History

It is always confusing to watch people rant about how the times are changing. It's as if we are living in an age where everything is disgusting and that our social structure is at the verge of collapse. Perhaps it is justified. Our collective memories come with an expiry date. Perhaps we choose to forget History.

Take the case of the recent rapes in India for example. The whole charade of shock and pretentiousness while treating rape as a 21st century phenomenon. What we have chosen to forget is that it was only in the 12th century, that the first set of laws defining rape as a violent crime rather than a property crime were passed in the anglo saxon community. Before that, patriarchy was so strong that the female members of society were considered as property. I can imagine that thousands of years ago, the dominant hunter gatherer could come back and pretty much force himself on any woman of his tribe while fellow males watched before their turn could come. Let's face it - we're animals. Rape has always been a part of our society - globally.

Corruption brought the roman empire down to it's knees. Bureaucracy in the Chinese dynasty led to Genghis Khan to enter with little resistance. It's not just now that people in power discovered ways to remain in power.

War was never about causes - it still isn't. It was, and always has been about the spoils. Earlier it was land, women and weapons. Today it is about land and resources. Whether it was by Alexander yesterday or by Separatists in Kashmir today. Religion and vendetta are drugs to ensure the war horse remains running - but the spoils of war remains land, and the power to control all resources of that land.

Humans, by nature, are an invasive species. We are meant to grow, multiply and invade surrounding ecosystems - drain it of it's resources and move along till nothing is left. We have managed to impact climatic changes in the last 100 years to an extent that has never been witnessed before. We are, ultimately, at the decline of our curve. The curve that started with Adam. It will perhaps lead to the rise of a new species that will study our fossils just as we study dinosaurs today. In the long run, our despicable acts and our little lies will be forgotten. Just like we have forgotten our own History.

As they say, everything that has a beginning, has an end. Such ends, are inevitable (heavily quoting The Matrix here as usual).

I'm not saying we are all about to die. Nor am I a nihilist. Of course we should strive to be better. I'm just a fan of one of the few people who also saw it my way - the great Douglas Adams who reminded us - 'Don't Panic'.