If you choose to watch this clip and trace previous clips about this man’s story on YouTube to get the full context you cannot (or at least should not) come out of this without reaching 2 specific conclusions;
- How inspiring (though “inspiring” is truly an understatement for someone in his age/condition – deserves a more powerful term) to watch people like him in such a the toxic environment designed specifically to make you disbelieve what you actually see with your own eyes – or at least discourages you from doing much about it.
- It also demonstrates in no uncertain terms how reverberations of this conflict are slowly/surely infecting fundamental democratic values/traditions in the west to the point that we’re not just importing political conflicts into our political eco system (something I’ve written about plenty in many of my blog posts), we’re also importing extremist ideologies and governance models from regions of conflict – now how clever is that? I do not mind people having biases – we’re human after all and have our own diverse experiences; but core values, should be unshakeable ; well at least in theory, right?
I guess the salient point is this; yes there are many political ideologies out there (right, left, centre) as well as religious ones too. But if you begin to lose your sense of humanity then progress to give up your core democratic values you’ve essentially lost the plot and no AI or development/economic plan can save you; it’s also possible you didn’t even notice them in the first place in which case “tough luck”…. You see in a complex world of today we need solid bearings to navigate a complex world and help establish a true global order more resilient than we’ve ever had – away from the pressure cooker approach designed to contain/patch rather than resolve conflicts which has proved to be a complete/utter waste of time/resources and not to mention the security risks involved which continue grow/diversify.
Let’s not allow the military industrial complex – and those relying on it – that’s thriving in this current complex/dangerous environment drive us into the abyss and instead focus on a) resolving conflicts and b) diversifying our development strategy/models into areas that can truly benefit mankind, create sustainable growth and distribution channels as a strategy based on building bridges not walls. In fact walls will never need to be erected in the first place. You see people in conflict zones are not sloppy and keen to leave their homeland to reap free/easy benefits of developed economies; their lands/livelihoods are being systematically obliterated in many cases due colonial actions of the past and political meddling at present by the same colonial actors of the past. It’s not about payback time but rather about realities of conflicts which in all fairness requires some form of financial accountability from such actors for the mess created/lives ruined in the span of decades of conflict.
At least that’s my theory/conviction.
Take care.