Disillusionment is a very common feeling – an emotion of deep disappointment.

It is defined as freedom from false beliefs. Meriam-Webster’s on-line dictionary adds “to cause to lose naïve faith and trust.” It’s also described as the disappointment caused by a frustrated belief or ideal.

Frankly, I think disillusionment for most people is the now almost daily recognition that nothing is very much the way it’s believed to be or even supposed to be in this world today.

Embellished by the realization there’s very little an individual can do about it.

I know those are negative thoughts and many people would say unworthy ones.

I’ve never hidden my personal, sincere belief, for example, that Canada’s military presence in Afghanistan is both wrong-headed and a huge waste of life and money.

I’ll get lots of arguments from lots of people about Canada’s responsibilities to NATO, its role within the United Nations and the plight of the third world.

Yet I watch, dumbfounded and, yes, disillusioned some more, as world leaders plead with dishonest politicians in Afghanistan to subject themselves to a second meaningless election. Our support for a leader like Karzai is unfathomable.

If I felt we were not giving up lives for the despicable and pernicious opium trade I might feel better about it.

I really do care a lot...I wish a Canadian “Harry Potter” could wave a wand and our soldiers at war could be home with their families. As the death toll mounts, I continue to wish the young people in our military were somewhere else, keeping the peace instead of warring with an underground enemy of fanatics and terrorists.

I really wish we were home minding our own business. I know women need to be freed, children fed, democracy must be spread and justice must be seen to be done.

But we’ve already gone above and beyond the call.

I guess that’s why the disillusionment definition makes specific note of naïve beliefs. Beliefs like, most politicians are honest and earnest; the public servants are paid to serve the public; large corporations can act responsibly; and fighting crime, evil and bad people around the world is a necessity because someone has to do it.

I know my level of naiveté is enormous, almost as large as my growing cynicism and it seems to grow even larger daily as I witness the carnage in the world, the greed and corruption being demonstrated by many of those entrusted with the job of governing.

I am not referring specifically to Canada and the United States but the world as a whole. I have to say I have become disabused of many of my previous values in this rapidly changing world.

I tend to get virtually apoplectic about what I perceive to be injustices – such as the decisions by Wall Street banks and the financial world which have received huge bail-outs from the taxpayers, only to continue, in the face of intense public objection, to pay out huge bonuses to CEOs, executives and others deemed responsible for the recession we all find ourselves in.

It revolts me.

A few weeks ago I castigated the BC government for its unwholesome dependence on gambling profits – and I could scarce hold back a smile at hearing that four government-run casinos in Ontario lost $94 million.

A smile that fades with the recognition it’s not government money, but hard-working taxpayers’ money that has been tossed away by inept management and political incompetence.

Embarrassing – yes! Naïve – not at all! Combined with the e-health scandals and so many other episodes of failure in Ontario, it is simply totally disillusioning and a shocking and disgusting demonstration of government incompetence and failure.

Ontarians are reeling in much the same way as British Columbians are reeling!

ahewitson@telus.net