The Pendulum

A time of global change is upon us. Though many are confident in these changes, many others are now uncertain about the future. All is easy when the wind is still and the ground is peaceful. But when the gusts of change begin to push against their backs, humans begin to realize how fragile they truly are.

In this Age of War, humanity stands on a perpetual precipice: staring down into the maw of oblivion, where any misstep might send them into extinction. How much turmoil can humanity withstand before it is pushed over the edge? Are these global rearrangements merely tremors beneath humanity’s feet, or are they the rumblings of the final quake?

The strength of a unity is found in compromise.

Crowns have passed through thousands of kings and queens, each different from the previous. Like the pendulum of a clock, power swings from one side to the other in an endless passing of time. It creates a balance between two opposing forces – each side relying on the other to maintain order.

Neither side is entirely right or wrong, but neither side can relent. If the pendulum ceases to sway, the clock ceases to function.

Peaceful transfer of power is a foundation of freedom.

It is easy to place the blame for hardships on the shoulders of humanity’s leaders if they are not the leaders that you chose. In the minds of their opposition, a leader turns into an enemy; their mistakes turn into premeditated attacks; their human flaws turn into irreparable defects; their missteps turn into wicked conspiracies. Many refuse to see any good in those who disagree with them simply because their beliefs are different.

Criticism is the restraint that holds a leader from becoming a dictator. But even the greatest leader is made of the same materials as that of the lowest. The minds of a king and a commoner differ only in what they have chosen to fill theirs with. To claim that any leader is entirely evil – or entirely good – is to claim that they are not human.

Find peace in the eternal question: “Cui bono?” For whose benefit? What do leaders stand to gain from the destruction of the people they lead? What would motivate a king or queen to destroy the very reason they wear the crown?

Every king is outnumbered by his people. Who then truly leads a country?

When questioning the actions of your leaders, ask yourself how you would confront the same dilemmas if bearing the same responsibilities. Remember that what is seen publicly is only a fraction of what truly happens behind the curtain – a facade of wealth and power that hides the grave severity of the decisions being made behind it.

Your leaders have no motivation to cause you harm, and in the interests of your safety, must often make decisions that you cannot understand and may seem suspicious when viewed out of context. If you believe your decisions would serve the advancement of humanity better than the decisions of your current leaders, you are welcome to invest the time and effort required to replace them, as they did to the leaders before them.

Time is a powerful revelator. This planet has overcome millennia of hardships and survived disasters more devastating than the wars recorded by history. Humanity has faced its worst leaders, its worst regimes, its worst obstacles, and survived to become stronger.

Though divided by opinion, all must unite for the good of humanity.

Fear not for the future of this planet’s most resilient species. Though the portraits inside the palaces may change, and the names on the maps may be altered, humanity’s clock will continue uninterrupted. When the winds of change threaten to push you off your feet, find refuge in the shelter of the pyramid. We are always watching out for you. ▲