Saturday, August 12, 2017

Has modern world (21st century)suddenly turned an archaic,rogue age?



Our first task is to ascertain whether our assumption in the headline has any reality or not. This will involve our looking closely at the symbols and institutions that provided the so far prevailing sense that, yes, our world was open,free. liberal, and modern.

What were those symbols and institutions?

Our brightest spot in the modern world was Science. It was her ascent to prominence, that gave all the impression that, yes, our world has sharply risen from the past!But Science is still there, ever progressing and kicking.Why then she should be a cause for the world to be pushed back into the status of a rogue and archaic one?

We should be forced to accept, that despite our air-crafts, inter-planetary space-ships,our high-tech IT,most conspicuous of her achievement was her nuclear weapons! It was an atom-bomb that saved the world from the clutches of fascist forces in WW-2! It was this bomb that helped the world to continue her momentum through liberty and openness!

Yes, acquiring weaponry strength had become very essential step to preserve basic human freedom from rogue elements! So, modern States had become the PATRONS of Science in the modern world. State started deciding, into what field research has to be concentrated.Finance of Science had become a State subject.States enslaved Science! This author think,no open minded man can refute the above plain fact about the fate of Science today. Science is a prisoner of the State institution today. All the top scientists today are under pay rolls of governments. Spirit of inquiry,openness,absolute objectivity are somewhat gone.So she still continue with her old dogma, that everything is physical, so life is simply a mechanical,zero-sum game!

Now, let us take up the institution of State itself. It was always a King's State that was the one and only model available with mankind. Modern philosophers like Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes had forcefully suggested, that to counter the 'brutish,nasty' nature of ordinary man, a strong State is essential.

But, the American founding fathers had envisioned an altogether different model of State, when their group of all migrants to the new continent( of America) were faced with the GREAT task of devising a new model of government.They were unique in their finding, that the government of EQUAL men should exclusively be an institution that exclusively constituted to PROTECT and SAFE-GUARD that exclusive end! Thus, the American miracle had took place in modern world!

World looked at the new system of government, American Democracy, with great awe! French government had sent a judicial officer, Alexis D Tocqueville to America, to study and report to his home State.
He reported, among other many things;( he wrote a full book, 'American Democracy!)

In America the lowest classes have conceived a very high notion of political rights, because they exercise those rights; and refrain from attacking the rights of others in order to that  their own may not be violated.

 To the European, a public officer represents a superior force; to an American, he represents a RIGHT. In America, then, it may be said that no one renders obedience to man, but to justice and law.

Hereto no one in the US has dared to advance the maxim that everything is permissible for the interest of the society, an impious adage which seems to have invented in an age of freedom to shelter all future tyrants

But before our eyes, America had turned around in later years,leaving all her exclusive and unique stand as the symbol of FREEDOM and LIBERTY of man into the richest and the most powerful 
(weaponry wise) nation in the world!

The great TWIST had taken place hence forth. America had  become the leader of world-Capitalism. Her obsession with individual freedom had found an excellent avenue for expression in Capitalism, the individual liberty of man to pursue his ways to acquire happiness. Wealth creation had become a way of free-flowing self-expression for many in the country, thus transforming her into industrial leader in the world! American liberalism had found this new way, and it changed her world view drastically! Following blog link might tell this story bit more elaborately:http://understandinginflationinanewlight.blogspot.in/2015/03/where-has-liberalism-landed-us.html

Her unique democratic model had to play second fiddle to these new industrial giants, in order to achieve PROGRESS of the country and her People! PROGRESS had become exclusively ECONOMIC progress. This was another great shift of American preferences; 'inalienable human liberty' has given way for 'inalienable rights of the economic man', and his pursuit of happiness. Ayan Rand had famously wrote in her book 'Capitalism- an unknown ideal' :( page 324)  

 " The 'gimmick' was the switch of the concept of rights from political to the economic realm" She describes the then Democratic administration's reaffirming the 'economic bill of rights',  which 'Roosevelt had written into the conscience of the nation some years ago', like the rights for jobs, right to earn enough for food and clothing, right for decent home, education, health etc.

