Man, the Political Animal
Nothing quite exemplifies the fallibility, frailty and foibles of human nature as our experience in politics, whether the politics of conquest, religion, or governance. Power attained, it has long been acknowledged, has a corrupting influence on an already-corruptible body politic.
From time immemorial the history of Europe, as elsewhere (Africa, South Asia, the Middle East for starters) was one of warfare, conquest, bloodshed, hegemony, intrigues. City states in ancient Greece plotted against one another, each convinced of its moral and governing superiority (Sparta and Athens, for example) to the other. Ancient Egypt, a bastion of culture and advances in science at the time was continually at war with its neighbours. In the Medieval era, wars ran rampant and continuously, one group against the other. Human nature playing its political games of conquest.
In 14th, 15th, 16th century Europe, Spain, France and Britain were constantly at war with each other. France was forever invading the princely provinces of Italy, claiming them as their own, reaping their wealth, then succumbing to counter-attacks, withdrawing to lick their wounds before the next attack. Truly strange alliances were made, and it wasn't unknown for the Vatican to intrigue with various countries and promote war itself.
Pity the populations whose cities were razed, their wealth ransacked, their women, children and men murdered by the thousands, bodies left to decay under a pitiless sky. Those whose lives were spared in other cities, looking upon the carnage left in those cities which hadn't been spared, hoped to live their lives out in some semblance of peace under their new rulers. Until such time as another war, yet another invasion, and another aspirant to ownership of the country's wealth appeared on the horizon.
In the meantime, they did as humans have always done under the burden of subjugation, they switched their allegiances, hoped for the best, got on with their lives for however long the new occupation lasted. It's true that the cultures and social orientations of the invaded countries altered over time and became enriched through the diversity which resulted and that too is part of history and the human condition.
The politics of human nature. The humanly inhumane treatment of others, exemplifying man's inhumanity to man. In our era wars and invasions are considered to be in bad taste, a taste still indulged in without constraint in many parts of the globe, but as an example, those European states which were once constantly at one another's throats, murdering each others' populations at will, are now living fairly harmoniously under the sheltering canopy of The European Union.
Humans are capable, after all, of learning, of restraining their basest impulses, of reaching accords, of aspiring to a higher moral level. The problem is that still-backward parts of the globe have not yet caught up so that the civilized portion looks back in horror at the ongoing carnage in the as-yet-politically-untamed world.
But for those of us in Western secular democracies we can decry politicians' antics in the certain knowledge that the laws of our lands protect us from the worst depredations that political agendas can visit upon us, for even politicians are subject in our world, to the laws of the land. Our brand of politicians teach us other lessons about human nature, that some strive for the best outcome overall, yet in the process produce the worst scenarios benefiting none.
Partisanship, ego and power are irresistible aphrodisiacs. Even those aspiring politicians who convince themselves and the electorate that they are to be trusted as forthright and impassioned seekers after the good of the public weal, who plan to serve their country to the best of their abilities allow themselves to be suborned. Politicians recognize the practicality of avoiding hard decisions, producing their own truths to suit their plans.
We are, as a species, destined to repeat our errors, the mistakes and missteps over and over again. We do not, after all, learn from history. History is someone else's perception of events, for nothing is without its bias. We always feel somehow exempt, superior in ability, in direction and purpose and we will not, personally, succumb to the disaster that befell others in other times.
It is the destiny of mankind to repeat itself ad infinitum. We do make progress, but painfully, slowly, barely recognizably. It is sad and it is terrifying. We are all too fallible, too human, if you like. And if you don't like it, unfortunately there doesn't appear to be too much we can do about it. We elect decision-makers and trust to their judgement. When, after a circumscribed period of time they are deemed to have failed in the tasks set before them, we glory in the opportunity to unseat them and elect replacements.
In the opinion of some, scoundrels all.
Which isn't a good reason at all to stop striving to become better humans and to insist that our elected officials do so also, on behalf of all of us. At least in an open society that makes every effort to enact laws to protect human rights, to guarantee freedom of choice and equality within our populations we can see opportunities denied to so many others living under oppressive regimes.
