Nurul Khan: In the age of ignorance, people would gather around to watch as two slaves were forced to fight a deadly battle with shields and swords. Blow after blow would be struck, and the surroundings would become soaked in blood. Eventually, one of them would collapse in defeat and die. Witnessing such a bloody end, the people of that era would erupt in excitement and celebration.
For the entertainment of society, many other shameless practices were also common during that time. Some physically powerful individuals in society would seize beautiful women by force, much like occupying land. Female slaves were often forced into sexual exploitation with multiple men while others watched it as a form of amusement.
At first glance, it may seem that modern people are far more advanced in taste and judgment. But the reality may not be so simple. The slogans of women’s rights, children’s rights, and human rights that we often see
reflected in stories, novels, and films are not matched equally by real-world achievements. The incidents of human rights violations that appear in the media are only a fraction of the true scale. The notorious scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein is just one example of the shameless exploitation of women and children. If investigations were carried out across different countries, many similar cases would likely come to light. Those who attended Epstein’s gatherings were not uneducated or half-educated individuals. This shows that despite constantly speaking
about human rights, a section of educated society still wishes to preserve the condemned indulgences of barbaric societies.
In the barbaric age, tribal societies in Arabia were often engaged in constant violence throughout the year. Even minor disputes could lead to deadly conflicts. One tribe would accumulate horses and weapons to intimidate another. In the modern era, nations similarly stockpile destructive weapons and nuclear arms to intimidate one another.
Today, in the twenty-first century, we no longer witness deadly sword-and-shield duels of the ancient world. Nor do we see slaves openly bought and sold for money. Yet modern society has simply upgraded those ancient weapons into far more destructive forms. The so-called civilized world has also created many appealing slogans about human rights. Songs, poems, and declarations about human rights are widely celebrated. In a world of billions of people, there are millions of human rights organizations. Yet ironically, the so-called civilized people of this era often violate human rights on a scale far greater than those who were once labelled uncivilised. Although modern language has become more refined and polite, and clothing has evolved far beyond the semi-naked attire of primitive societies, modern humanity has simultaneously developed weapons capable of destroying all life on Earth.
There is an old saying: nothing remains the same forever. Many civilizations have vanished from the Earth, while new powers have emerged. Many once-powerful rulers have been humiliated and overthrown by ordinary people. Owners of immense wealth have sometimes ended their lives in poverty, begging for a single meal. These are the inevitable
laws of nature—eternal truths that leave little room for disagreement.
A brief glance at history shows that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States emerged as the world’s dominant superpower. However, the concept of global power has since evolved. With the passage of time, the era of unquestioned American dominance no longer exists in the same way. Accepting this reality should not be controversial. The age of openly conquering other lands through sheer force—at least in theory—has long been declared over.
Yet today, human civilization appears to be standing at the edge of destruction. Many of the world’s most brilliant chemists and physicists are engaged in research whose outcomes could be devastating for humanity. A significant portion of human innovation is now directed toward developing increasingly destructive bombs and weapons. By some
estimates, enough weapons already exist to destroy the Earth many times over. Still, this destructive pursuit of knowledge continues unabated. With state support, such research continues across many countries.
Sadly, those who contribute to such destructive capabilities are often regarded as valuable national assets. It is a matter of deep shame—nothing but shame.
