The real superpower reveals His strength [Archives:2005/874/Opinion]

In all of modern times, the United States and many other industrialized advanced countries have been spared the devastating effects of natural disasters and quite often this has led to a feeling of serenity that these countries are immune to any major calamities. Or they are at a level of preparedness to meet all natural calamities. This last week Hurricane Katrina revealed there is a lot of power up there in the Heavens and that to take it for granted that man has progressed in so many ways and can avoid any suffering that nature can inflict is foolish and somewhat arrogant. Yes, there is indeed a SUPERPOWER out there, up there or around there that can still outclass and outsize mankind in destructive capacity by leaps and bounds cutting across economic and social differences without any discriminatory tendencies and belying the oft circulated myth that on this planet man is invincible. Katrina showed that even the mightiest power can be subject to nature's uncontrollable devastating “force majeure” and the United States for once was turned into a helpless country that was to be given a real taste of Heavenly Power. This is not of course a display of pleasure at seeing the United States hit by any tragedy, for no sane mind would cheer at the suffering of any fellow men and women, especially innocent common people going about their lives. There are those in many countries that have reached powerful status that get carried away with their own assumptions of their invincibility in this world and their ability to bring all mankind to kneel to them. It is a significant lesson to take note of that there are times when the forces of nature can be unleashed to remind mankind that arrogance is not an acceptable trait to live by, it is an understanding that is strongly held on to by most God-fearing people. For the first time in America's history it is now on the receiving end of assistance from the other countries of the world, after some of its leaders have made it a point often to remind the world that America has given and done so much for the world and therefore has a right to be listened to, wrong or right. Yes, all the world should respond positively and aid their fellow human beings along the Gulf of Mexico, because it is the right thing to do from a humanitarian point of view and it is a reminder to all the nations of the world that human beings everywhere are better off by helping each other than seeking ways to dominate and control the lives of the human race on the pretext that a certain nation has amassed all the muscle it needs to prevail above all nations. It is an erroneous conjecture that human power can ever defy the elements or even stand strong against their synchronized energy to bring death and destruction en masse even to the most powerful and especially the most arrogant. The world rightly responded to Katrina's devastating attack against the United States and this is worthy of recognition, by all of humanity that we are all in this world together and we should look for ways to make our combined resources in service to mankind. There is a lot of untold suffering that is going on in the world, without any natural calamity, and the haves are simply not doing enough to alleviate the sufferings of the have nots. On the contrary, we are seeing the haves even willing to exacerbate already devastating social conditions in other parts of the world, just so they can continue their monopolization on the enjoyment of the amenities of life, by disseminating needless wars and unleashing lethal and destructive weapons to add even more misery wherever the economic interests of the mighty can be served, without regard to the suffering this brings with it to millions of the malcontent of this planet. God may have spoken his word in America as he has done to so many great nations that have gotten carried away with their presumptions of undefeatable strengths. Arrogance is irrational and unnatural if human beings are to find avenues for world peace and economic cohesion, where suffering should be outlawed and combined sincere efforts produce greater affinity among people of all ethnic, religious and racial affiliations. Nature remains the real superpower of this world and God in his awesome wisdom will always make sure that human beings recognize his presence in every facet of our lives. As if that was not enough, the discontent, even in the most powerful country in the world will not be hesitant in showing their long held feelings of inequity and unfair treatment by their regimes. The obvious states of anarchy, even in such trying times, in New Orleans and other cities reflects the dichotomy of having centuries of injustice release anger and civil disobedience amidst a colossal catastrophe, just so as to make sure that all remember that without justice, rage is ready to be released at the slightest opportunity by the victims of injustice and social neglect, especially when the society is able to direct its abundant resources for the benefit of all its members. When will mankind ever come to the realization that human beings need each other and that there is no rationality in believing that any group can prevail above all other groups? The ability to suppress, clamp down or contain opposition to oppressive ideas is never a rationale for undermining the rights of other human beings and no stockpiled arsenals will ever assure eternal success of human power harnessed for serving the welfare and affluence of just a few.

A great American writer once wrote some ten years ago that America can never assure itself eternal power over all the nations of the world. He suggested that American will start seeing its eminent decline within the next fifty years. His argument was 1) that it is an undeniable historical fact that all empires or great nations have risen to great levels of power only to eventually collapse and fall back into the dusty pages of history books; and 2) that America was already displaying signs of social decay and degeneration (mind you this was at a time when the United States was at its ultimate zenith of economic and military prowess). He did not even include possible natural calamities. It is said that Yemen's greatness in ancient history collapsed with the collapse of the Marib Dam alone, which legend has it was gnawed by a rat. If Katrina is to be remembered for anything, it is that real power will always be wielded by the Al-Mighty and, in many cases, when it is so wielded as it was in the Gulf of Mexico, this is to remind mankind that they are all meek and helpless under Him.
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