I am currently writing a book about the demise of one of today’s most arrogant and damaging world figures. I guess that it is a bit of wishful thinking from someone who loves to take an idea and flesh it in to create a stimulating story.
There are several world figures that this could be about, but in this case, it is about one man who, until he rose to power had accomplished nothing. His rise was so unexpected that he interpreted it as almost a divine moment. He believed that if he could will himself into the spotlight, then that same will would make him almost unstoppable. If he could dream it, it would happen, and no one and nothing would stop him.
In the United States today, we have a major problem about empathy and sympathy. To many of us, showing sympathy to those who are less fortunate, discriminated against, or troubled has led us to demand that society solve the problem. Others of us employ empathy and command ourselves to help, even if it is a little, even if it is to show others how to help themselves.
I’d love to see both sides compromise on this divide. One person’s problem is not necessarily caused by society. But not all people can solve their problems without some societal reform. But even more importantly, I have come to believe that this divide is a good example of why the government and society that our ancestors built in America works.
But the leadership in Russia does not have this debate. Vladimir Putin allows no criticism. He tolerates no debate. To him, empathy and sympathy are weaknesses that are intolerable. He despises the history of Nazi abuse in his own country without seeing the same divine arrogance in his own leadership.
We kick, we bite, we scratch in this country and we always have. Even the elected leaders that some among us might not like will term out someday. But that is not true in Russia. So, my question to you is, as I write my story about Putin, how should it end?