#17: a tragic paradox

If aliens were observing humans, what would they find? A dominant specie that conquers almost all on the planet and a little beyond; a specie that is innovative, is capable of love, affection, benevolence, and great intellectual feats. But also a specie with an irrational streak – of not hesitating to destroy their achievements and reputations – whether to score a point or just because they can. And they frequently succumb to this impulse. The strong sense of self-preservation could just as well tempt them to destroy what they seek to protect. What a paradox!

To think of it, how incredibly overwhelming must our hate-machines be. Infants are born with almost divine innocence. But somewhere our society, upbringing, and circumstances fail them. A culture of violence, hatred, and mistrust surrounds them instead. How tragic that sermons preaching tolerance and love have to compete with video-games and lyrics fuelling anger, hate, and destruction. Is there no other avenue to vent human angst? Is there no alternative outlet for desperation and dissatisfaction? What worries me is that I am a part of the very society and system I criticise, just as it is a part of me.

I think of innocent citizens caught in crossfires – from Mumbai to Madrid, from Jaffna to Jakarta, from Gaza to Haifa. All they seek is to get on with their lives – in relative peace, stability, and some self-respect. And millennia of human civilisations later, we are still in an elusive quest for this utopia.