With a more mature person at the helm in Russia, we would not have had a war in Ukraine. But such calamities are never the result of one person. It takes an army of immature enablers. And that does not just include the Russian people.
Europe has made the war in Ukraine possible. For decades we propped up the coffers of Putin and his allies. We have turned so many blind eyes to breaches of human rights in Russia that it is a wonder we can see at all.
Human beings are excellent enablers. We excuse people for their bad behaviour. We let them get away with it.
As a result, the Putins and the Mini-Putins of this world can go on being forces of destruction.
Putin’s cronies could invest, buy and live the high life in their mansions in London or on their yachts in Spain. We let them do that because they were useful to us.
We did business with them. We let them fund political parties. They owned football clubs. Europeans enjoyed affordable gas and oil delivered from the Siberian steps.
Ex-prime ministers and FIFA presidents were friends with Putin.
Back to my question: How many Putins do you know?
Most people don’t know any dictators. But we are surrounded by a number of less extreme people who can cause much harm.
It could be a co-worker, a family member or somebody part of your social circle. They do not have Putin’s power, but they share some of his haughtiness and his ruthlessness. Such people’s needs are more important than anyone else’s. They are oblivious to how their behaviour hurts other people.
Most importantly – There are adroit manipulators. These are the Mini-Putins of the world.
And too often we fall for their dirty tricks. We want to be part of their gang. We want what they can give us. We want to be popular. We, too, want shiny toys to impress people.
We contribute to the bad in the world, in an atomic way, every time we do that. And all those atoms become molecules that grow into big organisms.
If we want to have a world free of Putins, dictators and bad bosses we need to start with the people around us.
The easiest is to stop giving them the attention they think they deserve. Don’t make them believe they are popular or powerful. Neither online nor offline. Don’t accept their gifts or invitations. They always want something bigger in return.
“No Putin. You started it. I didn’t.”
“No. Putin. I don’t want to play with you.”
“No, Putin. I don’t want your candy. Not anymore.”
Photo by Didssph
