Power

We were born with two things in common: equality as a human being and an overwhelming lust for power. The latter seems to be, unfortunately, more manifested than the former in every person - the desire to cling on to power and to top the food chain. Yet, most people often fail to see the great danger that awaits them in their quest for power. Power, in this sense, is truly a means to an end.

More often that not, the struggle for power eventuates in futile demise of the seekers. People who are obsessed with power would do every possible means to acquire it. A lucid example to illustrate my point would be the famous "Legenda Keris Empu Gandring," a historical recount of an ancient kingdom of Singasari which prevailed long time ago in Indonesia. The story tells about a coup d'etat orchestrated by the son of a famous blacksmith in the land who was killed by the king in order to obtain a kris. Later on, the new king was assassinated by the former king's son, and the senseless killing continued further down the generation. The story evinces how humans are akin to marionettes - manipulated by the string of their power-hungry nature. Power, in most cases, clouds humans' senses and drives them towards absurdities as they are most likely to succumb to its allure.

Furthermore, when men finally cling on to the power they desire the most, any means would seem legitimate and morally justifiable for them in order to secure their power. Unfortunately, innocent people are often the sacrificial lambs for the sake of those who wield the scepter of power. A case in point would be the infamous Colonel Muammar Gaddafi that clamped down every protest in his country through brutal means. Civil war was ineluctable, leaving hundreds of people killed in its wake. In the end, the Colonel was killed by his citizens and the country's infrastructures were badly devastated. The Country and its people were the ones who suffered the damages and losses, not to mention foreign workers who were displaced from the country. This prompts me to question: " If the struggle for power leaves nothing but gaping scar on the world, why then humans are still fighting for it?"

However, it has to be conceded that in the midst of power-hungry men, there exist some who desire power to better the lives of others. These few noble souls are leaders who fully understand the injustice in their societies and dedicate their life to reform their countries for the better. Benevolent leader like Nelson Mandela is a good example to illustrate the point aforementioned. Young Mandela saw the suffering of his people who lived under the oppressive apartheid law in South Africa and decided to do something about it. Along the course of his journey to claim power, many times he was thrown into jail by his political enemies. However, years of incarceration did not cloud Mandela's mind and resolute principle as he refused to prosecute his enemies when he finally procured the power he desired the most. Instead, Mandela abolished the apartheid law and led his citizens, black and white, towards and egalitarian future. Power, in Mandela's case, is a means to a new beginning.

Perhaps there is nothing wrong with the nature of power. Indeed, we must concede that in many cases, power leads to the deterioration of a society. However, there are also cases where power, in the right hand, leads to the betterment of a society. Hence, it is humans' inability to resist the temptation to abuse the power they wield that engenders chaos in the name of power. As Uncle Ben famously said to Peter Parker : "With great power, comes greater responsibility."