Corruption / Society's Hydra
Today, I read an article describing the atrocities committed by thieves who have consistently pillaged food shipments intended for starving Yemeni civilians. The headline was appalling, but the content itself was indicative of a broader issue, one that has plagued societies for centuries. No, I'm not talking about war, and no, I'm also not speaking of famine. I am talking about something even more principally insidious: the exploitation of power that enables this widespread suffering. In a country where half of the population doesn't have enough food to eat, those with the power and access to distribute vast amounts of aid—to alleviate the suffering of millions—are choosing to cut off the lifelines that Yemeni citizens are clinging to. Are you listening yet? The millions and millions of dollars donated to support the relief of a war-torn country are being thrown into an abyss as victims remain trapped in a world of violence and starvation. Are you frustrated yet? The United Nations, who sent double the amount of aid necessary to provide relief for the country, is considering abandoning their efforts because even they have come to view them as futile. Are you depressed yet?
I certainly am. I think that Yemen's current crisis represents a perfect microcosm of the horrific corruption that has enveloped nations for centuries. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this corruption plays out in politics. In Myanmar, it plays out in religious persecution. Corruption takes on many forms across the world, but it's atrocious effects are always recognizable. The theft of humanitarian aid in Yemen is merely the latest example of humanity's Achilles heel, an addiction to power so profound that it will drive people to starve children for their own benefit. Corruption the hydra knows no bounds, and so long as power vacuums continue to appear, it will continue to spawn new, malicious heads. Thus, we must take action. What action should we take? Sadly, I don’t know. I don't know how to stop exploitation and atrocities, but I hope that discussing the corruption that allows these other evils to take root will help to promote awareness about all evils—and ultimately mitigate them.
https://www.apnews.com/bcf4e7595b554029bcd372cb129c49ab
I certainly am. I think that Yemen's current crisis represents a perfect microcosm of the horrific corruption that has enveloped nations for centuries. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this corruption plays out in politics. In Myanmar, it plays out in religious persecution. Corruption takes on many forms across the world, but it's atrocious effects are always recognizable. The theft of humanitarian aid in Yemen is merely the latest example of humanity's Achilles heel, an addiction to power so profound that it will drive people to starve children for their own benefit. Corruption the hydra knows no bounds, and so long as power vacuums continue to appear, it will continue to spawn new, malicious heads. Thus, we must take action. What action should we take? Sadly, I don’t know. I don't know how to stop exploitation and atrocities, but I hope that discussing the corruption that allows these other evils to take root will help to promote awareness about all evils—and ultimately mitigate them.
https://www.apnews.com/bcf4e7595b554029bcd372cb129c49ab
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