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DanB1973's avatar

I always respect solid work put into researching a subject. Capturing a phenomenon from various angles in order to understand the undercurrents, omitting plenty of distractions and details of low importance - it is a real art of the mind handling the reality. The above article is an excellent example of this work.

The level on which the discussion is held, however, leads to little in the form of “what next”. The countering of one world view with another is a waste of precious human energy. Or, to put it in a more modern context, any fight means loss to all parties involved. The “winner” (whatever it means) is there only because they have managed to put the other party in submission. There can be no “win-win”. However civilized we would like to see ourselves, any battle or force or negotiation which results in one party taking advantage of others is always a huge defeat of us all.

With hundreds of non profits, councils, treaties, conferences and what not, the fact that we have ONE day of fight and human loss in 2024 signifies that we are not worthy of the word “human” as yet.

There is no difference in the mentality of today’s “leaders” from that of savage, unintelligent war-greedy monsters from five centuries ago. We are not ready to live in peaceful coexistence. WE - the people, not “leaders” - need militant leaders pretending to be strong and assertive, while at heart (if they have any) they are below the level of humanity which is alive in regular folks. We don’t create oppositions. We come and meet and talk and cooperate with other people, both those who are like us, and those who differ from what we know. We don’t cause trouble. Problems are created when “leaders” put out dividing slogans and pathetic pseudo-patriotic calls to destroy others. Only then does the opposition arise.

Before that, there is no difference between East and West. We all breathe the same air. We all need to have a peaceful sleep. We all need water to survive and we all like to alter work with joy. We all communicate, using slightly different methods or sounds, but we all value and appreciating real, meaningful contact. Shared values are here for all of us to enjoy - so that we could rise above pointless games of force.

Why would you need to lie and pretend?

Especially when you are a politically exposed person? When millions of people depend on you and your integrity?

Martina Lauer's avatar

I think you brought recent developments into historical perspective. Since Covid, many Westerners have realized how our leadership divides us in nonsensical and destructive ways. One could argue that this realization should have come much earlier but that's life. I hope we can find our common humanity fighting against the butchery in Gaza. We have been forced for too long to witness the slaughter of tens of thousands in defence of our official values...

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