TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

the words of the Queen of Sheba as recorded in the Quran, The Queen adopted a wise policy that avoided the possibility of destruction and oppression by the army. Global Opportunities Today, the whole world has become a global village. Now the change in the political system has become relative. Our new global conditions have made it possible for anyone living anywhere on the face of the earth to communicate with people across the world without any restrictions. In such a situation, even if people and groups do not form part of the political class or do not have a state of their own, they can still have all the benefits which in earlier times they could have had only if they were part of the ruling class or had their own independent state. Numerous small countries or territories have flourished and emerged as prosperous commercial and financial hubs across the world—Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai, Taiwan, for instance. Man is a psychologically complex creature. If one is driven by negative and destructive emotions and impulses, one’s whole personality turns negative. Conversely, if one is driven by positive thinking, one will have a positive personality. This rule applies as much to individuals as it does to groups, communities and countries. Moving Towards a Solution In the history of a country it sometimes happens that its course of progress comes to a standstill. At such times, it becomes imperative for it to take bold steps if it wants to move ahead. Naturally, this is a sensitive matter and such steps might go wholly against popular sentiment. This is why such courageous decisions are often taken by strong military rulers rather than democratically elected politicians who, being chosen by their people, have to pander to their emotions and prejudices and so are generally unable to take such steps as might hurt their sentiments. Let me cite one instance to make this point. The French President Charles de Gaulle (d. 1970) was a top general in the French Army, but later manipulated his way to the post of President. On the face of it, this was an anti-democratic move, but by doing so, de Gaulle was able to save France in a manner that a democratically elected government A basic principle of success in life is that, in controversial matters, one should willingly accept whatever is available to one at the very outset.