that what happens in Greece does affect what happens where I live here in west Michigan. What will happen in Iraq after the Americans depart (give them 6 months) should be of concern to all of us. Even though some number of our forces will be removed to places like Kuwait, will that be enough or will we care at that point in time (after all, we will be going through another election and we will be preoccupied with internal issues)?
Just some perspectives and prognostications for the bloggers in this wonderful site!
everysooften
west Michigan
But when I look back at the changes that have taken place in the short time I have added to the 7 billion populating this planet I feel good. When I was 18 and about to be drafted to serve as cannon fodder in yet another war that served no purpose I tried to kill myself. It wasn't just the war it was also coming to grips with being "queer" a status that was sure to land me a front row seat in hell according to my mother, my religion and all those around me.
At that time in history blacks and whites couldn't legally marry in many of the southern states and blacks could vote or were discouraged from doing so violently in most cases. Gay men were routinely beaten up and sometimes killed leaving the few hidden gay bars that were more often than not run by the Mafia.
So much has changed for the better since then. The Voting Rights Act opened the ballot box to African Americans who now vote in huge numbers. Out gay men and women not only lead productive lives but also get elected to public office. Most gay people today take rights for granted and assume they were always there without of clue of the struggle that took place to get us where we are today.
Yes there are dictators in the world lots of them. But the "Arab Spring" that swept threw the Middle East has seen 3 of the worst toppled, violent struggles ongoing in two other countries attempting to do the same and has seen the dictators and royal families scramble to try and appear to be accomodating to the populace which is less and less patient with "leaders" who's only interest is staying in power and looting their countries for personal gain.
The strides in technology and medicine I have witnessed in my short time on this planet is awe inspiring. The fact that what I am typing can be readily seen by people from all over the world is truly amazing. Having chat pals from Australia, England, Germany and Canada who I might never know even existed helps me connect and learn from people I may never meet. Do you remember when cancer was a death sentence no matter what type. I had a skin cancer removed last Monday from my arm and it is so routine these days I don't fret about it at all.
Yes there are many dangers and the world is far more interconnected these days than it ever has been. The fact that the Greek debt crisis is causing my portfolio to whipsaw like a roller coaster is truly annoying but I also hold investments in England, South America, Spain and France so it is also an advantage.
There has always been a danger that some itinerate would be painter could start a war that results in 10's of millions being killed but I grew up in a generation where we learned to hide under our desks to avoid nuclear blasts as if a desk would have protected us. It was a much scarier world back then or at least it appears so now.
Human evolution has always been difficult, as one person said we are a greedy people. That greed, the drive for more, for better has resulted in much progress and more than it's share of evil. But looking back from the day where I thought being gay and about to be drafted was the worst possible tragedy to befall anyone I can only say I am so glad I was as inept as I was and have lived to see all that I have. It is sunny outside in Texasss and we got badly needed rain overnight. I was able to complete my 5 mile power walk in 65 minutes today, all is good.
I think in the Diary of Ann Frank she is quoted as writing "despite all the trouble in the world, I still believe in the basic goodness of people..." While I am concerned about this world and the state of potential conflict in ways mankind has never known I must confess that I still believe there is hope. Without hope there is nothing. The world is still a wonderful place.
I agree further with the observations you made concerning the invasions of one country of another... The US stands guilty of doing that on more occasions since World War II than I can say were justified or needful. Sending troops into places such as the Korea, Dominican Republic, Panama, other south American countries, Vietnam, and (yes!) Iraq and Afghanistan were unilateral decisions made by one man. Our Constitution says that the Congress shall declare war yet it is the decision of the President alone to commit forces here and there in the world. I do not like that! I do believe there is a War on Terror - but these are organizations essentially and some of these organizations are harbored (protected) by governments (for example, the Taliban hiding out in Pakistan). Yet countries throughout history have gone to war simply because one man said so... Despite what our Constitution says, the reality is that we lost 55k in Vietnam. The Congress does not lead - they react after the commitment has occurred! It is not like forces were sent to repel an invasion (which was NOT the case when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor). That was a clear case of self defence. I cannot think of another occasion since where that was the case...
