Don't Let Them Deceive You

There are many issues that have weighed heavily on my mind over the last several years. I had hoped that with time things would improve, but as we all know that is not the case. If anything, there has been more of a downhill slide which has left me deeply concerned for the future; especially what will be left for our children and grandchildren.

Over the next several weeks I will be sharing a few blogs that I previously wrote hoping they would make people think about where things were headed. Here is the first one; perhaps it will hit home as we face even more volatile times. 

 I try to stay away from certain subjects, but as I watch things transpiring in the world it tends to stir up many emotions. With these emotions come observations and opinions that I find hard to keep to myself. So....forgive me while I share what has been on my mind.

Megalomaniac: A person who is obsessed with their own power. A person who suffers delusions of their own power or importance (grandiose delusions).

Grandiose Delusions: A Greek word "megalo" meaning very large, great or exaggerated, and "mania" meaning obsession; combining to convey an obsession or preoccupation with one's own need for grandiosity (fame, popularity, wealth, political power, social influence or all of these).

A megalomaniac is a dictatorial person who is a control freak. They crave power, wealth, status or genius and believe they are extremely powerful. Some of the well-known megalomaniacs from history are Caligula, Adolph Hitler, Napoleon, Benito Mussolini, Alexander the Great, Josef Stalin, Mao Ze Dong, Idi Amin, Fidel Castro, Pablo Escobar and Juan Peron.

Their rise to power is achieved by being devious, underhanded and unscrupulous, and on occasion with a bit of perceived genius. They use propaganda and repeated lies to get people to follow them; to the point where they have convinced themselves, and many others, that the propaganda and lies are the "truth".

It's a very dangerous situation when people are told over and over that the truth are lies, and the lies are the "truth". Some can see through this misleading tactic, but many can't. Perhaps if they feel that their lives are deteriorating due to a particular group of people it's not difficult to turn them with lies and propaganda. Easier to blame someone else, especially if a megalomaniacal leader keeps telling them it's true.

Regardless of how many times we have seen this disastrous drama repeated in history, we humans never seem to learn the lesson. As those in power take more and more from those with less, discontented people get pulled into their deceitful scheme.

However, in their quest to become the one and only powerful leader, they will tear down the people and country they profess to love; leaving things in a proverbial rubble for others to repair. If people are strong and resist, they can rise above it all. They, and their country, will survive it and become stronger in spite of the megalomaniac.

Perhaps eventually we will learn from history and will not be destined to repeat it over and over again.