The Era of Madness

The Era of Madness

May 3, 2026

I have written before about how our thinking has eroded—how those now in power often act on the basis of shallow reasoning. On this Sunday morning, I find myself returning to that thought.

And yet, the day feels positive. Hopeful, even. The tall ships in the harbor do something to a person. It is hard to explain, but they always bring a certain sense of joy.

That feeling stands in sharp contrast to the government’s letter to the President of the United States, expressing support. The thinking behind it is not difficult to decipher: an attempt to curry favor, with a view to reviving the oil industry, perhaps even the refinery.

But this is not a well-considered move.

First, the likelihood that it will work is small. Diplomacy requires subtlety; a personal phone call would likely have been more effective than a public letter.

Second, these steps into the domain of foreign affairs—a responsibility that does not lie with us, but with the Kingdom. It is an area where we lack both formal authority and accumulated experience.

Moreover, this move undermines our own, inconsistently expressed ambition to serve as a zone of peace and a platform for dialogue and peace negotiations. That tension is particularly striking in the days leading up to May 4 and 5, when remembrance and reflection on peace are meant to take center stage.

That the world is going through a dark period seems beyond doubt. It is not the first time. History shows that we have always found a way through—often emerging stronger. That is no guarantee, but it does offer grounds for hope.

At the end of this morning, a friend sent me a saying. Perhaps, in a time when political choices so often appear careless, it is not naïve but necessary to hold on to it:

“Love has no enemy.”

Miguel Goede