How much is too much? What does proportion or a proportionate response entail; especially in the name of justice? There was once a time – which now seems just an illusion – that dialogue was always a better option than an eye for an eye ‘solution’. And this is not just about sieges and man-made conflicts. Indeed, it is that and so much more! It is about life, existence, how it is valued and with what terms and conditions.
This leads one to ponder what progress entails. If truth be told, a virtue with diminishing returns… ‘Humanity’s’ goal in its pursuit of progress should have been a quest to achieve social justice, equity, which frankly stems – among other things – from compassion. But these are aggressively-optimistic, Utopian pursuits that can – perhaps – find no space in a world built and driven by the lust for power. Power over land, power over the vulnerable, power over our minds. This is the currency that triggers innovation and modernization; in other words, ‘progress!’
Power is an idea, objective and intent – age old, not just celebrated but revered, idolized even. And perhaps rightly so! There are just-ified reasons for the immense worth it holds. We consume mythical tales, revel in their epic narrations, read historical facts with awe and occasionally – in disgust about those wielding absolute power. Stories of nations – nay – majestic establishments constructed on the emaciated backs and shoulders of those who have been systemically, historically othered. A thing of beauty is indeed a joy forever, but at the expense of a deliberate amnesiac burial of oppression? A flippant, dismissive sweeping of downtrodden wretchedness under the rug.
Despots and demons; demonizing those who are othered – the unvalued, the subspecies, the moors… the magicians… and of course the witches! It is anyone who falls out of the binary – a right-ly prescribed and legitimized, anthropocentric, Vitruvian structure assembled by the powers that be.
From female, philosopher dragged and murdered on the streets of Hellas, the whimsical burnings at stake, the leveraging of a recently-recognized, genocidal weapon of war – once considered – mere collateral damage of those considered cattle to pilfering, pillaging and sucking life out of lands and the spirit or juxtaposed raining of fodder and fire to decimate, annihilate the sub-human blight that just does not seem to go away. Yet… resilience is a virtue with incremental returns.
This leads one to reflect and unravel the perception of modernity, that of advancement vis-à-vis the value of life and existence. A grand, scintillating perception whose value is appraised, accumulated and affixed by hegemony, whose price is acrimoniously levied on the unvalued, unseen, mauled and muffled! Many say the system is broken… not so… it is on the very path, it envisioned itself to be…
Is there hope? Resilience is a virtue with incremental returns.
Main Image by Peter Schmidt from Pixabay
Justice image: Pixabay
