Peter Fernandes
Why is the whole world in peril; what could be the reason? In a world of rationale, does it make sense, “Winner takes it all”? Could it be that reason entertains stupidity instead of fairness? Isn’t it true for rational beings who pride themselves on trying to decipher the highest good that is truth and justice for the common good to prevail? In fact, rationality defines truth and justice, and freewill desires it, which separates humans from the brute world. In a world of animals, this principle “winner takes it all” holds good, because there is no reason or freewill. In human society, in such a situation where the victor captures the entire benefit, leaving the losers with nothing, does it hold ground? Humans have the same needs, desires, rights, and duties, as we share a common home. Sadly, unable to balance reason and freewill, the animal instinct takes over as human society continues to grapple with errors. The human errors are growing in numbers by the day. One good example is “Make America Great Again.” It is an erroneous thought because making America great again is not on its own account but at the cost of other nations, especially those nations that are rich in natural resources but poor and weak in military. The tariff war is on. Winner takes it all is a vicious concept applicable in various contexts, including sports, business, and even relationships. The philosophy behind ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” explores the aftermath of a romantic breakup, portraying it as a zero-sum game where one person moves on while the other is left with pain and a sense of loss. However, in the movie Gladiator, Russell Crowe, who takes on the character of Maximus, plays a good and honourable and deeply admirable man. While the movie plays a familiar revenge plot, Maximus’s circumstances never make him a bad man and actually only ennoble him. Maximus gains popularity not only because of his strength but mostly because of his compassion and belief. Maximus is devout, praying regularly and living with integrity according to his principles. He doesn’t really question his beliefs when he suffers; in fact, he can live through his suffering because he believes. Maximus’s view of the unbroken arc from this life to the next: what we do in life echoes in eternity. Holding such a sublime view in life as Maximus, does it suit humans to say, “Winner takes it all”?
The powerful nations are supposed to be the champions of human rights, but the irony is that the powerful nations are the worst violators of human rights, and the corridors of history have volumes of despicable acts of oppression, humiliation, and death inflicted on those subjugated by the victors. The colonial era speaks loud and clear about this fact. The British Empire ruled the world with an iron fist, subjugating the locals to loot and plunder, for they believed that “the winner can take it all” and the loser should stay low and poor. Post World War II, America took on the mantle from the British empire and began American Imperialism, which is more vicious than its counterpart. Everyone is to bow before the dollar, unless one is willing to face the mighty military wrath. And this is not a myth. The Middle East crisis is for that very reason to flex the dollar arm with impunity and no responsibility. Because of erroneous theories and desire for dominance, generations are lost in conflicts or are displaced without a thought for the value and dignity of human life. Iraq war was no consequence for the United States in terms of human life but did for the country of Iraq. September 11 (western conspiracy), was somehow connected to Iraq, along with weapons of mass destruction that became a part of a grand plan for American Imperialism to inflict unimaginable pain and suffering and a loot of billions of dollars. One of the driving forces to hold on to the hegemony of American Imperialism is to control oil—the American slogan is “one who can control the oil can control the world.”
The former president of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, was given a Nobel Peace prize, not for any particular reason or for resolving any major conflict, but because of his skin colour. Otherwise, what was his presidency to vouch for such a high prize? He is responsible for the rise of ISIS that showed another ugly face of humanity. The so-called “Arab Spring” was seen not as an opportunity for the well-being of the Arab world, but to advance American Imperialism. The United States systematically created ISIS to reign chaos in the middle east for their benefit. The country of Syria is in total disarray and caused one of the biggest refugee crises in modern times. One of the most successful, prosperous, and peaceful countries was Libya, which today stands in ruin because the western powers could not conceive of a small country challenging their hegemony. America concocts war stories to invade and amass wealth. Besides, the Americans take great pride in regime change as if it is their father’s business. Among the few who survived the American childish behaviour were Fidel Crasto and Kim Jong Un. Both these regimes survived because they were able to speak the language of nuclear weapons. Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi would have survived if they could speak through the medium of nuclear weapons. Now, Iran is facing a similar wrath. The whole world is silently watching the game played by the Western powers. The West tries to cripple those countries that seem to challenge their hegemony by employing both military and economic sanctions.
In order to uphold the Brahminic hegemony in India (subjugating the people of the low strata), RSS has the political wing in BJP. Their mantra is that winning elections means that the winner can take it all, even by disregarding the Constitution. Since 2014, BJP through RSS has systematically taken control of all the pillars of democracy, especially the media and the Election Commission, to keep the mantra intact. The plight of the people of low strata in India is going from bad to worse by the day, and yet the media is silent about the government performance (in fact, they are targeting the opposition party’s), and the Election Commission is playing into the hands of the BJP to make things worse, even when they are caught mishandling the election results on camera and otherwise. Who will tell the people of the world that there are no winners here on earth, for the true treasure of human existence lies somewhere beyond the blues—into eternity? Subsequently, it is imperative for humans to decipher the true meaning of existence rather than to dwell with the thought that the winner takes it all—for it is but vanity of vanities. A true gladiator of our time, “Novak Djokovic” fought and is fighting with the system to make sure that even the low-ranking players get their due share with respect and honour, which is truly remarkable. A great lesson for humanity to learn and apply in every aspect of life to build a happy human society. Incidentally, humanity is silently watching the massacre happening in Gaza, perhaps with disdain but without dissent. What could be the reason? Check this out. United Nations expert Francesca Albanese has slammed the decision by the United States to sanction her as “obscene,” saying she is being targeted for calling out Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The hypocrisy of the winners is glaring. Does Palestine have the right to exist and live in their land with dignity and honour? Isn’t it time that humanity discards the principle “winner takes it all” and embraces true human triumph like Maximus in the movie Gladiator?
(The author is a Priest based at Pilar, Goa)