We are showing deep wrinkles around the mouth and on the forehead, crow’s feet around the eyes which are not to be confused with laugh lines but rather expressions of stress, grief and sadness. No amount of cosmetology can hide these anymore from revelation. The appeasement from time to time known since the Roman poet, Juvenal, as: “Give them bread and circuses” (in our case carnival, seú and what not) shows that amusement can exist in spite of the undoubtedly bleak realities of the country as a whole. 

Unbeknownst to many are the consequences of our dwindling birth rate, climate change and sheer disdain for equal human rights for everyone, also minorities. We seem to be comfortable with our huge democratic deficits, the most obvious being to keep giving incompetent people and sometimes people who have been condemned for corruption and sexual misconduct the license to manage our country. 

The moral compass is totally mislaid. There is no space for compassion in our community. Fed by the bottom-line chasing corporate Christian religions or sects, we rather cling to the perverse belief that it doesn’t matter what we do on earth, as long as we get absolution from a none-existing court. We cannot count on these people either to change us. They cannot even mop up the rampart perversions among their own ranks. 

We can change us. It’s in our hands. 

Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia & Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He’s from Curaçao and has a MBA from the University of Iowa. (USA).