Strongman You Want? Strongman You’ll Have! (Poem)

There is an old adage that says, ‘For what you wish, be careful’.¹

Here’s a wish in our world that some day we may want to cancel.

It’s the increasing wish for right leaning, ‘strongman’ governments,

To add to the heap of others that we, for years, still lament! ²

This wish is fed by ill-perceived costs of globalization.

It is fanning the well-known flames of nationalization.

But to look only at the costs of global integration,

But no benefits, yields a one-sided examination.

Increasing national conflicts and regional migration,

Add more fuel to this growing, incredible situation.

But who’d argue that ‘right-leaning’ is both ‘strong’, and also ‘right’?

Between nationalistic and integral, which takes more might??

In sports competition, every player looks for his ‘edge’,

Even if it means reneging on whatever he pledged.

In economic competition, nations do the same,

‘Till nationalism rears its head, and changes the game.

Tariff walls, subsidies, and tricks to manipulate the field,

Designed to bring ‘economic competition dogs’ to heel.

‘Beggar thy neighbor’ economic and trading policies,

Project strongman egos...but ensure mutual paucity!

As the pendulum of global unity swings cyclically,

Here is a predicted outcome worth pondering carefully.

In the past, the dark clouds of myopic nationalism,

Have unleashed across the earth much hellish opportunism.

You see, strongman economic and trading policies,

Have clear side effects, and what I call ‘bleeding properties’.

Take a quick tour around the world, and you’ll see what this has bred.

Such strongman policies into most other sectors have bled!

Strongman tactics only work when preceded by strong delusion

That makes of sound governance a derision, and brings destruction.

Consider this: Strongman governance is rooted deeply in pride.

This spirit defiles one man, and then quickly infects nationwide.

If you’re spiritually alive, you’ll know this is not odd.

Where did I get it? It’s inferred in The Book written by God!

‘To those who have pleasure in unrighteousness, He’ll send to them,

Strong delusion to believe lies, and thereby they’ll be condemned.’ ³

Pride is the root of all evil, and goes before destruction.

It can ensure both personal and national corruption.

One day, a prideful strongman will arise to rule the whole world,

And over all nations, his deceptive flag he will unfurl.⁴

His lies will be believed then, as strongman lies are believed today.

His global government will come, but it will not be here to stay!

He’ll be annihilated by the brightness of Christ’s return! ⁵

Now my Friend, from this Truth, for our world today, what can we learn?

From this rhyme, here is a warning I hope we all will heed:

Don’t ever look to a professed strongman to meet your need.

Live by your faith! ⁶ Don’t smear fear as a salve.

If strongman you want, then strongman you’ll have!

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¹ Poetically paraphrased

² Can you name the countries where ‘strongman’ governments rule?
³ 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (paraphrased)
⁴ Daniel 7:23-27, 11:21-45; Revelation 13:8

⁵ Genesis 3:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Zechariah 14:12; Revelation 19:11-21

⁶ Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38