Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it" William Pitt

Power corrupts. I have no doubt about it. Absolute power is so corrupting that it can result in the deaths of numerous, often nameless, faceless individuals. History tells us this. Millions of people have lost their lives under totalitarian regimes: France’s reign of terror; Hitler’s Germany; Stalin’s purges.

None of us are perfect; we all make mistakes. By extension no country or political regime is perfect. The political regime, which we in the west unanimously refer to as freedom, democracy, is after all far from being a perfect construct.

As we jumble through life making mistake after mistake, we are often reminded of the wisdom that states: don’t worry you will learn from this. Yet we don’t. As the old saying goes ‘history repeats itself’. And it repeats itself over and over again.

There is no doubt in my mind that this very minute, somewhere in the world, a baby has been born who is destined to loose their life under a totalitarian regime.

And next week another baby will be born who is destined for the same path; and next month, and next year. If we as humans understand ourselves, in any way, we know this to be true.

During each time in history, there are regimes that represent to us everything that is repressing, domineering, inhuman and violating. Everything utterly repulsive, to the five senses, of those who wish to promote everything Amnesty International’s candle stands for: hope, love, tolerance, kindness.

Since the Islamic revolution of the late seventies, Iran has been a theocracy. A theocracy intolerant of, any and all, criticism; one that restricts the freedom of thought, action, religion, and life style of its citizens.

When it comes to the death penalty Iran leads the violators.

Iran executed the most juvenile defenders of any country in the world last year.

When Amnesty launched its annual report on the death penalty a few months ago, it revealed that Iran executed the second highest number of people, in total.

On the 9th of May 2010 they added five more people to their death toll. And I for one do not want them to be the nameless, faceless victims, of intolerance.

Those executed are:

1. Farzad Kamangar
2. Ali Heydariyan
3. Farhad Vakili
4. Ms. Shirin Alam-Hooli
5. Mehdi Eslamiyan

It is shocking to be aware of the fact that Ms. Shirin Alam Hooli’s case was still in the process of appeal and no judgement had been given.

Each one had a voice worth hearing, each one loved and was loved, and today those they held nearest and dearest are mourning. However the even more shocking truth is that their families were not even made aware that they were going to be executed.

Power corrupts. Power also fears. If you were all powerful, and ruled over perhaps millions of people what do you fear most?

That is will be taken from you!

And in this fear and in this uncertainly we aim to instil likewise emotions into those that we perceive as a threat: into those who wish for, and fight for, freedom and democracy.

Democracy is far from perfect, but there is a reason that it is: the worst form of government except all the others. Power, in the hands of any unquestioned person, or any unquestioned regime, ends in bloodshed.