Above sad twists had transformed ( or at least diluted) her inception stage exclusive purpose of the State, 'protecting the inalienable rights of man', into protecting the 'economic' rights of man, as shown in the just above paragraph. Functionaries of Democracy had turned protectors, sponsors and even partners ( neo-liberalism) in the new 'development ( progress) mantra of the age! Ayn Rand harshly criticized the new development as 'Statism'. She said, the new Statism in America had vulgarized the otherwise straight and self, or market regulated system of Capitalism into a TAXATION REGIME. Taxation regime had pumped 'huge, 'no man's wealth' ( Ayn Rand) into the hands of the State actors, thus changing the entire system into NOT so 'exclusively protective of the inalienable rights of man'!
The new Capitalistic regime had no great demand for 'inalienable human liberty'. She more needed loyal, passive,hard-working factory workers than a people obsessed with their individual liberty! There were obviously clashes in the factories and other work places over these two, often opposite stands of factory owners and workers. We know that, it was this sudden deterioration of the status of factory workers and their rights that paved way for Karl Marx to formulate his Communist ideology, an anathema to Capitalism.
We know its historic outcome too; A great wall has divided modern world, the communist block and the Capitalistic block. Long years of COLD WAR has run, until finally Russian Communism has collapsed! The other communist nation,China, has transformed into a semi-capitalistic-semi-communist system. 

We were discussing the deterioration of the institution of Democratic institution of State; the unique transformation of the world, with 'inalienable liberty of man' her face-mark has gradually got diluted and degenerated into what we call,' neo-liberalism', where State had abandoned her previous position as exclusive champion of human/individual liberty into a  patron of her industrialists! State heads started acting as Chief Marketing officers for their country's industry and their products. People's State had turned an exclusive Economic entity! Man has become a cog in the machine of this giant industrial unit! This has indeed altered drastically, her earlier position as the exclusive protector of the rights of man! 

Citizens too were compelled to shift their priority; the earlier 'liberty seeker' has turned a 'wage seeker' or a 'job-seeker'! Economic survival has become his prime priority in life! He was ready to forfeit his 'individual liberty' for the regularity of his wages!

Every open minded observer may have to admit, that among the institutions we inherited from the past ages, the institution of STATE was the most unreformed, to the level of its still remaining a an EVIL tradition. Following blog link will provide more data on this subject:http://direneedofreinventingdemocracy.blogspot.in/2015/03/modern-notion-of-state-means-usurping.html

Fall of the notions of Globalism, pluralism and Multiculturalism

We have seen above the fall of the great institution of Science, State, 'inalienable liberty of man' etc. With the rise of industry into unprecedented levels, market expansion has become a natural need of the industry. She was acutely aware that world consists of different cultures, religions and life patterns. So she very smartly projected a global man devoid of his native attachments, chiefly an ideal 'consumer' of her products and services! She smartly created, through 24x7 TV advertisements, class distinctions based on use of various gadgets,home appliances,auto-mobiles, cloths, travel, stay, food style etc.Man was taught to constantly wish for personal SUCCESS, achieved through being a consumer of different CLASS of products and services.The rise of a global 'middle' class was the chief result of the above grand campaign.

 These men got ready to abandon their local language, culture, and even religious faith to become part of this global class! It was a phenomenal success! These men relentlessly pursued SUCCESS, by buying more and more, and attempting to get into the next class distinction/identity.( from middle class to upper class, and then to the true elite-class)  Following paper might explain this special feature of modern world better:http://understandinginflationinanewlight.blogspot.in/2015/03/seeking-origins-of-notion-of-human.html

In short, the tradition and Value of Globalism, Pluralism etc were not genuine cultural developments, marking the mind of man expanded and progressed,but that arose from the narrow aspiration of industrial class for expanded MARKETS; expanded to global level!.It was merely a commercial strategy or part of such an agenda. We all know, such fake products and values, when NOT supported by genuine intentions of mind, will definitely fail.And it failed!

