It so happens that when a person is deeply troubled, when they are carrying pain, its' result is anger. Rather than stew in that discomfort for long, they will turn it on the world. They will externalize what they themselves suffered such as rejection, humiliation, name-calling, and the like. Keep this in mind when you see this behavior in strongmen, though their actions are not the result of strength, but of an injured animal. Injured animals lash out when you attempt to help them, isn't this so? They know no better. But adults know right from wrong, their conscience tells them so. You may surmise, "Maybe they haven't got a conscience." Everyone has the ability to know right from wrong but not everyone listens to it. Criminals have gotten good at turning away from their inner voice, they override its warnings. They can see the red light flashing but look away from it.
What then is this most powerful force named the Ego? It is not all bad, but it can be used for bad. It is like a knife--it can be used to help, or to harm. The Ego gives you an idea of who you are, and defends you when you are attacked. In this way it is helpful in defense, so you are not overwhelmed by others. However, it will boast about who you are and be judgmental. It can be haughty, and demand attention and recognition. The Ego is your sense of "me." When the ego has puffed itself up like a balloon, others see this and are repelled by it. Or, curiously, they admire the pretty balloon. Why would they admire a self-inflated person? Because people who struggle with a sense of self, or of feeling good about themselves, admire false bravado. They wish they could believe in themselves and have the confidence of a balloon. Opposites attract, don't they? They admire the balloon's confidence, but confuse Ego for strength. Thus, the name, "strongman" for dictators.
How do you tell a genuinely strong person from a dictator? The litmus test is very simple. Dictators inflict pain; they enjoy sadistic pleasures. Conversely, a strong leader tries to relieve pain by taking pleasure in helping others. Dictators refuse to care about other people's pain, while strong leaders take time to listen and consider the least-painful solution. Dictators are not empathetic and warm, while strong leaders are caring and compassionate. But you may argue, a strong leader must do whatever is best for the whole, they cannot be swayed by individual sentiment. It is true, they must decide what is best based on all of the people they serve. At times they will need to make decisions that inconvenience a portion of society. But overall, a good leader will avoid injuring others, just as a good teacher will be fair and impartial when giving grades. Impartiality is an important quality in a leader, for, if they do not treat all people the same, they show favoritism, and beyond that, they will persecute a group of people based on characteristics unlike their own.
Persecution is the Ego's specialty. A person's Ego will lead them to lie and deceive, to slander and to enforce generalities or stereotypes upon people they dislike. The Ego will go so far as to elevate itself as superior. Yet, when you look at ways they appear superior, you may not be able to detect any. This is because they have ignored their conscience and are listening to their needy Egos. What are they needy for? Such people are desperate for affirmation, for admiration, and power over others gives them a sense of superiority whether it is justified or not. If their group reinforces their commonly held belief in racial superiority, being part of that group confirms what their Ego has been telling them all along, that they are a superior specimen. It is a demented mirror that shows them what they are so desperate to see. Groups like this gain momentum because these people are craving importance, craving belonging, and craving reassurance that they will be part of something that makes them feel great again. History is a list of such desperate groups of people.
If you point out that their leader lacks the hallmarks of a good leader, they will make excuses for him: "He's only trying to..." because they see him through the lens of their own hopes and dreams. They will continue to make excuses for him in the face of facts, even scientific studies so their dream of belonging to the ruling class is not smashed. They will hold their delusional beliefs tightly until the leader has utterly betrayed them, and even then, it will be difficult for them to believe that the man they put their faith in only thought of himself. Societies the world over will continue to repeat such dysfunctional patterns until such as a time as they tire of it, until they can see that empathy is strength and cruelty is actually weakness.
If you find yourself in the midst of such a struggle, if you are caught in a nation that is fighting a misguided "strongman," do not be surprised when his followers cannot hear your warnings. Remember, they are deluded into believing that he is the answer to the nation's problems. Arguing will be a waste of time, for to them it will seem it is you who are not seeing correctly. The dividing line is: a good leader is fair while a bad leader is cruel, and it is as simple as that. That is all you need to remind them of and the less said, the better.
I advise you to try and look down the road to what seems to be the logical next step. Prepare for the future. If it looks bleak for you, prepare now to meet the challenges. Do not wait for others to tell you what to do. Think ahead. Think for yourself. Get out, if possible. If it is not, prepare now for the worst of what could possibly befall you. A smart person looks and sees what is coming rather than depends upon the undependable media. Use your common sense, use your head and not your emotions. If you see a storm coming, prepare your home. If a hurricane is building, do not wait until it is upon you. Prepare ahead of time. You will be glad that you took my advice.
With Love,
Frida
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