By XHABIR DERALLA
The New Year’s holidays are always a sign of hope for new, better beginnings. But these years are different. People are poisoned with appalling predictions, with propaganda and disinformation. They are also exhausted from previous years of crises and the war that Putin waged against Ukraine more than 300 difficult and bloody days ago. For years, the world has been living with the consequences of the hybrid war that Putin has waged against democracy in the world.
The crises are deep, global and difficult. Economic, energy, health, security and military, migrant, climate and political – all these crises together and at the same time have affected the world. One feeds and deepens the other, and so on in a circle. We haven’t even started talking about China, North Korea, India, Pakistan, the Middle East, Africa, neo-fascism and some others. And we should.
In all these years, a good number of people have decided to close their eyes to the facts, to surrender to the big lies of the criminal centers of power. Many have decided to be “neutral”, probably unaware that precisely this suits the anti-democratic echelons. Since they haven’t won them over on their side, the criminals are trying to “neutralize” people. It’s always easier to control the thoughts of the “neutrals” than of those with a formed position.
The response to the crises is strong and decisive. And late, of course. And not enough consistent. It can always be better. There is always room for criticism, because there is no perfect and timely response to a crisis. But it’s interesting that fiercest criticism comes from either those who are part of the problem, or from those who have never lifted a finger to help prevent or resolve a crisis or crisis situation.
In the New Year 2023, the world enters convulsions before the uncertainty of all the crises that shake it. At the same time, many leaders in the world also enter with good plans and strong determination to put an end to at least some of the crises.
Regardless of the outcome of the battles with the crisis and crisis hotspots, the world in 2022 marked the beginning of a new era in the political and security relations between countries and different alliances. In 2023, the world will witness a humiliating end to a military aggression (the Russian one), but also the beginning of many other military conflicts.
It is very possible that 2023 will also be a year of awakening. Many people will face the light of day. If nothing else, at least they will be faced with the choice to open their eyes to the truth and facts or forever sink into the thick mixture from which the anti-democratic centers of power make gunpowder for their criminal campaigns.
After a long time of tightly closed eyes, when they open – they hurt. When looking at the light, all that can be seen are black spots. But that too passes. No matter how horrifying it may be, it’s best to cross a rising river with open, instead of closed eyes. We will see very soon how much 2023 will be a year of eyes wide open or not.
If someone thinks that none of this or even just a part of this doesn’t refer to North Macedonia, they are mistaken. Those who think that this piece of land can live in the dream (nightmare) of illiteracy and backwardness for much longer is deeply mistaken. If someone tells you that North Macedonia (be it whole, pure, never north) is on another planet or that it’s alone, on the lower half of the Flat Plate, call emergency.
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
