Power is never neutral. It is lent to institutions by society on the understanding that it will be exercised with accountability and respect. When this understanding is chipped or even weakened, the damage goes far beyond any single policy or administration.

The scenes that we are seeing unfold in the United States, in relation to immigration enforcement, and the conduct of agencies such as ICE, provide for a truly shocking display, that betrays all that we have been brought up to believe. The land that for many generations inspired the entire planet with its values of freedom and democracy, is today at a crossroads.

Borders exist and public order must be maintained, however in democratic societies, enforcement is not an end in itself. Enforcement must be bound by safeguards, judicial oversight and a moral obligation to the age-old maxim that every person is considered innocent before proven guilty.

When institutions begin to operate primarily through fear, or disproportionate force, their legitimacy with the people will start to erode. Power becomes something to be exercised because it can be, not because it should be. History offers no shortage of warnings about where this logic leads, even in countries with strong democratic traditions.

What makes such situations particularly dangerous is not only the actions themselves, but the precedent they set. If one arm of the state is seen to act with impunity, others will eventually follow. Practices that would once have been considered unacceptable slowly become routine, justified in the name of security.

This is why institutions must be held to a higher standard than individuals. An abuse of power by an individual is a failing, but an abuse of power by an institution reveals a systemic failure which is much more serious. It signals a weakening of the ethical framework that must always guide public service.

Strong institutions are not those that act most forcefully, but those whose authority is respected without resorting to excessive use of force. True authority lies in moral leadership, especially when dealing with the most vulnerable in society. When governments shrug off certain episodes that shock the world over, it is a sign that their moral leadership is compromised.

What we are seeing happening in the US is a stark warning for all, that no matter how ancient the democratic tradition, or how solid the state's infrastructure is, no nation is exempt from the unthinkable. May good sense prevail, and may we learn all the lessons, as history will watch with extremely attentive eyes these months and years.