According to recent global statistics at least 75% humans believe God as eternal leader. Leadership and ruling are not exactly similar. The late Australian journalist, John Pilger, described this very well in his 2002 book “New Rulers of the World”: “The aim of the new rulers is not to improve lives, but to extract profit, often at the expense of local populations and the environment.”
Among the most evil that has created suffering and misery is unnecessary war. Pilger argued that billions of dollars are made selling weapons whenever evil empires bomb other countries in the name of democracy, peace and “better” leadership.
Last week, I asked a few individuals in Africa if they were following some of the headline news in the West, i.e. the constant chatter of potential bombing of the Islamic Republic of Iran plus an ongoing Epstein files scandal.
Just like past relentless bombings of Vietnam, Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, ad infinitum, some of the press has meantime (and gleefully) been flaunting the phrase “World War Three”, as if it is a children’s game involving toy water pistols with innocent joyful screams and yelps. As though this is fun, fair and funny.
But missiles and expensive bombs are not toys. They cause untold suffering and displacement. Statistics tell us the two 20th century World Wars resulted at least 115 million deaths. Almost half the population of the East African citizens in 2023!
War equals money to the arms factory dealers, plus death to masses of young men flown to shoot each other in the name of “peace” and stability.
American musician and 2016 Nobel Prize winner (for Literature) Bob Dylan sang in War, War, Gun, recorded in 1963 at the height of the Vietnamese genocide:
“Come you masters of war. You that build all the guns. You that build the death planes. You that build the big bombs. You that hide behind walls. You that hide behind desks. I just want you to know I can see through your masks.”
Most of us applaud our rulers making speeches and speaking well rehearsed words. We nod and cast our votes. However, like Dylan sang, there is “something” hiding behind the mask.
And this is part of the narrative that is engulfing the entire Western media landscape, as we speak.
As for the Epstein scandal, it is still unfolding like a fast flooding river. A scandal dressed in those satanic words found in Kiswahili vocabulary: “ufuska” and “ufisadi.” Words related to debauchery, deceit and lust.
Early this month, most London tabloids were screaming in unison. There was a front headline photograph of a well known politician, Lord Peter Mandelson. He who played a key role ushering Tony Blair as Prime Minister in that historic landslide of 1997 elections. Mandelson was then referred as the “prince of darkness.”
Tony Blair was out front; charismatic and articulate, while this powerful character lurked in the shadows. After ten years, New Labour was out; in strolled the Conservatives. Mandelson was kind of forgotten. But recently resurfaced during the current Keir Starmer Labour leadership as UK ambassador to the USA.
On February 3rd, tabloids published his headline picture in underwear and connected to the ongoing Epstein scandal. Lord Mandelson is not the only famous powerful personality to be connected to Epstein. While in prison where he was held on 32 charges of sex offence (including rape) and sex trafficking of minors, Jeffrey Epstein, an American businessman allegedly committed suicide in August 2019. There are online speculations that he was silenced as he knew too many secrets involving powerful people.
Multitude of women (some of them who were still teenagers) have come out claiming sexual and psychological torture by the disgraced American tycoon. This would have been “normal crime”- if it had ended there. The problem is lots of high ranking officials, billionaires, famous individuals including those connected to royalty and presidents of various countries were involved in Epstein’s dark, paedophile ring since early 2000s. A massive case, rumbling like a volcano; currently rocking governments. While some of us may roll eyes, muttering what is this about, we have to accept that scandals of top figures and rulers are quite common across the planet; and always unfold hidden truths.
Again rewinding on the subject of God leadership and human rulers. The Swahili language has a proverb that warns: “The very thing you do not want is what PLEASES God.”
Like a riddle, like a metaphor. Tricky one to assess.
May we experience happier times, nevertheless.
Ashenalley, if you speak Kima’sai.
