Destruction is of course necessary very often as a preliminary to subsequent construction; in that case it is part of a whole which is constructive. But not infrequently a man will engage in activities of which the purpose is destructive without regard to any construction that may come after. Frequently he will conceal this from himself by the belief that he is only sweeping away in order to build afresh, but it is generally possible to unmask this pretence, ...
Source: The Conquest of Happiness, 1930, by Bertrand Russell
More info.: https://russell-j.com/beginner/HA25-040.HTM
* a brief comment:
A young child who has just started playing with building blocks, and is still unable to stack them on their own, often finds pleasure in knocking down the towers built by their parents. However, as soon as they acquire the ability to build for themselves, they begin to find more joy in stacking the blocks than in destroying them. They proudly display their creations, and their parents, watching this, feel a quiet happiness in witnessing their child's growth.
In the world of politics, however, things seem to work quite differently. To build something new requires thorough preparation, as well as knowledge, technical skill, and discernment. Yet such constructive effort is modest in appearance and rarely excites the electorate. A politician who fails to get elected is reduced to being just another private citizen. Some might find such a description disrespectful to the public, but...
Politicians understand this reality all too well.
They gain popularity -- and get elected -- by loudly proclaiming that they will "smash" the systems and institutions that many people are dissatisfied with. In Japan, Takashi Tachibana is one such example; in the United States, President Donald Trump is another. The "Russell quote of the day" was, in fact, a satirical jab at precisely this type of political figure. Yet the reality is that many citizens enthusiastically support such individuals.
Whether or not Americans choose to elect Trump -- often mocked as a "King of Destruction" -- as their president again and again, it is, fundamentally, their own choice. Other countries have no right to interfere. That said, Japan (both politically and economically) has become so dependent on the U.S. that when America sneezes, Japan catches a cold.
To be fair, even Trump is not merely destructive. He does engage in construction as well -- so perhaps calling him the "King of Destruction" is a bit much. After all, he is building a "high wall" to stop illegal immigrants from entering the U.S. from countries like Mexico. Not only that, but he has also constructed a psychological fortress around himself, deflecting all criticism with ease -- acting, it would seem, as if he were the strongest "macho man" in history. (Just kidding.)
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