The world’s state of affairs can be disheartening for those of us with strong empathy and compassion. November 2024, we are on the verge of another U.S. Presidential Election. Once again, basic human rights are in jeopardy stateside. Globally, we inch closer to midnight on the Doomsday Clock. Once again, American citizens are faced with the choice between Team Red, “We Are Confederate-Nazi Party,” or Team Blue, “We Fund Genocide.” All while those on the so-called political left or right spectrum hunker down and declare, “This is the most important election of our lifetimes” in the “very” stable democracy of the United States. How stable can a nation founded on stolen land and designed by slave master’s really be?
Those who consider themselves true leftists or radicals recognize that the preferences of the general public do not play a significant role in determining public policy. It could be foreign or domestic. The United States is genuinely the Corporate States of America. If Congress approves a policy benefiting everyone, be sure that the wealthy elite are getting something out of it from themselves.
The current major international atrocities include the ongoing civil war in Sudan, severe exploitation and political turmoil in the Congo, and the Gaza genocide under the 70-plus-year Israeli occupation. Multinational corporations from the U.S. play a role in the African continent’s conflicts. Undoubtedly, the U.S. government plays a direct role in the Gazan Genocide.
In the assertion that “they have the right to defend themselves,” both U.S. presidential candidates have pledged allegiance to Israel. The State of Israel’s actions have led to countless deaths, critical injuries, and a dire situation where millions face starvation. Since October 7th, 2023, the United States has provided Israel with billions in arms and weapons. The United States was Israel’s principal arms dealer well before that time. Yes, our tax dollars are being used to slaughter innocent people in the name of democracy.
On the other hand, climate scientists worldwide are finding it hard to sleep because of the ongoing climate crisis. In 2024, the United States experienced two hurricanes that were considered once-in-a-century events, while Spain was flooded. Record-breaking heat hit India last summer. Experts say 2023 was the hottest year on record. Biodiversity has experienced a significant decline over the past seventy years. Both U.S. Presidential Candidates promised their allegiance to the fossil fuel industry by agreeing to permit fracking.
The world in which Generation Alpha will come of age will be drastically different from the world of my childhood. I am currently forty-one years old as I write this. Despite the impending societal collapse, humanity carries on in a business-as-usual manner. Climate Change will affect the Global South first, but the West will also feel its effects. To the Uber-rich, Elon Musk will not be rescuing all of you by taking you to the frozen desert of Mars. He is too busy using his substantial wealth to befriend a fascist like Trump or manipulate Twitter to dominate the flow of information and politics.
These are a handful of elements that have the potential to bring about feelings of depression and sadness in someone who is politically aware. Sometimes, things can appear bleak. Amid these overwhelming odds, what is within reach for the average person to do? The world’s governments continue to arm themselves heavily, leading to the destruction or loss of countless innocent lives. Compared to other nations arming themselves, the U.S. is at the forefront of defense spending. One would expect them to be getting ready to fight aliens, but they are actually getting ready to fight each other. The future may seem grim for us radicals. What we call “radical” is even more ominous in the West and the United States.
Empathy is a rare quality in the society constructed by the West. Capitalism focuses on infinite growth on a finite planet, prioritizing short-term profits. Ponder it. Why is the notion of all individuals having a right to food, clothing, and housing considered radical? Why is it considered radical to aim for a society where all American citizens can get healthcare without incurring substantial debt? Why is it deemed radical to desire self-determination for nations in the Global South without Western interference when leaders are trying to nationalize industries for the benefit of their citizens?
Why is the idea of the children of Gaza or Congo growing up in a safer world and reaching their goals considered radical? The stress of representing a true leftist ideal is, pun intended, quite maddening. You might feel that there is no hope for humanity one day. The next day, you may feel like another world is possible. The esteemed black writer James Baldwin eloquently expressed this paradox of existing as a conscious individual in the world: “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost all of the time.” While we witness humanity’s death spiral in real-time, is there any hope?
Can we make recovery and revolution a reality? I believe in the possibility of another world, but it will require patience. With the climate crisis looming, time is not in our favor. But young people like Greta Thunberg, Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez, and countless others give me hope that a younger generation is leading the fight for the planet’s future. Across the globe, many workers have taken a stand against corporate giants and the mistreatment of workers. Since the onset of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rise in unionization among people across the globe. Many mutual aid resources and activists support the Congo and Gaza communities. Even with the rise of reactionary forces globally, the prospect of a peaceful world is close at hand.
Despite the grim situation, radical individuals must value international solidarity. Regardless of how somber things may appear, every one of us has the potential to bring about positive change, even if it’s just one day at a time. We must remember even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.
Evolving Folks Project 