Approximately a third of Americans behave the same way as a third of the Indians. This group of population worships Modi/Trump. Why do they worship them? Is it because these two men exhibit raw power? Is it because they are always ready to bulldoze and crush dissent and make bold promises? Do people want them, or is it a temporary phenomenon? Humans are either slavish who admire the powerful and worship them or independent who question and demand accountability.
Strength to men of raw power is beating up on fellow humans. It’s an expression of their immaturity towards the other. If you analyze the statements made by Trump and Modi – their language is about showing the other people their place. They want to rule and not serve.
Trump and Modi pretend to be nationalists, which they are not, they are merely power-hungry people. A nationalist builds on the idea of one nation, they make all-out efforts to bring people together. A nationalist will not pit one against the other. Modi to his credit has engineered one of the best slogans ever, “Sab Ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas, and Sab ka Vishwas” that is everyone comes together, for everyone’s prosperity by trusting each other. Sadly, he does not mean a word based on some of his practices.
Trump claims, he is rich and does not need anything but making America Great Again.
Modi claims, he is a Faqeer (mendicant) and has given up everything to serve the nation.
That is pure hyperbole and pathetically consumed by a third of the population without every questioning. The majority on the other (2/3rds) hand sees them through. If you know grouchy older men in or around your family, they don’t want anything either. All they want is to control everyone; they threaten, scream, or divide and rule. Everyone around them is scared and no one dares to speak up to them and silently endure the abuse.
The leaders are elected by the people’s consent to govern. Once elected, they assume God chooses them to want to rule people instead of serving them. Not all Presidents or Prime Ministers have done that, except Nixon and Indira Gandhi.
A leader should not instill fear in people but admiration. Both these men have solid support from a third of the population. Unfortunately, the power-thirsty virus is infecting many world leaders – all of this will change in the next few years, and we will be back to living healthy lives – respecting the otherness of the others.
When God/nature created life, it came in two formats; Animals and Humans. Animals were given horns, fangs, and paws to fight and resolve their conflicts to get what they want, whereas humans were not given the same tools to resolve their conflicts. Instead, they were given the ability to talk and communicate, so they can resolve their conflicts through dialogue.
The bottom line expressed or unexpressed goal of all humans is to achieve peace, tranquility, and harmony within. A state of mind without tensions.
Nearly 67% of the population achieves the tranquility and lives in tune with what surrounds them; life and environment. They get along with others and feel secure in their own skin. They live their lives and let others live theirs.
As an observer of social behavior, I have chosen to be part of extreme left and right-wing groups. They are from Atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Muslims. The other faith groups are smaller in numbers, but they also have their own extremes. They lack empathy towards fellow humans. They have no problem lynching, killing, shooting, kicking and burning them alive.
I believe the creator has set the monitor within all of us, that makes us feel good or bad based on our karma. No one goes scot-free- they are burning inside as bad deeds keep piling inside them, causing them to live less than normal life.
I pray Modi, Trump, and their supporters see the goodness in service rather than power. I hope they walk the path of living their own lives and letting others live theirs. I hope peace and tranquility becomes a part of their life.
If we learn to respect the otherness of the other and accept the uniqueness of each other, most of the conflicts will fade away and solutions emerge.
God bless the World.
Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism. He is a speaker, thinker, author, consultant, pluralist, activist, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers. www.TheGhousediary.com