SHOUT THIS:

“You, what do you own the world?
How do you own disorder, disorder…”

These are lyrics from the song “Toxicity” from the album Toxicity by System of a Down, released in 2001. I will leave the link to the video clip of the song. It was written by Serj Tankian, (lyrics), and the music by Daron Malakian and Shavo Odadjian. The song reached number 14 in VH1’s top 40.

Malakian said the song dealt with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), however…

I think, after hearing it again after all these years…and believe me, I always loved this song and had the CD Toxicity when in came out…that the song deals with much more than that.

“You, what do you own the world?”

Can that line be a question? I hear it as an affirmation, an accusation perhaps, filled with anger, ire, desperation. Isn’t it fitting that we ask that to some of our present world leaders?

Some of these leaders really are fascinated by their own personalities, or by their own perceived wisdom…

Some really think they can change the course of history…

One thinks he owns the world…

“How do you own disorder, disorder…”

But the world is not the property of a politician, of a dictator or of a supposed elected president. The country he or she represents is unimportant because in the great scheme of things countries are not important. The world does not belong to the leader of a nation no matter how strong (militarily) or powerful (economically) or ancient (cultured and wise) that nation or group of nations or states may be.

But the world is in a state of disorder…

No! They’ve created disorder! Order from chaos…but first create chaos…and we shall rule! This is the theology of those who think they are above all else and want to own the world, rule the world, and they’re only creating disorder!

Here is what the world looks like in the dawn of 2020:

Refugees are walking thousands of kilometres to get to safety and peace…fanatics are killing people that disagree with their strange ideologies or contrived religions…other refugees…they’re just people…are risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean looking for a better life in Europe, and Europe’s “leaders” don’t want them. What! They own the world?

In the industrialised countries of the West, there is a growing number of people without homes, without means, without food…In countries in America there are people suffering insurgencies and guerrilla wars because their governments are corrupt and have not the moral high ground to stand firm against the armies of liberation fighting in their hills, mountains and jungles. Violence rules, from drug cartels, from gangs, from dissatisfied lunatics running rampant in the streets.

There is unchecked political persecution, dictatorships stealing the life blood of the people, depriving entire nations the items they need for daily life, mainly their daily bread.

Throughout the world, industrilised, Third World, whatever, children are being exploited, stolen, sold, prostituted. Young women are kidnapped and trafficked and turned into addicts and used as sex slaves. Everywhere people are getting poorer, the middle class is quickly vanishing…

There is a growing gap, a chasm, between the rich, the very very rich, and the poor who are now the ultra poor…the unequal and unfair distribution of richness is destroying the fabrics of Western society and changing the values of the people…and the Western World continues to rape the so-called Third World, while those poorer nations, in their lack of abilities, are polluting the oceans, the air and the green lands…

People are struggling to be heard, to be recognised and respected, yet there is much anger and hatred towards those who are perceived as being different from the norm. What is the norm?

Women are still being abused, harassed and treated as inferior…hatred and violence against the female gender is at an all time high and yet there are those from some political parties that do not want children to be sensitised to gender violence and be taught about diversity, and be taught that we are all equal and that women are to be respected and not used…

There is a growing right wing, ultra-right wing, whose sentiment is being fueled by those who hate and destroy and who want to rule the world, rule disorder…

And even if those who insist on continuing to use fossil fuels, who resist the proliferation of electric cars, reusable energy and a simpler life that leaves behind a much smaller carbon footprint, do not want to acknowledge it, the Earth is a living organism and it is rebelling against their atrocities.

This last decade has been the hottest on record and every decade since the beginning of record keeping has been hotter than the one before. There are enormous hurricanes, record breaking tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic explosions, enormous, almost unstoppable forest fires. What more proof do we need that those that are in positions of authority are destroying the world?

I know the song “Toxicity” does not talk about most of the things I’ve ranted and raved about but I hope you find something relevant or akin to today’s reality, either here in Europe or in America or in the East, or in Africa or Australia.

One thing that is true is that the name “Toxicity” does describe the world today…

If you liked what you read, please hit that like button, share and comment. I would really like to know what you think, especially if you have more examples or if you disagree, as long as we all remain civilised…

I am a poet of the brushes, canvas and paints and you can see my artwork on INSTAGRAM @Francisco_Bravo_Cabrera

You can also see my “JaZzArt en Valencia” collection (2019, 2020 coming soon): http://www.ArtPal.com/rfbravo1155

and…as I am a musician and with my group AJA (Abstract Jazz Arrangement) made some pretty good music, you can listen to my piano jazz at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/aja

THANKS!