Meditations (Philosophy) with Martin LeFevre
An Endless Whimper, Or A Creative Explosion?
If, as the Prussian general von Clausewitz infamously said, "war is nothing more than the continuation of politics by
other means," then America's 'global war on terrorism' is about to enter a new phase.
The North Koreans, hell-bent on becoming the "axis of evil" in George Bush's self-fulfilling prophecy, have exposed the
sham of multilateralism when it suits the US. Fearing attack by America after Iraq, they have opted to become a nuclear
power.
Should North Korea carry out its promise to test a nuclear weapon (and there is little reason to think they won't), the
last fraying ropes holding up the international system will break. Another 'world order' will fall onto the rubbish heap
of history. What will take its place?
The future is partly predetermined and partly open. Perceiving the future as completely determined denies freedom. But
when the future is seen as completely open, hope turns to despair.
Millions of people around the world had their hopes crushed after they marched in massive numbers against the US/UK
invasion of Iraq. Ignoring world opinion, Bush and Blair, the Christian crusaders, did what they were going to do from
the beginning and launched a self-righteousness war to rid the world of the evil Hussein, thereby spreading a contained
cancer.
Absurdly, Bush and Blair are now being accused of not preparing adequately for the aftermath of their war. However if
they were capable of such bloody foresight, they wouldn't have invaded Iraq in the first place!
Now phase three of this idiotic 'global war on terrorism' is about to begin. This time all hell is going to break loose
not just in one nation, but an entire region. Bush will have his world war. That part of the future is foreordained, not
by the inscrutable mind of God, but by the mindless momentum of man.
The question is not what we can do to prevent a catastrophic war, but what we can emotionally, spiritually, and
politically do to prepare for it. If world war is inevitable, what part of the future is open? Where does one place
one's hope in the human prospect if this is the destiny of the human race?
There are two kinds of hope. One is based on illusions and ideals, the other on seeing what is and not quitting on
humanity. The former ends in despair and cynicism. The latter is continually tested and forged. Sometimes I doubt there
is any kind of intelligence that cares about the fate of humankind, and in my darkest hours I feel the devil exists but
not God.
Nevertheless the future ultimately rests in the hands of the living, however much the weight of the dead (both buried
and walking) increases upon us. Certainly there will come a point, if humankind does not change course, where the past
will completely engulf the future. Millions of people already believe, in their heart of hearts, that that point has
come. But it has not, and in any case quitting isn't an option.
The international system is, as poet Louis MacNeice wrote, "Crumbling between the fingers, under the feet,/ Crumbling
behind the eyes,/ Their world gives way and dies." But even more, the entire edifice of self-centered tribal man is
crumbling. Will human nature, deemed immutable, be self-fulfillingly incorrigible?
Is this the "end of the world?" Yes and so what. Let it go, it's been a long time coming. A human civilization worthy of
the name waits to be born. An endless whimper, or a creative explosion, will follow the bang. That part of the future is
still open. There is an option, but is there any choice?
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- Martin LeFevre is a contemplative, and non-academic religious and political philosopher. He has been publishing in
North America, Latin America, Africa, and Europe for 20 years, and in New Zealand since July 2003. Email mglefevre@earthlink.net. The author welcomes comments.