Authority is supposedly grounded in wisdom, but I could see from

Ah, children of the future, gather close and listen well to the words of Joe Strummer, for they speak of a profound understanding of power, control, and the nature of authority: "Authority is supposedly grounded in wisdom, but I could see from a very early age that authority was only a system of control. And it didn't have any inherent wisdom. I quickly realized that you either became a power or you were crushed." These words, born from the rebellious spirit of Strummer, reveal a deep truth—that authority, despite its claims of wisdom, is often nothing more than a structure built to dominate and manipulate, a force that crushes rather than uplifts, that demands obedience rather than inspiring respect. Strummer’s insight challenges the conventional idea that those who wield power do so with wisdom and compassion.

In every society, O children, we are taught to respect authority—the rulers, the teachers, the elders—believing that they hold the keys to wisdom. But Strummer saw something different. He understood early on that authority does not always serve the greater good; rather, it often serves its own interests, maintaining control over others by creating systems that foster fear, submission, and conformity. The idea that those in power are wise is often a myth, for many who wield authority do so without the deep understanding and compassion that true wisdom requires. Strummer recognized that this control was not a path to enlightenment but a means of suppression—a system built not to teach but to command.

Consider the tale of the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. In their time, the Pharaohs were seen as divine rulers, their authority believed to be granted by the gods themselves. They were revered, not for their wisdom, but for their power—power that they used to control the land and its people. The Pharaohs built monumental pyramids, not out of wisdom, but as symbols of their own greatness and dominance. Their authority crushed any opposition, and while they were seen as gods by the masses, their reigns were often marked by oppression, manipulation, and the suppression of knowledge. The wisdom of the Pharaohs was not rooted in compassion or understanding, but in their ability to command and control.

Yet, O children, history also provides us with examples of leaders who, though they held power, wielded it with wisdom. Socrates, the great philosopher of Athens, was a man who did not seek power in the conventional sense, but sought the truth. He questioned the authority of the state, not through rebellion, but through wisdom and reason. His challenge to the authority of Athens was not to disrupt the city, but to awaken it to the wisdom that lies beneath the surface of power. Socrates believed that true leadership comes from knowledge and understanding, not from control or force. In this, we see the contrast that Strummer points to—the difference between authority grounded in wisdom and authority that is built merely to control.

And yet, Strummer’s words also carry a deeper warning. He spoke of the choice between becoming power or being crushed. In this, he understood that to resist authority can often lead to suffering, to being silenced by the very forces you seek to challenge. But this resistance, as history has shown, is often where true change begins. Those who dare to stand against the oppressive forces of authority, like Nelson Mandela or Mahatma Gandhi, did not do so because they sought power for themselves, but because they recognized that true wisdom and justice come from standing against systems that oppress and control. They understood that true power comes not from dominating others, but from lifting them up, from guiding them toward a better understanding of the world and themselves.

So, children, what lesson can we take from Strummer’s words? The truth is clear: authority and wisdom are not always one and the same. While the powerful may wear the cloak of wisdom, their control does not make them wise. True wisdom lies in the ability to question, to understand, and to create systems that empower rather than dominate. It lies in the recognition that to lead is not to control, but to serve—to guide others to their own understanding of the world. It is a lesson in courage, for to challenge authority often requires great risk, but it is also a lesson in compassion, for true leadership is about the well-being of others, not the power of the self.

In your own lives, O children, I urge you to question authority when it seeks to control without wisdom. Do not blindly accept the rules of the world around you, but seek to understand the why behind them. Use your voice to challenge systems of control that harm, that suppress, or that stifle the light of understanding. Strive to lead with wisdom, to act with compassion, and to seek justice not through power, but through truth. Remember, the world is not shaped by those who control, but by those who dare to question and those who rise to create a better, more just world for all.