Oh yes, that other human emotion that trumps all others ... hope.
From time immemorial the history of Europe, as elsewhere (Africa, South Asia, the Middle East for starters) was one of warfare, conquest, bloodshed, hegemony, intrigues. City states in ancient Greece plotted against one another, each convinced of its moral and governing superiority (Sparta and Athens, for example) to the other. Ancient Egypt, a bastion of culture and advances in science at the time was continually at war with its neighbours. In the Medieval era, wars ran rampant and continuously, one group against the other. Human nature playing its political games of conquest.
In 14th, 15th, 16th century Europe, Spain, France and Britain were constantly at war with each other. France was forever invading the princely provinces of Italy, claiming them as their own, reaping their wealth, then succumbing to counter-attacks, withdrawing to lick their wounds before the next attack. Truly strange alliances were made, and it wasn't unknown for the Vatican to intrigue with various countries and promote war itself.
Pity the populations whose cities were razed, their wealth ransacked, their women, children and men murdered by the thousands, bodies left to decay under a pitiless sky. Those whose lives were spared in other cities, looking upon the carnage left in those cities which hadn't been spared, hoped to live their lives out in some semblance of peace under their new rulers. Until such time as another war, yet another invasion, and another aspirant to ownership of the country's wealth appeared on the horizon.
In the meantime, they did as humans have always done under the burden of subjugation, they switched their allegiances, hoped for the best, got on with their lives for however long the new occupation lasted. It's true that the cultures and social orientations of the invaded countries altered over time and became enriched through the diversity which resulted and that too is part of history and the human condition.
The politics of human nature. The humanly inhumane treatment of others, exemplifying man's inhumanity to man. In our era wars and invasions are considered to be in bad taste, a taste still indulged in without constraint in many parts of the globe, but as an example, those European states which were once constantly at one another's throats, murdering each others' populations at will, are now living fairly harmoniously under the sheltering canopy of The European Union.
Humans are capable, after all, of learning, of restraining their basest impulses, of reaching accords, of aspiring to a higher moral level. The problem is that still-backward parts of the globe have not yet caught up so that the civilized portion looks back in horror at the ongoing carnage in the as-yet-politically-untamed world.
But for those of us in Western secular democracies we can decry politicians' antics in the certain knowledge that the laws of our lands protect us from the worst depredations that political agendas can visit upon us, for even politicians are subject in our world, to the laws of the land. Our brand of politicians teach us other lessons about human nature, that some strive for the best outcome overall, yet in the process produce the worst scenarios benefiting none.
Partisanship, ego and power are irresistible aphrodisiacs. Even those aspiring politicians who convince themselves and the electorate that they are to be trusted as forthright and impassioned seekers after the good of the public weal, who plan to serve their country to the best of their abilities allow themselves to be suborned. Politicians recognize the practicality of avoiding hard decisions, producing their own truths to suit their plans.
We are, as a species, destined to repeat our errors, the mistakes and missteps over and over again. We do not, after all, learn from history. History is someone else's perception of events, for nothing is without its bias. We always feel somehow exempt, superior in ability, in direction and purpose and we will not, personally, succumb to the disaster that befell others in other times.
It is the destiny of mankind to repeat itself ad infinitum. We do make progress, but painfully, slowly, barely recognizably. It is sad and it is terrifying. We are all too fallible, too human, if you like. And if you don't like it, unfortunately there doesn't appear to be too much we can do about it. We elect decision-makers and trust to their judgement. When, after a circumscribed period of time they are deemed to have failed in the tasks set before them, we glory in the opportunity to unseat them and elect replacements.
In the opinion of some, scoundrels all.
Which isn't a good reason at all to stop striving to become better humans and to insist that our elected officials do so also, on behalf of all of us. At least in an open society that makes every effort to enact laws to protect human rights, to guarantee freedom of choice and equality within our populations we can see opportunities denied to so many others living under oppressive regimes.
Oh yes, that other human emotion that trumps all others ... hope.
posted by Pieface | 6:32 PM
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