Free-Market could not sustain the FREE, OPEN and LIBERAL concept of modern world! Despite its appx 250 years of history, about 70% of world population still remains either poor, or low-income,according to PEW's Global poverty reports! ( see link:http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/09/23/seven-in-ten-people-globally-live-on-10-or-less-per-day/)

The better minimum income levels of Western Nations, including that of America might give the impression to the reader that, it was due to Capitalism, these Nations fared better. But remember the recent OCCUPY agitations in USA, wherein the agitators said, their struggle is against the rule of 1% over the 99%! It simply means, mere minimum income level is not the chief criterion of social equality, but the income difference, and the affluence difference.This difference is worse than poverty;food poverty will kill the body,but self-identity poverty will kill minds/selves of man!

It is not lack of food or quality shelter that makes these 70% perpetually agitated. It is their above referred lack of opportunity to be a part of mainstream that has a different affluence level. These 70% feel, they lost everything; their traditional culture, religion, food habits etc.In short, they are deprived of their sense of SELF. The world has drastically changed. They lost their old selves, which is difficult to be recaptured.

Following blog link might explain the above catastrophe of the modern world better: http://communicationonnewworldorder.blogspot.in/2016/06/enlightenment-era-ideal-of-free-man.html

In the above referred blog-post, author explains how the ordinary white-Americans, mostly not much educated working class Americans had voted Mr.Trump to power. These men were victims of Globalism, Migration, and the lose of their traditional culture and self-identity!

Similar story from India and Muslim world also has been narrated.

Now, if USA is against Globalism, Migrants and Muslims, India's majority religion-Hinduism- is up in arms against the 20% religious minorities in the country ( mainly Muslims) The Brexit tussle in UK also has a similar story. Good percentage of Britishers want the country for themselves. The news from France, Australia etc are also not different. The Western concept of global man, free, secular, open and liberated remains a failed idea and image today, with no buyers! Nations and people increasingly seek out their local,native culture, traditions and religion.The sense of the 'other', other culture, and other religion is sharp as never before. Bigotry is at its peak. Yes, looking at all those evidences and its causes, it is clear that, 'modern world' does not deserve to be to called by that name any more. We have once again back to zero. We are a rogue age today, with no universal values, direction or peace in place.
America, the originator of the idea and hope that world can be open,free, secular and liberal, has now withdrawn from that role, especially after the ascend of President Trump as her President. She has withdrawn from the much important Environmental pact too with other major European Nations.She thinks, that she gained nothing from being at the LEADER position of open world, except her additional burden on her budget. Now, as we all know, the totalitarian world power, China is very actively trying to occupy vacant role, as World leader! It will mean, her spreading the idea that, totalitarianism and progress can go hand in hand! Wont' it be a dangerous idea for the world? A very unhealthy one?

The absence of any voice of rational 'sense', or its agency in the modern world

During the pre and post Enlightenment era, there were many voices of Reason, and'sense'in the world.The idea of 'inalienable' rights of man, American founding fathers claimed,was SELF-EVIDENT in nature!  Today also, there are many such 'self-evident' truth and directions in the world for truly seeking eyes.But issue today is that, there is no such 'truth seeking eyes' today> Most of the thinkers and think-tanks, Universities etc are part of the Neo-Liberal coterie. They wish to remain safe and well remunerated under this or that regime, or par of this or that corporate giant. Freedom they already have, thanks to the wealth and power they enjoy. The freedom and sense of dignity of ordinary 70% of the population is NOT in their immediate concern! So, isolated voices of outcry has no takers today.

Media, the exclusive story tellers of the world are also attached to this or that regime, or corporate entities. Most of them are directly owned by major corporate entities.

UN and her various associate organizations, as every one of us know, are passive non-players in any of the above referred global issues. It is most sad. She suffers from lack of pro-active leader figures.
She is every where, in every conflict of the world, but predominantly in Red-Cross like, post conflict charity acts.She suffer from lack of strong voice in any global conflict. Global conflicts are many; The US vs.N.Korea conflict, India vs.China conflict are best examples. All the Nations involved in the conflicts are Nuclear powers!
Still, the major influence-makers are the naive journalists of major News papers and TV channels. No one knows,whether they report the actual reality, or their reports and stories push&prompt these players into action on the lines suggested by them!

