Homo sapiens, neurotic ape at large

[sup](sorry, no rhyming, but, hey, I tried, at first :wink: whatever links are embedded)[/sup]

End of August, 2023.

Former Russian general calls for nuclear strike in southern Ukraine saying Kyiv's forces 'have gathered there in one place - it's just perfect' (— Jon Brady · Daily Mail · Aug 30, 2023)
North Korea says it simulated nuclear attacks on South Korea and rehearsed occupation of its rival (— Hyung-Jin Kim · AP · Aug 31, 2023)
Russia says it will deepen ties with North Korea, doesn't confirm Putin-Kim letter exchange (— Mark Trevelyan, Alex Richardson · Reuters · Aug 31, 2023)

They're just in the kind of peace-business that follows destruction. Imposition. Like the few (or one) telling the many how they must live their lives.

Observing the sanctioned treatment of people in their society, most others would likely not want such treatment extended to themselves, and so most others opt-out or try to stop them from doing that, the latter coinciding with how civilized societies handle criminals.

[sup]"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." (— paraphrasing Plato (-429 — -347))
"A peace may be so wretched as not to be ill exchanged for war." (— Tacitus (56 — 120))
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (— paraphrasing Edmund Burke (1729 — 1797))
"Liberty consists of doing anything which does not harm others: thus, the exercise of the natural rights of each man has only those borders which assure other members of the society the fruition of these same rights." (— Article IV · Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen · 1789)
"Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing." (— John Stuart Mill (1806 — 1873))
"First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me." (— Martin Niemöller (1892 — 1984), 1946)
"People cannot be free unless they are willing to sacrifice some of their interests to guarantee the freedom of others." (— Saul Alinsky (1909 — 1972), 1971 via archive, openculture, influencewatch)
"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." (— Elie Wiesel (1928 — 2016))[/sup]

There's an absurdity in their efforts, efforts of mortal men soon retired to history, meanwhile ready for the first blow, bullshitting and lying to get there. Their statements become like threatening noise, telling us they've learned to use words, inciting a non-balanced slippery slope.

Some sort of containment/constraint, or taking down one badness at a time, seems the best options, along with diplomats doing what they can. Nay, homo sapiens ain't so fck'n enlightened: history teaches the attentive. Gangsterdom writ large, and small.

"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night when others stand ready to do violence on their behalf." (— or however it went · quoteinvestigator · professorbuzzkill)

But despite this, we have seen improvements over time. Maybe with the right incentives — non-violence, prosperity — we can do better, one small step at a time?