The rise of moral despotism

„It was incredible that the human species should have arrived at so noble an attitude, so paradoxical, so refined, so acrobatic, so anti-natural. Hence, it is not to be wondered that this same humanity should soon appear anxious to get rid of it. It is a discipline too difficult and complex to take firm root on earth“

Jose Ortega y Gassett,“The Revolt of the masses“ 1930

There’s no reason to pretend that the crises and tribulations of our times are something either very unusual, or never before present happenings. For as long as there have been humans, there've been wars, hunger and oppression, all resulting in human mass migration, along with climatic changes. It is natural for people to strive for better. It is something positive. This human trait has been a catalyst for discoveries, technical and political revolutions, and this is what helped to shape today’s society.

The world is small. And it is getting smaller. It is getting easier and easier to look over the neighbour’s fence to see if the grass is in fact, greener there. Having made sure, we begin to covet. We do it all the time. Society tells us that it is good so. This is the purpose of all the glossy magazines and constantly growing economy. But mostly we are reasonable and satisfied with a proxy, attained by an occasional look in the same magazines. Deep down we love our mediocrity. It is, after all, very expensive and time consuming to be someone like Paris Hilton. It may be that not even Paris can afford to live like Paris. In short, we covet silently, well behaved and civilized. All we really want is to be able to retain this status quo of being this hard working middle class with some perks.

We behave. We know that there are laws, rules and codex of behaviour that help us to function in our society and upkeep our lifestyle that we have grown to love. But it is this very concept of being “civilized” is what transforms us into a grey, homogenous mass that is taking all that our forefathers have so painstakingly built, for granted. We are the generation that has civilization “on tap”. We never had to work to earn it, and so we never learnt to really appreciate it.

It needs to be said out loud: Civilisation needs to be upkept. It won’t do it alone, as it has not developed on its own. In fact, without continuous effort, it will most probably disappear. Go back to its original state. What makes me think that it is endangered? The fact that the new generation is more concerned with having fun and being comfortable than with matters of mind, thought and honour. It’s a nice thought to have peace on earth, but it is not a reality yet. If today a war broke out, how many young people do you think would gladly go and fight for their country, their rights and their freedom? The best example is the flood of refugees into Europe. It is up to 85% made up of young, strong men. Hundreds of thousands of them, a whole army in fact, if came together- a force to be reckoned with, who instead of fighting for their land and protecting their old, women and children, prefer to go to Europe and sit for months in tents, frustrated, waiting for alms.

Then there’s a quality of government bodies. There’s a wealth of educated people all over the world. Young, older, coming from all walks of life, so it can’t be that there are no good heads left out there. Still, there’s an amazing drought on quality political candidates. It is more so it seems, that the body is too lethargic to put a proper head on its shoulders. And it is not just a European problem. The rise of the populist leaders is the best example of this mass complacency.

People have got used to the fact that all terrible things that happen in the world, happen far away from their comfort zone. Terror acts? Israel. War? Syria. Child slavery? Africa. Here, at home, all is sweet. All political problems get solved at the dinner table. Oh, how simple it is for the people to be moralistic and generous, when all’s well!

This is changing. Other people covet too. And what they covet is not the latest hairstyle and a Birkin bag. They covet what we’ve grown accustomed to call mediocrity. To millions of people in war-torn parts of the world it is an inaccessible dream and they are prepared to go to great lengths to attain it. This scares us. And it should. Before one makes a decision on how much one can take on, there is a number of aspects to consider. Moral duties are wonderful, but they are not going to feed an army. This is what a lot of dignitaries fail to register, before they stand up at the podium in Brussels and say, “We will manage!” This is so close to the “Yes, we can!” that it doesn’t need me to show you all the problems connected with it. In reality, what they want to say is: “YOU will manage”, because none of them are going to be there where the action is. Just ask the people in Greece and Italy.

This moral dictatorship is what made people leave their homes in the first place. Gave them an unrealistic idea on how their lives are going to be shaped by the move. Most think that as soon as they cross the border, their standard of life is going to be on par with the others. The citizens who have since generations contributed to the society, which they live in, working hard at helping to establish a certain level. Physically and intellectually. The way they live is a product of a lengthy process. And it is only expected that anyone wishing to participate is quite welcome, but needs to understand and accept how this works. Nobody at the government body of Europe had thought of making this clear. In their moral euphoria they beckoned the masses without considering the consequences. And now, that the majority of their own citizens, themselves only now realizing what is happening and afraid, are looking for alternatives, are not happy, they are getting a muzzle put on. No way a citizen of this democratic EU is allowed to say what he thinks. He is not allowed to criticize the government that has brought this calamity on. He is not allowed to dislike all the consequences of the bad management of the politicians who are actually getting paid not to spread the love and morality, but to make sure the citizens are safe and sound.

And so the citizen gets upset. He brands the government as weak and looks for alternatives, and those don’t let themselves wait. They are always available in the form of the bigots and the populists, who gain the centre stage at times of imbalance, because they can scream the loudest. They know exactly how to use this momentum, they are so unpopular already that they have nothing to lose. Above all, they do not mince words. Like the proverbial ugly guy who is so unattractive, he’s sexy. The bigger the disappointment with the weak, indecisive, desultory government, the more sheep flock to the shepherd, who promises to bring his sheep to safety. What this safety may mean, and to whom, is a different matter. At the time of the crisis one may not get too choosy.

The rest keep their muzzle on and follow the familiar path. Unable to understand that it is not the Trumps of this world that carry the blame for being themselves, but they alone, who are first silent when major decisions are being made on their behalf without consulting them, and then again, when dark clouds gather over their heads.