Now, can we conclude, that modern world has suddenly turned a rogue age, with no sensible direction, Values, peace and rational authority?

Authored by: Abraham J. Palakudy
He is a researcher and seeker into subjects like human-reason, mind, metaphysics,philosophy, future of humanity,spirituality etc.

He can be contacted at: ajoseph1@rediffmail.com
Or Twitter: Voice of Philosophy@jopan1
His brief profile and other blogs:https://www.blogger.com/profile/14249415589712707293





Thursday, December 30, 2010

The losing chance of USA to remain as the sole symbol of liberty and freedom in the world



Without any doubt, USA is the most sought after destination of every other countrymen in the world today,  to come, live and settle-down, irrespective of its current economic and political turmoils. It is the place where life is supposed to be full. Human effort is well accepted and rewarded, irrespective of one's color of the skin, religion or nationality. Individual dignity and liberty are the most treasured virtues that  USA’s socio-political system uphold.

After the 1st World-War, we would be astonished to hear, how reverently the war-weary European nations looked-at USA as world's Savior and redeemer ! Let is hear it from the mouth of the famous historian H.G.Wells:


" To the working class of Italy, his name ( President Wilson of USA) was a heavenly clarion at the sound of which the earth  would be renewed. The Germans regarded him and his doctrines as their sheet-anchor of safety' .In German-Austria, his fame was that of a savior,and the mere mention of his name brought balm to the suffering and surcease of sorrow to the afflicted..( from H.G.Wells's 'A short History of the world' wherein he had quoted Dr.Dillon,from his book ' The peace in Conference')   


It is said that in France, men bowed down before US president Wilson,in awe and affection. 



But is this the predominant image that USA is projecting before the world today ? No. Certainly not. Its prominent image is that of the most powerful country in the world, in its military as well as industrial sense. Though what they try to achieve may be a power balance in the world, and the restricting of the rogue nations from acquiring dangerous weapons of destruction etc, what the world at large get is a general image and impression of arrogance. 

Who is responsible for creating this somewhat negative image of the otherwise great nation? Who is responsible for making USA a hate target of many men and nations in the world?

The un-parallel wisdom and sobriety that its founding fathers had shown in establishing a nation, based on certain hitherto unheard principles of individual liberty and personal dignity, was sidelined and ignored in the course of its progress. USA’s emergence as a symbol of liberty and man’s free spirit  was indeed a great milestone in mankind’s history. Prof.Thomas M. Franck, ( late) the renowned international law scholar narrates what is unique features of individual freedom that Americans enjoy: 

" they are increasingly allowed to define their specific personal identities by creating a 'portfolio' of of variegated loyalties to family,state,culture or transnational interest groups.They are relatively at liberty to alter the mix and hierarchy of affinity groups and allegiances,always consciously seeking an individualized identity that reflects their free conscience,values ad concept of good."( web-link to the paper;http://www.nyu.edu/steinhardt/e/pdf/humsocsci/mias/readings07/28.pdf , page 27) 

But the later stage image of the country was built around the FRUITS of its beautiful foundation!. The basics were forgotten, and only its results were projected, up and high.

But if the non-mainstream media and emerging public murmurs in USA are to be believed, the present state of affairs at home is far different from its inception stage reign of individual liberty and freedom. Public resentment about police / bureaucratic  highhandedness, and the stage managed mainstream media reporting etc. is rising ! Is her brand value as the one and only nation in the world that was built around the great ideals of individual liberty and freedom is fading ?

America could have set  best example for other nations to follow its path, for achieving human excellence in all fields. The multitudes of wars and campaigns(secret  as well as open) USA is now engaged into,against its real and imaginary enemies could have been avoided if this twist had not taken-place in her priorities. USA could have achieved better results with great sense of pride and satisfaction if she had emphasized and publicized  her foundational principles around the world, instead of projecting her as a superpower,whom, other countries should look-at with awe and fear!.  

