Are we humans or animals?
If we are humans we shall try to stop senseless slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children stuck in a civil or military conflict. Killing of innocent people is a black mark on our human civilization.
In our society murdering another human is the most heinous crime. However we still read about this crime every day. While watching graphic images of pain and misery of Arab spring and 9.0 Richter scale Earthquake in Japan, a couple of questions came to my mind:
I hear spring is beautiful with flowers bloom
But why do I vouch sorrow and gloom
I hear days are sunny and bright
But why do I see ghost and no light
I hear nights are fun and charming
But why do I feel pain and suffering
I hear life is full of joy and cheers
But why do I find fear and tears
I hear life is a love stage
But why do I sense anger and rage
I hear man’s intellect and power are limitless
But why do I think man is tormented and helpless
Man may be helpless to tackle the fury of Mother Nature. But man has full control over the wars, civil conflicts and terrorist acts. One would expect reduction in civil conflicts with the technological development, growth and awareness about the world. But consider these numbers and decide if human race has improved.
- 2nd World War, 6 Million Innocent Jews were killed or I would say murdered.
- 1947, 1/2 Million Men, women and children were killed during partition of India.
- 1955-1975, Vietnam War, Estimated 1 to 3 million military and civilian killed.
- 1 Nov 1984, Northern India, Anti Sikh Riot. Systematic killing of 2700 Sikhs.
- 1994 Bosnia : 200,000 people were killed, 12,000 of them children, up to 50,000 women were raped.
- Sep 11, 2001: Terrorist attack America. 3000 Innocent hard working officer goers died.
- 2010/ 2011 Estimated causality in 2010/2011 in Libyan Civil War: 30,000+
Unfortunately there are many more conflicts and it could take hours counting. That is the saddest and cruel reality of today’s world. Whatever be the stated motive, there is only one explanation i.e. insanity.
Do we have a solution? Is military intervention by super powers is solution? Is UN a solution? In most cases, the external intervention is triggered by the events and becomes damage control.
Is democracy a solution? India is a classic example of series of communal riots despite being world’s largest democracy. Terrorists did not spare the USA, the UK and more recently Norway.
How about education? Educated Bosnians and Indians did not hesitate to kill.
I don’t know the solution. May be no one knows the solution. But I do know if we have a choice, we shall choose a leader that actively seeks peace.
What do you think?
References:
1. Jews killed in second world war
4. Vietnam War
30 comments:
@A! You did miss out on the numerous unborn children killed in their mothers' wombs! We humans are worse than animals when it comes to killing our own kind!!
No leader can bring about the kind of "change" we dream about.
The only possible thing within our might is to change ourselves to be better human beings respecting the rights of fellow beings to live!
Live & Let Live!! - should be our emphasis.
NRI,
Thanks. I will improvise. I am already asked to do it again. Next time I will add your suggestion. You are so right.
ye kaisi duniya ki tasveer ho rahi hai...
jahaan dekhein bus khudaayi ro rahi hai.....!!!!
Indeed a crual reality of the world....:(
we have to change ourselves and stop this culture of self and self gratification..till we learn to think of others before self..this will go on.
we need to be spiriual..need to think about family society and country before self.
I have applied a lot of thought on an individual human being and human race as whole.
The western world is correct. A person is capable of doing a hell lot of things. He can achieve a lot and bring about greatness and a new world.
But there are persons in India and other poor countries where people just want to die. They see no hope. They can never contribute anything.
This is the reality. There is a black and there is a white. A sort of Chinese philosophy is the actual truth of human race.
What the world needs is a great leader who manages balancing between the two ably.
Its worse than we think A!
Bosnia, chechnya, sudan, zimbabwe, afghanistan.......various reason..but killing, death and destruction.
I had similar thoughts after reading a recent news where a man was killed for just 27 bucks and another news where a gunman opened fire at a restaurant killing four people ,wounding seven and ultimately killing himself .Why and what for ? Hard to find an answer .I came across this article , check if you got time http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080130/full/451512a.html.
Civil conflicts are more about power and politics.I agree to what NRIGirl says No leader can bring about the kind of "change" we dream about.
I can understand natural disasters.
Rest is so difficult to decode and accept.
Thought provoking post.
Even more thought provoking are your readers comments.
Very intelligently written.
I don't think we will ever get that choice in a leader so all we can do is vote for the best available option which in India is none
In the second world war, an equal number of soviets were killed by Stalin. I wonder why that never figures in any discussion.
"As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields" - Leo Tolstoy.
Destination Infinity
I have no answers....for natural disasters or man made ones!
Very thought provoking post.
Even animal do not kill each other for no reason... :/
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A great thought provoking post - our seeming inability to learn from our mistakes/history is very frightening.
U right when u say that may be no one has a solution.:/
I used to think that religious people will hesitate to harm/kill others. Even that is not valid now! People kill each other in the name of religion. Unless people give importance to others' feelings, no leader can help anyone.
The poem is very apt for the situation, A.
No doubt these stats prove we are worse than animals. I do believe a good leader can turn this around. Here's an example -
In the early 90s Giuliani(then mayor) and Bratton (NYPD head) brought down the crime rate in NY and made the subways one of the safest modes of transportation.
I Agree A.. its Sad ,its bad...harmless people being targeted ...BUT
one of the books I read..it says..
its a circle ..all are given chance...everybody has to live...and enjoy But its the time thats limited..for others to come ..we need to make room for new and old have to leave..otherwise the world will explode.. the ways and methods are different but the eternal truth is "DEATH"
no one can run from that!!
Leaders and peace ..very few ..I doubt if anyone can do that..we can jus make an effort to live happily without creating problems for others..Rest is destiny!
Thought provoking!I think nature has designed that big fish eat smaller ones and is true for humans too..
I do not know of a solution. Someone always intervenes to make it worse. I have thought of a solution for a longer time ... and decided that I just have to trust that there is a bigger plan which I am not capable of comprehending.
I can only do what is in my hands and I shall do that - seek no evil, mind my own business, abide my the law and be content with what I have while constantly striving to improve myself. What others (individuals or nations) do is not in my control.
♡ from © tanvii.com
Good verses A. And well said Irfan.
Selecting a leader who actively seeks peace? Is that really possible? Can the media be trusted to give out all the RIGHT information.
Its up to every individual to be a good person and also to raise a good younger generation. Peace always taking priority over comfort and selfishness.
Your points are valid. I just know that I can control what I do, and I will ensure not to kill or heap injustice on someone. I don't think that there is really any one solution to this. Power corrupts!
A very thought provoking post!!-Swetha Amit (Whirlwindthoughts)
nice post
but sometimes killing becomes necessary to save others.
I agree with you we must choose a leader who chooses the path of Peace.
.....and still we call ourselves an evolved species ! How shameful !
Nice post !
Its very nice to visit your creative blog... excellent work.
All the best
Marinela
Thoughtful post but alas one which highlights the reality of the current world. It is said that all answers to human problems exist in plain sight, its up to us to figure it out. I believe 2 things will go a long way in terms of solving such insanity:
a) An effort by all humanity to respect each other ideals, beliefs by showing empathy towards each other.
b)By sharing & showing love towards each other in a genuine sense.
regards,
PS
This was a powerful piece- can't believe I missed it the first time around. Your poem was sharp- the way you used the positive/negative mirror images in each of the lines to highlight the concern- excellent!!
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