A Closer Look at Humanity

06May08

              

     This morning, the government of Myanmar as well as the Chinese State News Agency and United Nations confirmed that the cyclone that recently ripped through Myanmar had killed more than 100,000 people in the course of its 10 hour trail of destruction. The death toll is likely to rise above this figure, as another 41,000 remain missing. Adding it to the list of recent natural catastrophes that are nothing short of historic in scale.

     Included in the report were announcements from Thailand, the U.S and scores of other nations that emergency food and medical relief was being rushed to the country to help the millions without electricity and clean drinking water. Days ago these countries were sworn enemies with Myanmar.

     Just days before the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami which killed a quarter of a million people, many of the countries that assisted the devestated areas of Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka were sworn enemies with the affected nations too. As is the case in this instance with Myanmar, its neighbours (and nations well abroad) rush to their assistance as nothing more than concerned and compassionate human beings. They join forces, join hands and grieve together. For this time they are not enemies, but common creatures aware of their frailty, mortality and compassion.

     The October 8, 2005 earthquake in Pakistan killed more than 40,000 people, and it was arch-rival India who supplied much of the humanitarian aid. Again, the true meaning of ‘neighbour’ came to life and the decades long conflict was temporarily eclipsed by something much bigger, and ultimately, more important.

     Logic and rational thought should rule that as a civilized society we should rise above our squabbles and grudges for the sake of a more stable and promising future. Instead, the second we clear the ruins we’re right back at it, threatening eachother again. Fighting again. Flushing all of our hard work and progress right down the toilet. Going straight back to square one like cranky todlers who suddenly forgot that were being unconditionally loved and cared for.

     This may all sound very spiteful and simplistic, and may appear not to have taken into account the infinately complex human psyche. And the critic who suggests this may very well be right. But the basic fact stands: we are less interested in progress than we are in maintaining the status-quo. Humans have become creatures of comfort, routine, symmetry and habit, so it should come as no surprise that we conveniently forget the big picture over and over again. True, there are world bodies whose aim is to bring humanity together and cooperate on a universal level as opposed to the current ‘local’ level, but some things need to be carefully examined first.

     The first is veto power within the United Nations assembly and security council. Thanks to this miscarriage of justice, the five permanent members can veto (or block) any resolution they wish. For instance, if 99% of the United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of a legally-binding resolution calling for (let’s say) world peace, and one of the “permanent five” members use their veto, then the resolution is dead where it stands. This system needs to change. It is blatant double-standards that the UN claim to stand for the “majority rules” ethic but maintain the veto system at the same time.

     Secondly, the contribution that the world makes to humanitarian crises is not only a pittance compared with what we could contribute but also forgotten. It is puzzling that as a species who claim to want to move forward and unite for the sake of common humanity we are so quick to judge and attack one another. The erradication of this requires a fundamental shift in consciousness.

     The answer lies in the regulation of mass media and the raising of future generations to prioritize from within. It is not ethical or sensical that a child be exposed or indoctrinated to violence and fear, nor is it logical or practical to encourage that child, whatever his or her age, to adopt one way of life over another if it stunts spiritual or humanitarian education.

     We essentially need to begin with a clean slate. We have learnt the hard way that this world headed in the current direction has no future. We need to not only remember charity and compassion but also what we could make of this world if we truly made a real effort to get serious and pool our resources (not just monetary but spiritual and humanitarian) together so that we may distribute it where it is needed and in the quantity that it is needed. We need to put an end to red tape process where the distribution of charity is concerned, and regulate every last one of these world bodies to ensure ethical and efficient operation.

    It is not enough to remember the times when humanity comes together in crisis. We must forget our reasons for not making this our perpetual way of life.

Thank you again,

-BJH.

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