What is the ultimate form of cruelty?
I pose this question as one deeply concerned about the future - my own and that of the vast world. I have recently been studying, so as to further enlighten myself and thereby others, two works by Niccolo Machiavelli. I shall not endeavor to make any comments with regards to those works here; rather, because of my current studies in that political-philosophical discipline, I have been confronted by the reality of the plight of humanity. I must admit that I have found it to be a most depressing subject but one that all should confront so as to awaken from the fanciful world that all to often people of means create for themselves.
I should like to present this problem from both a macro and micro viewpoint so as to illustrate better the forthcoming statement of truth.
Through the recorded annals of history, be them Roman, Greek, European, or what they may, we have plain evidence of sagacious leaders under whom their dominions flourished. The mere presence of prosperity does not necessarily imply righteousness on behalf of neither the leader nor the people. Many more are those who failed to rise to greatness or to gain the favor of their own subjects. I know that I speak vaguely at best, but this is my point: that to achieve greatness through exploit and dominion it is necessary to be wise. When wisdom is accompanied by righteousness the grace of the Almighty will further glorify such an earthly kingdom, as the case will prove with the biblical figure of King David. However, in our present situation, within our modern republic, apparently neither is present. I boldly declare this in the spirit of patriotism because the effeminate vice of naiveté has so taken root as to render our masterful and inspired form of government, as it were crowned upon us by the centuries of experiment and formulation of republics and democracies from the past and God himself, crippled by her very children.
The essence of the naiveté I denounce is this: the claim to progress without sacrifice. Sacrifice comes in myriad forms. It is often unplanned, but it is always the price to be paid. Let us consider the Industrial Revolution. The hours were long, the conditions brutal, and children, dirty and poor, worked in the factories. Out of the pressure created by such conditions emerged laws protecting the workers, children, and regulating commerce. The country boomed and emerged as an industrial powerhouse which resulted in a greater quality of living than had every been seen before in the world. However, people died. There were fires. There were widows and starving children. Did it absolutely have to happen that way? I suppose that if we lived in a perfect world with people living altruistic lifestyles, then the answer would be a resounding 'no!', but we do not. Should we therefore say that their suffering, because somehow, in some perfect world, it could have been avoided outweighs the overall benefit to mankind and the millions who have been blessed by their unintentional sacrifice? With an even more resounding 'NO!' I reply!
Likewise, on the micro level now, in the family this principle can be observed. The child who is raised in comfort, who does not have to work nor is disciplined when misbehaving, grows believing in a world that does not exist. Such parents who raise children thus upon the pretense of love are most naive indeed. For, those individuals, once integrated into society, having a belief as strong as perhaps my own, endeavor to make the society, the nation, the world in the image of that fantasy world of naiveté - a world where without blood, sweat, and tears everyone prospers.
I in no way advocate suffering, nor do I justify those who cause it upon the innocent. Rather, I state unequivocally that the very suffering that we see today is caused by those who most adamantly campaign for its extirpation. This is because we have been spread too thin, as it were. To fortify ourselves first and bolster our education, military, and government is the primary - nay, the only priority - of government. The only priority of parents is to raise disciplined and mature individuals who can continue to build upon the foundation of greatness that has preceded them.
Awake to the reality of the fallen world. There will be pain. We must move on. There will be death. We must progress. Dreams will come to naught. We must prevail. There will be war. We must be victorious. There will be sacrifice. We must not let it be in vain. There is cruelty. We must be wise.
It is painful to be wise; for, as we seek to save all we can from hunger, war, abuse, joblessness, and evil in all its manifestations people will die and pass into ignominy. This is not so much as a call to action as it is a call to realization. Our nation must reject the promise of complacency promised by the cruel naive. Families must not raise children to be cruel. Only then can I have hope that mouths will be fed, that tears will stop, and dreams will come true.
Sapere Aude
Dare to be wise
Dare to be wise
No comments:
Post a Comment