The Dangers of Virtue

When used as an unassailable argument to immediately discredit any opposing view, virtue becomes extremely dangerous. Labeling dissent as "Terrorism", "Repression" or "Axis of Evil" is a magnificent way to pay a deaf ear to inconvenient issues.

In 1980, the unassailable notion of self-determination brought hope of a brighter future for Rhodesia, then one of the most prosperous nations in Africa.

The great Bob Marley joined the celebrations as the world rejoiced to see the short-lived renegade state officially becoming an independent republic.

30 years later though, the smiles of joy you just saw in this video, and the hope behind them have all but vanished.

Crushed by a dangerous mix of incompetence, corruption and the Rhethoric of Virtue, Zimbabwe is today a failed state where the bank notes have become cheaper than wallpaper.

Although one of the saddest, this is not an isolated example: in the name of unassailable principles like Democracy, Human Rights, Self Rule and Freedom from Imperialism, millions around the world are being denied of their opportunities.

Democracies, dictatorships and pre-emptive strikes, from Argentina to Venezuela, North Korea to Iraq have advanced the personal ambitions of astute leaders, manipulating public opinion under the banner of Virtue.

But how is it that well intentioned candidates become so manipulative? According to a recent study at Tilburg University, old Lord Acton was right: Power does tend to corrupt, but only those who think they deserve it.

Thankfully there are encouraging signs: lawyers, professors and certain news organizations like Reuters have been fighting terms like "terrorism" precisely because of the bias they subconsciously create: in 1963 Nelson Mandela was convicted of "terrorism" and paid for it with 27 years in prison.

For an insight into the less publicized aspects of the Zimbabwean situation, check this documentary.