Are we stupid or something?

Like this variation of a line from Jenny in the movie “Forrest Gump” I wonder if something happens to nations when they become mature, as in super powers, or more realistically, the last super power nation standing in recent history. Is it overconfidence, the comfort of the older status quo, stupidity, or something? And of course there is no such thing as a nation in this discourse, but rather the people who lead and represent the nation. Most of us think of the leaders in the political sense, and rightly so. But there are also the industry leaders, the religious leaders, the tribal leaders, and even these days self-appointed media and environmental leaders. Do they all have something in common in their thinking? Many common citizens think many are stupid or something.

Our western culture and rule of law has brought westerners many benefits vis-à-vis public electricity, public health, public tap water, public elections, public pursuit of religion, public education, public transportation, and public security. The human pursuit of better opportunities for our children has been achieved in the west. This is monumental in human history. These public things were worked and fought for. They are not normal in human history, but rather achievements to be savored and advanced and defended. And again, this is the public’s benefits, not the ruling class, or who ever else appoints themselves as the ruling class. And much of the world is still not there in terms of public achievements. Much of this world is in the east. It is especially distressing to see the Arab civilization dominated by zealots who are devoted to tearing down their civilization as part of appointing themselves the ruling class, albeit by the gun and bomb.

Much more distressing is to see western leaders from various groups, some political, some religious, and some business who have other judgments that call upon practices like appeasement, and more idealistically turning the other cheek. That these leaders most often had nothing to do with our earlier western public policies that benefit us and our children seems the simple assumed security of the past and status quo types. If what we read about Sweden’s reinforcement of Sharia law, or British boycotts, or Christian Church interventions into the most historical conflicts, is even on theme, then many people are going down the tubes as the world’s publics begin to go another way. Are these leaders stupid or something?