There are so many threats around to worry us – hunger, unemployment, pandemics, incurable diseases, a possible asteroid impact, floods, earthquakes, alien invasions, climate change, artificial intelligence takeover, social-media-generated idiocy, and what not.
Pythagoras, the ancient Greek philosopher and polymath, is said to have declared that humankind should beware of the materialism of scientists, ignorance of the clergy, and chaos of democracy. I will not judge whether this is true or not, but the good old man seems to be somewhat naïve in light of today’s world position. In the last 25 hundred years since the time he allegedly pronounced these words, things have changed unrecognizably. And even if his antique wisdom is still to be believed, nobody would make it the subject of bitter controversy, because we usually take those ancient wisdoms for granted, and a scientist in our time might be as materialist as an idealist, a contemporary clergyman can wax brilliantly in our days, and democracy, which has served Mankind in such a good faith, could hardly be described as something chaotic.
And here comes another renowned philosopher – Noam Chomsky, a modern-day American professor and public intellectual, who argues that the biggest threats to humankind are global warming, nuclear war and deteriorating democracy. Well, this statement could be reckoned way more credible: global warming is already a tangible actuality, the worldwide thermonuclear conflagration has been at our doorstep since 24 February, 2022, the day the Russian military trespassed onto Ukrainian real estate, and democracy needs urgent help to continue as a system of government in which state power is vested in the people.
Question: are any of these imminent iniquities of our current life on Earth stoppable? Or slightly handleable at least? An inveterate pessimist would say “no”. But a healthy optimist’s straightaway response would be: “Yes, they are!” Indeed, humankind could be broken down into these two categories, and if the pessimists prevail, the world is going to be done with very soon. All the above problems have been created by human hands, and could be taken care of through the selfsame human hands and the available resources sitting in those dexterous hands.
If I minimize the arena of human action and bring it down to the level of only one nation, say, Sakartvelo, the reason for optimism should remain just as viable. And here’s why: this country, with its plethora of sunshine, fertile soil and spring water bursting out of the ground every step of the way, with its riches harbored under and above the earth surface, nature’s gifts scattered all over the place, and the helpful weather day and night, could be turned into a land of opportunity in just a twinkle of an eye by its talented people. Nothing should seem impossible: we could curb the menacing climate change, maintain peace, and keep up democracy no matter how flimsy and shaky it looks right now.
But talent is a huge asset, and not enough alone for success when push comes to shove. Membership in the European family of nations first and foremost means that we will emulate the West in putting together talent, labor, wits, rationality and sense of time, which must rush us to where we want to be. This will prepare our people to get into step with the rest of the world, to fight the evils and vices that have inflicted the Earth. Let’s forget the small size of our population and the minor extent of our wealth: We will take on our fair share of the struggle. A contribution of any magnitude has its value, but what matters most is not to be ignored and forgotten; to let our endeavor be fruitful, substantial and weighty. Do these words sound too loud? So what! I want them to be audible enough to be heard by the listening ears in every possible direction: west and east and north and south. The chance of cooperation and interaction for Sakartvelo is everywhere to grab at and not let go of. All that humankind in general is worried about concerns our people in the same precise way – for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. That’s why our well-done Quickstep, Waltz and Foxtrot with the rest of the world makes so much sense.
Op-Ed by Nugzar B. Ruhadze
