We learn from history that we do not learn from history.
We learn from history that we do not learn from history.
FRIEDRICH HEGEL
Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it. As are the rest of us who study history, have learned from it and are living in a world populated by countless billions who have not studied it and are allowing history to replicate the same circumstances, century after century.
Civilizations and empires have come and gone on planet Earth, with dizzying frequencies. The rise of authoritarians come and go, the fall of progressive mindsets rise and wane, and the march of humanity continues throughout.
Yet, within the annals of history, lie definitive clues as to what is coming next. Far more accurate than Nostradamus ever hoped to be, the historical record can most accurately pinpoint the key triggers that cause the rise and fall of the largest of empires and point to the weaknesses that enable each and every one of them to topple.
We would like to believe that we are not imprisoned by historical record. There is no fate. There is no destiny. There is only our moment in time and our opportunity to finally do things the right way.
Except history proves that perspective is fallacy. Even more important, history is able to show us how and where these circumstances arise and demonstrate where we are most likely to watch the chink in the armor facilitate the exponential collapse of that which had appeared so vigorously stalwart.
With the proliferation of technology and the ability for ever larger segments of the population to grow smarter, we might assume that eventually a tipping point will arise where we might transcend this segment of the human experience and grow into something much more efficient, sentient and productive.
But that would require us to overlook a large segment of what being human is. It would presume that the majority seek such goals, that they are ready and willing to bypass that which is in front of them, and instead, aim for something far more lasting and opportune.
If any lesson has remained consistent since the invention of owned resources, it is that greed is not good. (Sorry Gordon Gekko) It may fuel capitalism, but greed has an intense downside that is inexplicably evil on all fronts. Many rational people will watch the accumulation of wealth and feel as if there is some magic number in which the party acquiring such wealth will feel satiated. But, more often than not, the path of acquiring such wealth, continues to breed that insatiable appetite for wanting and needing more. This develops over time and eventually creates a vacuum in which too much is never enough.
Such is the fate of Ukraine right now. Putin is the wealthiest man on earth, even wealthier than Musk. His desire to suck the life out of his nation at the expense of his people has run so far aground that he is now eyeing his neighbor and recognizing how much more he and his oligarchs can suck out of the neighboring country, just to add greater fuel to his inferno.
With these types of mindsets that are being propelled into our reality (whether we like it or not), we are continuously plagued by the fact that we are not capable of escaping the reality of history repeating itself, so long as a large mass of society is determined to remain head in the ground, resolute to accept that which comes at them regardless of the consequences to others.
I share with you today a video that was released by Anonymous yesterday. I believe it brings a new chapter to the equation that previous tides of history did not allow for. That is the resistance by a global force that is not a nation state. Unlike the resistance shown the Nazis in WWII by individuals in their respective countries, Anonymous represents a collective of intelligent nonconformists. I do not share this out of admiration any more than enmity. Only to show that new forces arise on the scene and potentially cause wrinkles in that which looks to be a foregone conclusion.
History is fascinating. Studying current reality can be both fascinating and terrifying, depending upon where you are sitting. My mother’s family heralds from what is now Ukraine. My grandmother would tell me a story that took place 115 years ago in 1907 in which she and her mother and sisters were huddled in a cellar when the Tsar’s soldiers were storming through the small village looking to find all the Jews to execute them. She told me that a Russian soldier came down into the cellar, saw them in the corner. The captain above ground called down to the soldier and asked if anyone was inside, the soldier looked at them, then responded to his commanding officer, “No.” But for the humanity of that soldier go I. I have never forgotten that story. I was going to find my roots and go there at one point, but heard they were strongly anti-semetic and that kept me from wanting to pursue traveling there.
115 years later, Russian soldiers are back in the hood, driving civilians to the point of terror and destruction of family.
We must awaken to the reality of this cruel side of life and take it on head first. If not, then in 2137 (or sooner), we will be watching this repeat itself once again.
Happy Sunday!
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/anonymous-releases-personal-message-to-vladimir-putin/87111818/
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