The great example set in history by America is mostly unknown to common man in the other parts of world. Hence world today is some what orphaned for want of a clear cut example for other nations to follow, and lead their respective nations to all around success, especially with emancipated spirit of their men. It is the absence of this emancipated spirit of man that nations by and large turn into functional anarchy, but with the stamp of DEMOCRACY affixed on their letter heads!

America is attempting to install only the hollow symbols of Democracy in troubled countries in the world, but its foundational principles that was instrumental in creating their own great nation always ignored,or not emphasized.  This led these pseudo democratic countries to indulge in self deception with the great principles of Democracy. Its meaning  is twisted and disfigured, with  competition and conflicts for grabbing political power, by putting to shame the meanest of such conflicts in the past jungle time stories of mankind !

The passion of USA’s founding fathers about freedom and liberty, and their success in converting these virtues into national character of a people and a new nation was un-parallel in human  history.  

Alexis Tocqueville, the French jurist who was deputed by his government to study the wonder system called democracy in the new country of USA had observed many genuine aspects of the foundational principles of your great country that should inspire any other country to emulate it.

In America the lowest classes have conceived a very high notion of political rights, because they exercise those rights; and refrain from attacking the rights of others in order to that  their own may not be violated.

To the European, a public officer is represents a superior force; to an American, he represents a RIGHT. In America, then, it may be said that no one renders obedience to man, but to justice and law.

Hereto no one in the US has dared to advance the maxim that everything is permissible for the interest of the society, an impious adage which seems to have invented in an age of freedom to shelter all future tyrants

Leave the French man and listen to what your own Ayn Rand says about what America should have taught the world :

.” The system they (the founding fathers) established was not based on unlimited majority rule, but on its opposite: on individual right, which were not to be alienated by majority vote or minority plotting. The individual was not left at the mercy of his neighbours or his leaders: the constitutional system of checks and balances was scientifically devised to protect him from both.”

“THIS WAS THE GREAT AMERICAN ACHIEVEMENT  - AND IF CONCERN FOR ACTUAL WELFARE OF OTHER NATIONS WERE OUR PRESENT LEADERS’ MOTIVE, THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TEACHING THE WORLD

Those beautiful foundational principles are virtually died for the world, including perhaps, at least partially, in USA itself. Instead of the past’s gaiety and simplicity of its state functions, pomp and glory has taken over as the main theme. If people were real participants by head and heart in the country making and country running in the past, they  more or less have become blindly applauding dump crowd these days –  -like in the case of multitudes of other fake democracies in the world.! The original principles are at the verge of disappearing totally from the minds of people.

Emergence of USA in the political scene with its principles deep rooted ideas of inalienable freedom and dignity of man  was the best  thing that could happened to mankind ever! It was a miracle, but unfortunately short lived as we have seen  in paragraphs above. Hence USA was compelled  to intervene militarily and diplomatically at various destinations of the world  to restore democracy.

A symbol does not mean anything without its foundational principles no where in picture. Hence what America should attempt now is to sell its foundational principles in the troubled countries, instead of installing democratic figure heads. It could have propagated those forgotten foundational principles of  human liberty and freedom in all corners of world, at less than 25% of the cost at which she now wages her peace keeping operations (wars)

America with its deep insight into human emotions and motivational energies should have waken up to the foundational truths by now. The more it is delayed, the more would be the number of fake democracies emerging in the world, where its runners indulge in self deception with its self as well as with human history itself. In such fake democracies, the game is that of a musical chair for capturing the old thrones once abandoned by Kings and Foreign rulers! Real concepts like genuine human freedom is dumped beneath the smart rhetoric of the media and political leaders !  


By :  Abraham J. Palakudy

He is a seeker and researcher in subjects like Mind,Faculty of Reason, Equality and liberty, Spirituality, Metaphysics, Epistemology and finally polity

Contact; ajoseph1@rediffmail.com
Twitter: Voice of Philosophy@jopan1
His profile and other blogs: https://www.blogger.com/profile/14249415589712707293