Does evil reign over the world?

Perplexity? No, the word is stupor, perhaps with a bitter hint of disgust. These were the feelings that surfaced when, last Tuesday, I heard – and above all saw – the President of the United States, Donald Trump, alongside his Israeli friend Benjamin Netanyahu, propose, smiling like a church-goer, that the US take control of the Gaza Strip. To that end, he wants to remove the local Palestinian population and transform the area into a “Middle Eastern Riviera,” a new Côte d'Azur at the easternmost tip of the Mediterranean. Although I doubt that the billionaires of the French Riviera and the rest of the world would be willing to build their mansions and luxurious villas in that region. There, periodically, rains of highly destructive bombs fall. 

As the newly self-proclaimed Imperator Mundi, Trump suggested relocating the Palestinians from Gaza (approximately 2 million) to neighboring countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, "at least during the reconstruction process." In other words, for a likely permanent period. We know that these large exoduses, whether forced or voluntary, usually have no return. They end up becoming genocide of entire ethnic groups.

Debate underway.

The proposal, described worldwide as delusional, was immediately and widely condemned by the international community, including Arab nations, European countries, the UN, and members of the Republican Party itself. Critics argue that the idea violates international law and could further aggravate the situation in the region. In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized Trump's expansionist policies, stating that he "was not elected to rule the world" and disagreeing with the proposal regarding the Gaza Strip. Trump's proposal also generated debates about the resurgence of imperialist tendencies in US foreign policy, with many observers comparing his actions to the colonial ambitions of past American presidents.  

Also in the United States – where the memory of the thousands of young Americans killed in Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, etc., remains very much alive – there was an immediate debate about whether Americans should take Trump seriously, and as early as Wednesday, many in his circle tried to downplay his statement. However, the fact remains: Trump suggested – again – that the US unilaterally seize foreign territory without any consideration for what the people living there think.

First, it was Greenland that Trump said the US should take. Then, the Panama Canal, Canada, and now Gaza — Trump's list of territorial desires seems to grow every day, and this is only in the first few weeks of his administration. Many observers interpret this as an explicit return to American imperialism.

Incarnation of evil

Without a doubt, having a reckless and, by many, insane individual in charge of the world's greatest economic and military power should be a cause for great concern. From leaders like him, capable of appearing in press conferences before dozens of international media representatives to repeatedly state that they will invade and seize an entire territory and expel its inhabitants and rightful owners, one can expect anything and much more. Trump seems to be, at the moment, the very incarnation of evil.

It must be because of that, because he remembers the bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and also the bodies of Vietnamese civilians, women, old people and children, burning in flames caused by napalm, and so many other atrocities committed around the world, that, the day after the announcement of the intention to seize Gaza, an old journalist friend called to comment and asked: "Luis, does evil reign over the world?" He could have asked about the sex of angels, it would have been easier to answer...

But a question like that is a challenge; one must try to answer it. And the answer is no. Evil does not reign over the world. Nor does good. What has always existed, if we examine the history of humanity, is an eternal struggle between good and evil. This Great War, where sometimes one side wins, sometimes the other, is one of humanity's oldest themes, appearing in myths, religions, philosophy, and real history. Over time, this struggle has manifested itself in various forms, from epic conflicts to small daily battles for justice.

Mythologies and religions are particularly rich in accounts and discussions about this war, which is perhaps the most important of all wars. Zoroastrianism, for example, was one of the first religions to divide the universe between a god of good (Ahura Mazda) and an evil spirit (Angra Mainyu). In Christianity and Islam, the struggle between God and Satan represents the moral clash between good and evil. In Norse mythology, Ragnarok symbolizes the final battle between the forces of order and chaos.

Philosophy and literature are also ongoing areas of investigation into this great debate. Plato saw good as truth and knowledge, while evil stemmed from ignorance. In Dante's "The Divine Comedy," hell is reserved for those who chose evil. Works such as "The Lord of the Rings" and "1984" (the latter by the brilliant George Orwell) explore good against tyrannies and oppressive forces.

Real Story

As is the case now, with some defending Trump and other leaders with autocratic leanings, the struggle between good and evil may not be so clear to some. Especially for those who are not yet immune to authoritarianism, messianism, mythomania, and other plagues that have always afflicted our species and threaten the predominance of good. Therefore, it is always good to remember that there have been times when oppressive forces of evil were fought and defeated. For example, the abolition of slavery, a victory against an inhumane system of exploitation of man by man. In World War II, the defeat of Nazism, a landmark in the fight against tyranny. The various Civil Rights movements: People like Gandhi and Martin Luther King who challenged injustices and changed the world.

Let's not forget that the struggle between good and evil persists in the world today, in various forms: Corruption versus transparency; oppression versus freedom; environmental destruction versus sustainability, to name just a few.

What history clearly teaches us is that good can prevail, but not without effort, courage, and persistence. Evil thrives on indifference, and it is up to each generation to decide which side it wants to be on. For example, in the here and now: supporting Donald Trump in his delusional desire to annex the Gaza Strip and expel its inhabitants; or supporting the Palestinians, the rightful owners of that territory, in their right to freedom and self-determination.