When history takes a turn not anticipated by \u201cthe civilized\u201d, they are caught on the wrong foot. The \u201crational response\u201d supplied by their outdated language \u2013 which is coded by the deception specific to the \u201ccivilization\u201d \u2013 becomes ineffective or even counter-productive. This has happened time and again in human history. While military superiority plays a big role in overt conflict, the so-called \u201ccivilizational narrative\u201d plays a big role both in times of peace and in times of conflict.<\/p>\n
As you know, wars are fought not by the wordsmiths and their paymasters \u2013 but rather by simple-minded folk who must somehow be \u201cdriven to war\u201d. So every \u201ccivilizational narrative\u201d has two major strands coded within it \u2013 \u201cmaster-speak\u201d and \u201cmass-speak\u201d. The former is centred on \u201cself-interest\u201d, while the latter speaks to \u201cduty and love of country\u201d.<\/p>\n
When history takes an unexpected turn, \u201cmass-speak\u201d slowly loses its hold over the masses. But the \u201cmasters\u201d are even slower to wake up, because they are much more deeply invested in the profitable business of \u201ccivilization\u201d \u2013 their own \u201cmasterly\u201d, self-serving creation.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
What does all this have to do with practical life today?<\/p>\n
A LOT!<\/p>\n
When a \u201ccivilizational narrative\u201d loses its hold over people\u2019s hearts and minds, the wielders of that narrative lose their hold on power.<\/p>\n
Consider the major and inexorable historical changes which have been underway, around the world, over the last century or so. The discomfiture seen at the recent NATO Summit was clear evidence of the twenty nine self-styled \u201cmasters\u201d reacting differently to ongoing historical changes.<\/p>\n
When a historical change occurs gradually and inexorably, there is no ostensible pretext to go to war. The threat of conflict may be thick in the air \u2013 but nobody knows what will happen next. Some may become impatient and may provoke a conflict, reckoning on a huge payoff. Others, endowed with less of a gambler\u2019s instinct, may be more prudent; once conflict flares up, they may have no choice.<\/p>\n
When twenty nine self-styled \u201cmasters\u201d band together, inevitably some have more to gain than others, some are more desperate than others, some are more prudent than others … and so on. But let\u2019s face it. All of them are con artists, hoping to con each other and the rest of the world. Bluff and bluster hides their individual quest to find \u2013 and ride to power \u2013 the next available con.<\/p>\n
Let us examine one central aspect of the ongoing historical change.<\/em><\/p>\n After the horrible violence of the last hundred years, the world has understood very clearly \u201cthe true nature of beast\u201d \u2013 under whatever guise it visits. Therefore one central concern behind today\u2019s loud \u201ccivilizational bombast\u201d of the \u201cmasters\u201d is this: How do we preserve our wealth and power, given that the world can no longer be cut up into so many zones of domination?<\/p>\n A time of \u201ctectonic\u201d change does not ever include \u201cwin-win\u201d as a possible outcome. Therefore a \u201cwin-win\u201d scenario is painted by wordsmiths to con others into participating. In a gathering of con artists like the one held recently, an impartial observer notes mainly tragicomic attention seeking, not unlike that of actors in a B grade gangster movie.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n What\u2019s in a name?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n We have it on good authority that \u201cA rose by any other name would smell as sweet\u201d. True enough. But what happens if the putative name contains a contradiction within itself? Surely then something isn\u2019t quite right! The words \u201ctreaty\u201d and \u201corganization\u201d oppose each other in their meaning. A \u201ctreaty\u201d binds two or more parties to commonly agreed courses of action, and contains an exit clause to allow parties to adapt to inevitable historical changes; it does not become a separate legal entity. An \u201corganization\u201d, on the other hand, resists change because it becomes a stake-holder entity which must preserve its own existence and importance. A large \u201corganization\u201d gathers inertia and resists change, and therefore it is inconceivable that it can perform the vital and essential functions of a \u201ctreaty\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n ***<\/p><\/blockquote>\n In such a situation, rather than falling for empty \u201ccivilizational bombast\u201d, one may consider a cautious and conservative approach; to preserve and protect the culture and values cherished back home. Even with enormous peer pressure from other con artists, there would inevitably be concerns about those back home \u2013 or at least the concern not to lose one\u2019s slippery foothold on power.<\/p>\n You heard \u201cexperts\u201d at the summit talking about \u201cnew threats\u201d facing NATO. In the hugely lucrative business of \u201cthreats\u201d, eggheads can always be found to write up impressive \u201cthreat analyses\u201d to suit any given agenda. Sadly, no political leader dares to question the eggheads. In difficult times, the other \u201cmasters\u201d will not help you. They will back your political adversaries if that is more profitable; for them, your political fall and ignominy may be a \u201cgolden opportunity\u201d.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Outlined above are the historical lessons of human life on this planet; some call them laws of karma<\/em>. It matters not one whit whether some people consider themselves \u201cexceptional\u201d. It is time to cut the pretence, face the reality \u2013 and do what is right by your countrymen. In their happiness lies your happiness and security. The other con-men you met at the summit will not help your people in troubled times; they will think only about profiting from your troubles. Con masters of the world will sell you a path to \u201ca glorious future\u201d, while shorting your future behind your back.<\/p>\n You have a choice to make. Stay wrapped up in the illusions of the old and greedy so-called \u201cworld order\u201d \u2013 or help in the transition to a better world.<\/p>\n With best wishes, _________________________________________________<\/em><\/p>\n As you know, wars are fought not by the wordsmiths and their paymasters \u2013 but rather by simple-minded folk who must somehow be \u201cdriven to war\u201d. So every \u201ccivilizational narrative\u201d has two major strands coded within it \u2013 \u201cmaster-speak\u201d and \u201cmass-speak\u201d. The former is centred on \u201cself-interest\u201d, while the latter speaks to \u201cduty and love of country.\u201d… You heard \u201cexperts\u201d at the summit talking about \u201cnew threats\u201d facing NATO. In the hugely lucrative business of \u201cthreats\u201d, eggheads can always be found to write up impressive \u201cthreat analyses\u201d to suit any given agenda. Sadly, no political leader dares to question the eggheads.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[120,290,504,769,91,380,118,172,830],"class_list":["post-150038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial","tag-conflict","tag-culture","tag-international-relations","tag-military-supremacy","tag-nato","tag-solutions","tag-war","tag-west","tag-western-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150038"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150038\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nHowever, certain major threats facing all the countries were left out by the self-serving \u201cexperts\u201d at the summit. The following is a partial list, supplied freely, out of generosity of heart.<\/p>\n\n
\n
\nIt\u2019s time to think about the ***hereafter***; that is, about life on the planet after the present so-called \u201cold world order\u201d fades away, as it surely will. In the old days, hysteric and ignorant scribes mistakenly called the end of their deluded world order \u201can apocalypse\u201d. Today, we are neither hysteric nor ignorant. If an ignorant world view is ending, a better one will take its place.<\/p>\n
\nA well-wisher<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/naresh-jotwani-e1573641907537.jpg\")
<\/a><\/em>Dr. Naresh Jotwani is a semi-retired academic living in India and a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment<\/a>. Apart from part-time engagements in engineering education and consulting, he engages in an in-depth, personal exploration of how Gautam Buddha\u2019s profound discoveries and teachings can be applied to the acute problems of modern life.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"