The US and the world have entered an apocalyptic period. “Apocalyptic” does not mean the end of the world, it means that things are being unveiled and become visible and clear. It happens every once in a while in human history and it feels threatening.
In this case what is being unveiled are the real forces that trample humanity, reciprocity, and the rule of law. What we see is a dehumanisation of humanity. This of course is not new, but with an increase of authoritarianism and what some call techno-feudalism, it becomes more visible. Moreover, the evil connection of power and wealth is being revealed. It is disassembling democracy, dismantling social fabric and looting democratic institutions. A regime that promised the golden age reveals itself as being destructive of decades of social improvements, protection of people and the environment, accountability and separation of powers. It promises to bring peace and accuses others of precipitating war, while seeking to grab the maximum power and control at the expense of common good and human dignity.
In reality though what’s being unveiled is not only current and longstanding disregard of international law, democratic process and humanity, but also the logic of unchecked growth and greed of the corporate world, cherished by earlier administrations, as well as the utter failure of what was originally supposed to be a security alliance, which should have been dissolved after the Cold War. To be sure, there is nothing new under the sun, what we see has existed before, but now it is explicit, programmatic and fully applied.
Unveiled is also the militarism of decades with its devastating consequences. Politics since WW II have been at the service of, if not subdued by, what Andrew Feinstein calls the shadow world of global arms industry and trade. The current administration is unlikely to dismantle that terrible engine of ever more cruel war. The latest SIPRI* report shows how the US, are massively increasing their weapons exports. Will the monster of transnational the military-industrial complex catch up with the regime and chew it up? Is civil society condemned to either civil war or a military coup? These are uncomfortable questions. The search for answers and for clarification in an apocalyptic situation has the potential to inform and reorient our minds and to inspire civil and nonviolent resistance.
Another thing also is revealed: how Western states, for the most part, conceal and neglect the real and most urgent threat to the planet and its humanity: the ongoing, unbridled destruction of biodiversity and of the climate. In the name of “public interest”, France continues to push through extremely harmful projects, often even against court rulings. Switzerland is way behind on its climate objectives – while in the USA, they are simply cancelled.
There is a cure and response to this apocalyptic situation: it is unarmed civil resistance and universal human service. Religion – very much present in the US – is hardly a cure, for it tends to be instrumentalized by power and wealth. It is faith that gives the cure its authenticity and makes it effective. Religion possibly but not necessarily encourages faith. Faith in love and mercy, in universal humanity inspired by the Spirit of creation, restoration and reconciliation. Call it hope and accept its vulnerability. Have faith and resist. Consider all options and choose the ones that further that which is good: mercy and love in humility. In the current situation, our power is limited, yet we can choose to contribute to the unveiling of mercy and love, of universal humanity and care for creation.
*SIPRI : Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
