As another year draws to a close, many of us are busy drafting our New Year’s resolutions; promises of self-improvement, discipline and kindness. Yet, while we plan for a better tomorrow, a troubling question looms large: Is humanity itself nearing its end?
No, NASA hasn’t warned us of a giant asteroid, nor have meteorologists predicted an apocalyptic storm. The danger, however, does not come from space or nature; it comes from us.
We humans, despite our intelligence and moral evolution, are becoming the most dangerous species on Earth. We talk endlessly about protecting nature, yet we seldom discuss our unending hunger for power, wealth and domination.
For decades, Palestine has endured bloodshed, Syria and Yemen have been reduced to rubble, Afghanistan has bled without pause, Ukraine is ravaged by invasion and now Sudan; a nation that once tasted freedom, is drowning in violence. These are not tales from the distant past; they are the reality of our present.
One might ask: What have the United Nations or international human rights laws achieved? Take Sudan, for instance. The nation has been destroyed, not by foreign powers, but by its own men, with funding and weapons flowing from so-called “brotherly” Middle Eastern nations such as the UAE. The slaughter of children, the torture of women, and the annihilation of communities; all in pursuit of material wealth, paint the darkest side of modern humanity.
Even more alarming is that some Middle Eastern states, sharing the same faith and cultural roots, are supporting the very forces committing atrocities against their “neighboring brothers.” In the name of political and economic interests, they shake hands with the killers. This is not diplomacy; it is the death of moral integrity in international relations.
In stark contrast, look at the European and Western nations. Their unity and mutual respect, however self-interested at times, have given them strength, stability and global influence. As former US governor Chris Christie aptly said, “We pay a price when special interests win out over the collective national interest.”
Ordinary citizens across these conflict-ridden countries are bravely protesting against their leaders’ brutality. But believing that these leaders are acting for their nation’s betterment is a dangerous illusion. Their actions are not guided by hard power or realism in international relations; but by the insatiable hunger to rule, to dominate, and to be remembered as “strongmen.”
We are more educated, more technologically advanced and more globally connected than ever before. These developments were supposed to make life peaceful, equitable and humane. Instead, they have armed us with more sophisticated ways to destroy one another. Albert Einstein once warned that the Fourth World War would be fought with sticks; a warning that now feels disturbingly close to reality.
As moral and ethical values fade, one part of the world suffers unspeakable cruelty, while another part indulges in luxury, comfort and ignorance. The divide between suffering and satisfaction has never been wider.
So, what can we do; other than watch helplessly? The answer lies within us. No leader becomes supreme without the blind obedience of citizens. The real strength of a leader rests on the consent of the governed. If citizens reclaim their moral voice, think critically, and act collectively, no massacre or injustice can prevail.
Our own history; such as the July Revolution, reminds us of the power of unity. When people rise together, tyranny falls. That truth transcends time and geography.
Let us, therefore, unite once again; not merely as citizens of nations, but as members of a shared humanity. Let’s rise to protect what truly matters; our conscience, our compassion and our collective future.
-The writer is a student of Department of Political Science at University of Dhaka & founding member of Scholar's Uprising.