Let us hope that we have not lost hope and that there are good people. Despite Akmadinejad of Iran who would deny that the holocaust every occurred!
everysooften
west Michigan
Karma can be a bitch (if one believes in that concept), but it's true that our indiscretions do, one day, come back to bite us in the ass, and what makes us heroes or villains is just how much we can indulge in denial an go ahead to Save the Day ;)
You wouldn't barge into a neighbor's house and rearrange their furniture by force, would you? Maybe if they requested your help, you might consider and then, with permission, go ahead and help them out.
If the mostly good populace of the world respect and adhere to this principle, why then do we, en masse, as nations, exhibit our arrogance and power and go "liberate" countries, while facing rebelling native populations? The most glaring reason (albeit not expressed) is setting up puppet governments, bases for armed forces, easy access to natural resources, etc. Not very different from the colonization movements of the earlier centuries, I feel.
Yes, you can blame globalization for the massive worldwide upheavals, along with all the intercultural relationships it has brought about. One economy goes down, it drags the rest of the world with it. It's inevitable. Part of being a globalized economy. Earlier, when each country had its own economic isolation (for the most part), the local gains or losses might be isolated, and wouldn't impact others. But hey.. That's the price we pay for modernization!
And frankly, it's not fair to blame the politicians alone. Sure, they're the most visible and obvious scapegoats, but you have to remember who they represent - Not just ordinary everyday good folk, but also the "evil moneygrubbing corporations". Cause, we the "99%" are being screwed by the "Evil Corporate World". Sarcasm aside, who can we blame for that? Surely not ourselves! We aren't greedy individually. We sure wouldn't be tempted to take shortcuts and devious methods to make that extra buck, right? Of course, we would gladly take a loss just so someone else can thrive, right? Cause the average good human is a generous, selfless philanthropist.
Let's take a moment to see the problem with the corporations. Why do they "take away our jobs and sell them abroad"? Cause they can increase their profit margin that way. Cause they need to give in to the public demand when we ask for the same or better high end products, but at a cheaper price. Cause we, as consumers don't want to pay more. And let's face it - not everyone in the world is ready to take a blow to make others happy. Sure, corporations do get more than their "fair" share of money and the bigwigs are filthy rich, disproportionate to their effort.
The world isn't run by politicians. It is run by corporations. Arms manufacturers, petrochemical giants, pharmaceutical industries, the insurance companies, the technology manufacturers, lots more. They pay politicians, fund them, act as lobbyists and influence local (and eventually global) policies in a way they profit. Sure, half the time, the general public gets screwed, but hey.. Someone's happy! I support the Occupy movements half-heartedly. But that's cause I realize I'm being a hypocrite if I say it's the guys on Wall Street who are screwing the "99%". After all , we did nurture their growth. We still fun their growth by buying their products. Essentially, we are rebelling against the 1%'s human nature.
I realize I'm rambling kinda incoherently (as usual..lol) and segueing into random tangents, but I don't really believe in the "GOOD" in people. We are weak and easily influenced creatures (a fact most of us aren't willing to admit to), with greed hardwired into our psyche. We might mask it under the guise of altruism, but it's still there. It's human nature. It's the reason socialism and other ideal utopian models would never work in real life. We are selfish. Part of our survival mechanism. What we can pride ourselves upon, is just to what extent we can avoid giving in to it.
My point is, we can blame ourselves for all the mess in the world. Maybe not directly, but we still are the root cause of it all! And since we are a diverse species, with a whole range of cultures, influences, languages and religions, there are bound to be a lot of differences in terms of morality and "justice". We can't take the high hand here and claim our ideas are superior or even "THE correct ones". It's hard for us to remember that there are no absolutes when it comes to good or bad, morals or ethics. It's all subjective, and varies with cultures and time. Our interference, even when we wholeheartedly believe it to be with a good intention, usually ends up disturbing others.
So maybe we should give in to our selfish selves. Maybe we should exercise judgment in "aiding" others, or "liberating" a populace. Maybe we should first stop to think if they actually *want* help, rather than need it. The world would be a much happier place that way :)
I was stationed in Iran for 18 months back when the Shah was in power. During that time I found the people to be the most open, warm and welcoming people - it was the government that was corrupt. I watch travelogues about visits to Iran today and the people are still engaging (though restrained) and wanting to reach out. Again, it is the government. Isn't it awful that so many people in the world live in a country and with rulers who they truly fear?
Thanks for your comment. I enjoy the positive spin you shared!
everysooften
west Michigan