by Ron Porter
As a long-term senior citizen, I understand and accept the reality that each generation is prone to discount many of the lessons learned by ancestors. My early decades included practical and potentially life changing guidance from elders, which I completely ignored.
Although it is indisputable that each individual views their lived experience through a singular lens, we are often urged to join with others to support a common understanding of reality. Whether you identify as a Democrat, Republican, One-God believer or Atheist, there are groups and organizations that aspire to tell you how (and what) to think.
These groups designate one person within their ranks to serve as the primary influencer of how advantage and privilege can be obtained and maintained. Whether spoken through the language of the political left or right, race, or economic status, there are messages aplenty attempting to influence (and often control) everyone’s personal view.
Lord Acton, a profound mid-19th century thinker wrote, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” He was right.
History provides stark evidence that reliance on a singularly powerful leader often leads to disaster. During the four-year U.S. participation in World War 2, large ships filled with quickly trained farmers, factory workers, college students and others sailed by the millions from the eastern and western shorelines of the United States. Their primary goal was to destroy (maim and kill) soldiers from totalitarian (single leader) regimes. Hundreds of thousands of people died in World War 2 after my birth in 1944. It wasn’t that long ago.
An Austrian born sub-intellect, mastered vengeful oratory to appeal to masses of aggrieved Germans. Adolph Hitler asserted defeat in World War 1 was caused by inferior classes who weakened the resolve of the German people. With support from far less than half of German people Hitler was anointed the Fuhrer (Supreme Leader). Hitler is not an ancient historical memory. My maternal grandfather was born ten years before Hitler and outlived him by decades. It wasn’t that long ago.
Italy, a few years after the end of World War 1, succumbed to the vocal stylings of Benito Mussolini. With pure bravado, Mussolini garnered support for a two-decades long reign as El Duce (Supreme Leader). My mother was born only ten years before Mussolini grabbed power in Italy. It wasn’t that long ago.
Japan began to display legitimacy on the global stage early in the 20th century. Many Japanese felt their humanity was unappreciated by key nations who were dividing the world’s resources among themselves. The singular focus of leadership was vested in Emperor Hirohito, who was recognized as a god. Three years before my birth, my mother was ironing clothes when she heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I heard an emotional recounting of the war-starting Pacific attack many times during the 65 years our lives wonderfully overlapped. It wasn’t that long ago.
Although I was an infant, my life overlapped Hitler for six months before he blew his brains out to end a fifty-six-year infestation of our shared planet. Mussolini was shot by vengeful Italians the year before my birth. I was married for twenty years, fathered two children and was a corporate executive before Emperor Hirohito died in 1989. It wasn’t that long ago.
Across our fragile planet, there is a contagion of concentrated power spreading and aligning to control the flow and distribution of all resources. The history recounted above clearly demonstrates the up, then down, trajectory of men who have gained full control of the key levers of society. Our planet, with particular focus on our country, is divided by hateful, irreconcilable polarities.
We owe it to ourselves to resist the ascendency of despots who believe that “only I can fix it”.
Murderous, nation-consuming rage has happened before, and it can happen again. It wasn’t that long ago.
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