Kublai Khan, the Mongol king, holds the young emperor of China in his hands as a father would a son. He was about to make one of the toughest decision of life. He had worked so hard to unify northern and southern china--a dream the Mongolians have had for many generations but failed to accomplish. It was either his empire or the boy, and like most men he chose power. With the young boy face pressed to his chest, fighting for his last breathe, Kublai has eye widens, glistening with hot tears. He was a monster.
I am most bewildered by the length many are willing to go for power and the costly price of maintaining it. Often this pursuit begins with the pure desire to have a positive impact on the world or the people one loves, then this power becomes more relevant than one's life.
I have always considered politics and power to be the most corruptible thing. Many ventures into this sphere of power and never return the same, even those with the purest of hearts. I assume they never truly understood what they were getting into. Most people get into positions of power hoping to change the world only to realise that the world is broken in more ways then they can ever imagine and the task of fixing it is too big for a single person.
The second thing about people that perplexes me is how people cozy up to it or a semblance of it. Kublai Khan was a warlord. He had pillaged cities in his quest for power. Men, women and children have been casualties of his brute force. However, many revered him. These events happened over a thousand years ago and many might liken Mongolians to savages but I say even in this time and age such attitudes towards power are not farfetched.
What's the most I could do for power? I don't think there are any limits. It is all about incentives and circumstances. I have heard horrid stories of people feeding on their young during times of war. No seemingly sane person would do that, so we think. Our privileges make us immune to the harsh realities that exist. Some people take on the difficult tasks so we can have a conscience. It is a scary thought. I hope circumstances and chance never put me in a position where I have to make tough decisions that would greatly impact the lives of many.