"I cannot stop you from thinking your thoughts. It is good that a young man has such deep thoughts, but hate no man and desire power over no man." - Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
With the passing of Nelson Mandela on December 5, 2013, there have been many articles in the news about his life and legacy. He is a symbol of social justice and humanitarian activism; the world mourns its loss. The above quote is from an NPR story about the book Cry, The Beloved Country that depicts what it was like living during the apartheid. These articles make me think about the atrocities humans are capable of in their thirst for power. In the case of the apartheid it was the power of white colonialists over the black natives, and, though the reasons for apartheid may have been multifaceted including economic as well as social factors, the bottom line is that it was yet another example of the ageless human need for dominance. I have written about power before (see: The Psychology of Power), and it is my strong belief that indeed "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Perhaps there are biological reasons for our power hungry ways, maybe it is something to do with our hierarchical nature as social animals or maybe it is simply the evolutionary consequence of the survival of the fittest. However, history has evidenced how unbalanced power underlies social unrest, genocide, war, and the general decline of civilization. In fact, I would argue that the degree of social inequality in a society is a good barometer of its health (or lack thereof). Therefore, though the quest for power may be in our nature and may serve some biological purpose to some degree, it is a passion that must be moderated to prevent societal instability. In a way, the social contract dictates we must give up the freedom of unrestrained personal power if we our to be members of a society. The solution proposed by many communities is religion, which exalts absolute power to the realm of the supernatural beyond the reach of mere mortals. I like this concept of religion, and I do believe that when done right religion can be an effective equalizer. Unfortunately and ironically, religion is often accused of doing the exact opposite of promoting equality when people begin to subjugate other people in the name of "God" (i.e. imperialism, colonization, globalization?).
It is difficult to find the right balance in all things; when we succeed it is wisdom, when we fail it is a tragedy.
'Cry, The Beloved Country,' And Nelson Mandela
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My Comfort Food: Peanut Butter Noodles
The world has frozen over in my part of the country from a freak winter storm (freak only b/c of where I live, after all it is winter), and as a result I have been confined to my apartment all weekend long. I believe it is only fair I reward myself with my favorite foods (at least the ones that I can make with the limited stores of my pantry). This dish combines two of my favorite things to eat: peanut butter and pasta. Understandably this may be gross to some people, and I probably wouldn't make it for entertaining. But like I said, this weekend is all about me as I await the end of my imprisonment.
Directions: Combine 1/2 chicken broth, 1 tsp ginger power, 1 1/2 tbsp honey, 3 tbsp soy sauce in a large skillet. Would have added garlic but didn't have any on hand. Stir until sauce thickens, maybe like 10 minutes. Meanwhile make 1 package of pasta in a boiling pot. Usually this dish is made with noodles, but I like these spiral pastas because I think they hold on to sauces better and are infinitely easier to eat - no need to twirl. When pasta is done combine pasta with sauce in skillet. Mix well.
Inspired by Udon Peanut Butter Noodles
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