IN THE RISING SUN

I often think about the events that preceded what happened to try to find the clues that could have warned me of the danger that lay ahead. Like many people of my social status at the time, I lived commodiously despite the downfall of the economy of rich countries. I had easy access to plenty of food, my family was fine, and I held a significant position in society. Most importantly, I could hide behind my professional activities to forget the emptiness of my life as a coward. The hubbub of the outside world seemed to play in the background of the film of my life without really disturbing it more than that. I remained cosy and invisible, and this was all I ever wanted. The discomfort, the misfortune, the suffering or the modern-day hassle of each and everyone always ended up under my big pile of things to do. The very busy and responsible man that I was kept walking carefree towards the fate he dreaded the most. Like too many in the western world, I felt over confident.

Indeed, the warning signs of our tragic destiny had presented themselves to me and others on several occasions like big red flags. I had simply chosen to ignore them. The world drama staged by the leaders of the rich countries to distract their populations from what those same leaders were up to had managed to deceive everyone, myself included. We sat there watching with beating hearts as our rulers fought over territories, and resources which didn't belong to them like they once did in the days of kingdoms, great empires, and colonisation. 

As if they had ever intended to share their spoils with their populations who financed their ego. If only I could go back, I would dare to take a curious look wherever these leaders dissuaded us from looking, I would ask all the questions they deemed unnecessary, I would pay a particularly attentive ear to all those they condemned and above all, I would act despite my fears. What a coward I was! I was afraid of everything, even of succumbing to the invincible force that made me a part of Life. I feared death, failure, judgment, isolation, and the death of all those who were dear to me...

While Europe had long been quarrelling with Russia, and America had been supervising the domestic violence drama from a safe distance, China, curious and seemingly worried, had patiently been taking note. Discreetly and silently, the nation had been planning its own invasion strategy for Taiwan. The west didn't even see the blow coming and remained confused as to what excuse they could come up with this time to intervene promptly in the Pacific while having let the Russo-Ukrainian conflict go on for so long. 

The whole world was watching in awe and heart pounding, already criticising one side or the other on social media. Russia was ready to fight at the side of its powerful companion, China. Japan and India shook in fear at the thought of having to get involved in one way or another. Above all, neither country wanted to have to take sides. After all, they had both successfully managed to very quietly distance themselves from the Westerners' conflict with Russia. They didn't want to risk losing the advantages brought to them by the monetary alliance which they had signed the previous year with Asian countries, including China.

On the other hand, Australia found itself dumb in the middle of a conflict to which it had contributed greatly without preparing itself for it. The American nuclear-powered submarines were still not ready yet. The US and Europe stared at each other for a while to assess which of the two should engage first, and most importantly how. The countries of the European Union hid behind France and Germany which were eager to escalate the war in Ukraine a few years prior. One boasted about their military resources and overseas territories in the region while the other doubled their funds for a war over there in the Pacific. 

The reality was France and Germany had no money. Besides, their populations were either sick, or fearful, or too old or a combination of all three. None of them saw fit to go and fight for a small island whose nation and theirs looked nothing alike. Yet, they needed their microchips to catch up with the technology and A.I. race. Lagging behind China consisted of a greater threat than falling ill, growing anxious, unhealthy and old. Science superpower coupled with the super intelligence of A.I. would eventually fix their flesh, their bones, as well as their broken soul. How could they save more than three quarters of the world's production of microchips that they so badly needed for their research?

Remember, the quick and effective solution to their existential problems.