Russian complaints about US handling of the war in Afghanistan are not well publicized. Evidently the US has avoided dealing with Afghanistan’s poppy farmers who happen to produce almost 90% of the world’s opium poppies, and therefore almost 90% of the world’s heroin supply. Because of the war unusually heavy drug traffic is making its way through Russia who claims to have experienced a tremendous upsurge in drug smuggling, drug related crimes and addicts. The US contends that wiping out the poppy business will turn the farmers into insurgents who will financially support the Taliban, or anyone else who allows them to peacefully ply their trade. So, for the sake of neutralizing the Taliban the US is turning a blind eye to the drug trade and Russia doesn’t like it. The result is a complicated moral and ethical dilemma: end the drug trade and possibly strengthen the Taliban, or win the war and deal with the drug trade later. Either alternative is costly in terms of lives and resources, and our former arch-enemy appears to me teaching us something about moral high-ground. How would you resolve the problem?
Support systems that used to provide the moral compass to decide such issues have lost relevance in a world where there are few absolutes. Churches who for centuries have been the keepers of Western society’s moral and ethical conscience have too often been silenced by scandals of their own or find themselves preaching to declining numbers in societies who have become comfortable with moral relativism. Universities that once required philosophy courses in ethics and metaphysics of every graduate are now the exception. The rule of law, underpinned by secular humanism as a philosophical basis for decisions affecting every aspect of life, has replaced any higher accountability. In short, the “straight and narrow” path of life with deeply rooted guideposts that pointed our way has become a freeway where the drive to get ahead has weakened value systems and lane-changing to suit personal ends is permitted, if not encouraged. But at this higher speed life’s decisions have become even more complex challenging our values at every turn and testing our moral and ethical reflexes.
As science and technology have gradually unraveled many, but not all of life’s mysteries, polarization on life and death issues has increased. Research manipulating the very essence of life continues to redefine the boundaries of human existence and dignity. Business ethics are challenged by unbridled greed that condones the enrichment of the few at the expense of the many, affecting lives in every corner of our planet. In an age where mind-boggling quantities of information is at our finger tips how do we develop the personal “conscience” that separates good from bad for us, our family, our community or our world? To whom or what are we ultimataely accountable? How do we distill the immutable principles that define our character and form our integrity, and what dependable mechanisms teach these values to our children?
We must make certain the image facing us in the mirror each morning has 20/20 vision. If not, turning a blind eye to the challenges facing our world and shaping its future becomes our only recourse.
