PEOPLE OF EARTH

By: Charles Jalkh (Freedom Fighter)

What ever happened to the great human accomplishments since the Renaissance? The dreams of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Freedom, Justice, and universal Peace; have all evaporated. What has become of Human Rights, the right of self-determination, the United Nations charter, the rule of law, non-aggression, and civilized behavior among nations? What about messianic messages, humanistic doctrines, and great inspirations; they have long been extinguished? Humanity has fallen into deep slumber, a new Dark Age. It stands at the abyss of anarchy amidst an environmental wasteland.

Americans, 5% of the planet population, are blinded by their material prosperity and are turning a deaf ear to the sufferings of the world as long as they do not disturb the Stock Market. They sleep on a false sense of security that Might has afforded them. They are failing to realize that true peace and security only comes from justice based on human compassion, cordiality, even love. Terrorist and fanatical groups around the world have declared a Jihad of Hate on America and Americans.

Europe on the other hand, is still in search of an identity, like an amnesiac drifter tagging along a caravan of Gypsies. Russia is failing to elevate itself from its suicidal tendencies into an age of awareness and responsibility, and is sinking deeper into the rule of Mafias and all ensuing corruption. The economies of the Asian Tigers have turned into pussycats. The wealth of hundreds of millions of people from Indonesia, the Philipnes, Tailand, to Honk Kong have evaporated in few months. Once roaring Japan is now in its deepest economic, political, and social crisis since World War Two. China's aggression against Tibet and Tienaman Square still bloodies its history with shame. India and Pakistan detonated more atomic bombs and are at each other's throat. Latin America continues its long siesta in the lap of Uncle Sam, and remains mired in social, economic, and political upheavals. Mexico has just gone through another major financial crisis and a devaluation of its battered Peso, robbing millions of poor Mexicans, again, from their life savings, while the country's elite as usual, timely sheltered their wealth in American, European, and Swiss banks. The Arab world remains in its own Dark Age, ruled by tyrannical bloody regimes oppressing the aspirations of their people who live in abject poverty in most countries. Africa is muddied in the swamps of Genocide, rebellions, and a massive explosion of HIV infections.

At the doorstep of the 21st century, humanity's decadence accelerates. Our fall from grace since Adam and Eve is finally reaching its eventual cataclysmic conclusion.

The Third World is disappearing and turning into a Fourth World. The nations of Earth are becoming a two-class society; the Haves and Have-Nots. Soon however, all humans shall be in the Have-Nots camp. The environmental bomb has been ticking rapidly and is now slowly unraveling. Hurricanes of unprecedented strength have hit the eastern US in the last few years. Floods have ravaged the Four Corners of Earth. Droughts have wiped out millions of acres of fresh soil, while off-season torrential rains are washing away the rest. Deforestation, extinction of the fish populations in the oceans, the poisoning of the food chain through the use of pesticide and man-made chemicals. Air, ground, and water pollution continues ro ravage the whole planet by an increasingly savage capitalism. Record temperatures, fluctuating climatic extremes, the greenhouse effect, the destruction of the ozone layer… On and on, endless climatic and ecologically detrimental changes precipitated by human ignorance and greed are spreading all over the world unabated. Meanwhile, humanity remains extremely backward in its political, social, and ecological maturity. Business is conducted as usual. By the turn of the century however, humanity will be forced to change its ways or die. Political systems will collapse not by rebellions, but through anarchy induced by the destruction of the environment and dwindling natural resources. Rome will fall from within. Humans are their own worst enemy.

In the same manner as civilizations rise and fall, so do species. Humans haven't always been the dominant specie on this planet, and they shall not remain so for ever. As dinosaurs ruled Earth long ago and then went extinct, so shall mankind. On the scale of universal time, humanity's existence is a moment's whisper. But while many species died because of factors beyond their control, Humanity on the other hand, is committing suicide on its own and dragging along with it all life forms on this planet.

US Vice President Gore, in a very recent speech acknowledged that the greenhouse effect is with us now, and that the climatic changes we are witnessing are caused by it. He added, that change is difficult but we can prevail. So, is there hope? Can the world only Superpower do something to change the tide of destiny? Unfortunately, the system is too rigid to change, too slow to react, too corrupt to reform. Official America today is neither willing, nor even able to change. Its political system is strongly geared towards servicing the US as a nation and completely lacks any vision for humanity and planet earth. This is a very shortsighted view that is obviously backfiring.

So how can we, People of Earth, make a difference? May be we can start by simply practicing what we preach. Leading by example. Applying our consciences on a daily basis, in every act, whether it relates to our immediate entourage, our neighbors, or the far corners of Earth. Let us cleanse our senses from the brainwashing bombardment of the media, the indoctrination of ideologies, the lies of the politicians, the false prophets, the profiteers, the noise… Let us stop for a moment, separate from the herd, and listen to the wind blowing through the trees. Let us stand for what feels right in our hearts, and reject obvious evil, abandon greed, oppose dictatorships, confront oppression, remove occupations, not through violence, all in peace and civil disobedience. We must stop the physical and spiritual slaughter and exploitation of fellow humans and all life forms. We must demand democracy and human rights for all people. We must totally reject dictatorships, like Syria's Hafez Assad; the Butcher of Damascus, who violate nature by violating the human being.

We already have great religions, and have been sent many prophets. We have eyes, but do we see. We have ears, but have we listened? Our choice is simple; either we evolve or die. Either we rise to a greater awareness or vanish into oblivion. People of Earth, your destiny is in your hand!

Long Live Free Lebanon