Freedom Limitation History has taught us that from the advent of time, man has proven himself to be his own worst enemy. Throughout history, various controversies and disputes have progressed into major wars with devastating effects. Some people believe that these are the subsequent results of increasing power in man. To many it may seem that the acquisition of varying degrees of power and influence cause marked changes in otherwise placid personalities. The more power one has, the more he wants and, what is worst, is that he is never satisfied.
This mentality, however, is not accelerated by power, but rather by an inner drive which comes as a result of ones limitations. Written in History are famous examples where human limitations have led to major disputes. Such historical events are easily remembered with the mention of names such as Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler. The progression of war was not caused by the direct result of their power, but served only as a channel by which their aspirations were achieved. Therefore, disputes and world conquests are not manifestations of human power, but the inevitable results of human limitations. Along with power comes a keener sense of security and self-confidence which, when threatened by others or discontented factors, becomes the basis for disputes and world conquests.
This takes shape when an individual has reached his limitations as a human being. An individual’s limitations can be regarded as his imperfections, which is the bridge that separates man from the supreme being – God. These limitations encompass the lack of ability to deal with moral, emotional, mental and physical predicaments. These can be further categorized as insecurity, poverty, fear, lust, greed, and lack of knowledge among other things. These are the limitations that are present in a human being, and that actuates him or her to abuse and misuse power.
With the absence of these limitations there would be no compulsive ordinance for any disputes and conquests, because an individuals emotions and confidence would then be directed towards compromise. If an individual is confined to accept reality as it is, then he will be led into having an egocentric mentality, which will be transformed into disputes. There are numerous examples to illustrate this assertion. Napoleon Bonaparte, being the French military commander and emperor, was absorbed by a burning ambition for conquest. This inner drive for conquest and popularity was engulfed in a huddle of pride, greed, lust, and self-gratification, which served as the unstoppable driving force of Napoleons conquest of the British states. This instance clearly depicts that power was simply a succor to Napoleons success and not the foundation of his conquests. Nevertheless, it was his limitations pride and an egocentric outlook of life that were the utmost figure for his achievements.
If it were not for his limitations as a human being, then he would have had no motivation to use his powers in that manner. The unjust operation of communism by Marx and Lenin, caused a major dispute among the people and later led to their conquest. Communism was not achieved by mere power. Its leaders were not simply born into that sophisticated position, but rather reached that point by an egocentric drive to improve their lifestyles. There was then a prerequisite before power was actually put into their hands; this was their limitation as human beings to assent the conditions they were participating in.
These communists considered force, blackmail, murder and deception as valid means to achieve their goal, which was to build a rigid class system of their own. The party members would enjoy a more luxurious standard of living than the people that were suppressed. In this case, human power cannot be accredited for this disaster, but rather the limitations of these leaders to accept the people for who they were and what they were worth. The communists were limited to recognize that every individual was different, and that each individual had the right to voice his or her opinion. These men, manipulated by their human limitations, failed to see the love for others , thus, they directed their selfish decisions into the mirror.
Another example is cited in the attempts of race purification by Germanys Adolf Hitler. Hitler had unquestionable influence and authority over his people, but it was not a manifestation of his power that caused the historical struggle that followed. Hitler was a man who seemed to lack ethics and morality, but who had an overwhelming lust for power and a vicious desire for revenge. He believed he was infallible and always blamed others for his mistakes. After Hitler became chancellor, he quickly banned all political parties except Nazis, and began a violent and brutal crusade against Jews.
Hitler proclaimed the Germans as the master race, and this false doctrine of racial superiority fired intense mass annihilation among the Jewish people. From a very early age, Hitler was suctioned by numerous human limitations such as lust, revenge, frenzy, hatred, pride, lack of ethics, and lack of morality. In return, it was these limitations that spurted Hitler into the crudest mass destruction and slaughter by any one man in history. Analytical observations show that power is not the prominent factor that gives rise to disputes and world conquest, but rather it is ones imperfections or limitations that creates the atmosphere for such catastrophes. This confinement, which is the ability to cope with the given predicaments, is the real substance that stimulates such problems.
Many nations are blessed with increasing power, nevertheless, neither disputes nor world conquests arises because power is an element that can be controlled and is beneficial for self and others, without anyone being mistreated or disregarded. When strong limitations to an individual is present, we then have a formula for abuse of power which gives rise to world conquests and disputes. It would seem then, that mans egocentric ambitions an his inability to completely analyze a situation beyond self, is the major cause for disputes and world conquests. There must be a driving force, which is our human limitations, to act as a catalyst for the use of power in such a manner as to cause disputes and world conquests. Therefore, it is only fair to conclude that all or most of our problems can be dated back to our human limitations.