The Meaning of Reality

Yes, it is a vexing and perplexing issue
to be sure, but the question when raised
how to succinctly describe countries whose
societies are based on tribal, clan, ethnic
and sectarian lines and whose leaders
invariably are sadistic tyrants bleeding the
economy, persecuting the people, setting
them viciously against one another with
one demographic favoured the others'
presence barely tolerated in a system of
inequity and favouritism, the fawning
unctuous supporters of tyranny living the
good life while others groan under the weight
of carrying the stifling load and earning none
of the profit. A country where poverty and
disease result in early death rescuing the
departed from the misery of military attack
from the regime and even earlier death. That
country which takes umbrage at the term
'third world', preferring 'emerging economies'
even though any economy that exists is
prone to institutionalized corruption, and a
regime that thunders the unfairness of it all
because colonialism is responsible for their
laggardly plight not they. Those of polite
conscience term these nations belaboured
by dysfunction, graft and brutality 'emerging'
while those not given to circumlocution
prefer the infinitely more direct 'shithole';
at the very least, a dank, dark black hole
where those unfortunate to live there exist
in a perpetual state of wretched apprehension.
Nomenclature is meant to refine, not to
define reality; otherwise it is evasion.