The Power of One

The Power of One

Peter Kopa, Prague, August 20, 2026

As an example, here is the achievement of one woman: https://thinktanklatam.org/the-woman-who-hits-pornhub-hard/

Cowardice and Heroism

More than thirty years ago, Hollywood produced a highly successful film that sparked a series of similar movies: *The Power of One*. Many thinkers have drawn on this approach to reflect on the power of a single person. Among them is Jordan Peterson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f-Jg1Foqhs

Faced with the enormous problems of our time—such as wars, the globalist assault, inflation, lies in the media, corruption, and so on—each of us may feel overwhelmed, weighed down by a massive burden of concerns. Before reflecting on it, we feel incapable of doing anything to “fix the world,” so to speak. Faced with this feeling, two options emerge: some believe they have no power whatsoever to initiate change, while others stand up to the problems, roll up their sleeves, and start thinking in terms of “I can and must do something.” And the first step is always to start with oneself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpCBIF1Yl4k

The Cowards

In the first group are those who don’t want to lose their comfortable way of life. They prefer not to complicate things and decide to remain comfortably seated on the couch of their consumer habits, hobbies, video games, sports, etc. Even though they haven’t fallen into the abyss of major vices—such as alcohol, drugs, sex, and so on—they are people who lack dreams or hope; they are people without firm convictions to guide their lives; they are merchants of the fleeting happiness derived from brief moments of pleasure—good food, fine wine, going out with friends, and a little more. They have surrendered to the prevailing relativism in society, where anything goes, nothing is good or bad—not even life itself. And part of this first group allows itself to slide into the dungeons of sexual promiscuity and drugs, which very soon render them unable to work. Thus, they become welfare cases, costing the state and the taxpayer a great deal of money. In Germany, this figure amounted to 15.3 billion euros in 2021.

The Heroes

In contrast, those in the second group appear to be the same, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that they have the courage to undertake arduous sacrifices without expecting a reward. They are aware that if they do not put up a fight, no one will do so in their place. They typically have firm moral principles. I could mention thousands of cases, so I will limit myself to just a few:

The early Christians, whose martyrdom sowed the seeds of the Judeo-Christian West’s greatness. But those who faithfully lived out their faith in that era—raising their families and dying peacefully in old age—deserve equal credit. If this living cell of society were to die, everything would descend into chaos—the signs of which we see everywhere today.

Similarly, everyone who performs their manual or intellectual work with dedication and enthusiasm—without seeking external recognition—moves the world toward the good. They should know that in doing so, they are contributing to the smooth functioning of their country and the world. What would happen, for example, if subway drivers in a large city did not go to work? The same can be said of any sector essential to the well-being of others. Thus, it is clear that when the essentials for life—food, infrastructure, housing, and heating—are lacking, everything else cannot survive. This can be seen in situations of armed or biological warfare, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout history, we have figures such as Christopher Columbus, for example, or Adenauer, or even inventors who have laid the foundations for advanced mechanical and digital technology, which has propelled economic productivity to unprecedented heights.

Statues of Heroes and Saints

Every society with a certain degree of self-awareness and historical consciousness erects monuments and statues to its heroes and saints. It is a universal phenomenon that presents their lives as examples to be emulated, as guiding lights for one’s own life. These are people who have set in motion processes with their own unique momentum, as in the case of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint José María Escrivá de Balaguer, and so many others around the world. But given the enormous importance of the traditional family, it is time to erect statues and monuments—not so much to the unknown soldier, but to the unknown mother and father. These are the people who must courageously tackle the problems, especially at the political level.

What else can I do?

People in the second group—those who keep the world running smoothly through the example they set in their lives, the upbringing of their children, and their professional work—may nevertheless think they can do no more. But they can and must stand up to major problems, either by developing their own initiatives or by joining those of others. For example:

1. Digital technology enables virtually free communication among thousands and millions of people. This has led to the emergence—first in the U.S.—of all kinds of political, social, economic, and cultural networks, among others, that aim to tackle specific problems. An example in Spain is “Citizengo.net,” which has 18 million followers in the fight against abortion, gender ideology, and unjust laws. Because legal regulations have a profound impact on society, the most urgent priority is to set up websites that offer citizens the opportunity to submit petitions to the government. When there are many thousands of such petitions, officials tend to react, realizing they cannot afford to lose votes in the next election.

2.Monitor the drafting of laws and the administration of government. In this regard, some countries, such as Switzerland, have referendums. Here, the main goal is to unite scattered forces that share the same or similar goals, in order to achieve a synergistic effect that enables a good cause to prevail. It is a shame that so many outstanding people are like this—lone warriors—who, even though this form of struggle has its intellectual and emotional appeal, fail to join forces with others. Wars are won by well-led armies.

3.Prevent people who follow secret instructions in exchange for money from entering legislative chambers or parliament. Unfortunately, there is no other way to explain the rapid enactment of absurd, unjust, and offensive laws. This is the case with regulations and laws that introduce, for example, gender ideology and sex education for children in school as a mandatory requirement. Specifically, the EU is acting in this way against the wishes of the majority—and with money that comes directly from the pockets of that very same majority. It is a deception that cries out to heaven. The same can be said of the United Nations, which has simply adopted the 17 goals of the Davos 2030 Agenda.