BY LUCY DUVE
The world today is clearly divided along the lines of race, religion and belief. Hindus believe in Lord Krishna, Moslems in Allah, and Christians in Jesus Christ. Irrespective of all this we all have one thing in common, and that is that we all belong to the greatest race of all times, the HUMAN RACE. Despite all the differences in beliefs and religions, we are all taught one basic thing – to love and respect HUMAN LIFE.
Two thousand or so years after the death of Christ one would have thought that we, as human beings, would have progressed at least to the extent of accepting and appreciating each other’s differences with dignity. But the events occurring in the world today prove otherwise. The events today are disturbing and disheartening to any sane human being. Humans have become a threat to mankind. Today you hear of terrorist attacks, wars and world leaders bickering with each other about nuclear weapons as if the world does not have enough troubles without them. How quickly they forget – have they forgotten the Hiroshima bomb? I guess what John Gardner had once said is true:
"History never looks like history when you are living through it".
According to St. Augustine of Hippo, time is a three-fold present – the present as we experience it, the past as a present memory, and the future as a present expectation. I am afraid our past isn’t a good memory, and the future does not look bright. As for the present, we are failing dismally. Wars are all over the world – in Iraq, Sudan, and the Congo just to mention a few. What is the legacy we are going to leave behind for our children to inherit? That it is alright to disregard HUMAN LIFE? Every time we move a step forward, we move three steps behind.
Being one who respects people’s opinions, feelings and actions, I was greatly shocked by the attacks on the USA, Spain and most recently London city. Honestly speaking, how does one justify such lack of respect for human life? Have we become so de-humanized and so void of all emotions? Why are we playing God with people’s lives? All questions but no answers or solutions. Whatever issues we might have with the world, which I believe we all do, there is no justification for the moment of madness of blowing oneself up, and in the process taking innocent lives.
I pose a question to you all – is this really all in the name of Allah? Is Allah not loving, kind and compassionate? Let us stop playing God or Allah with people’s lives. It is not our place to do so. LOVE LIFE and RESPECT THE SANCTITY OF LIFE. Let us all stop killing in the name of our respective countries. Erich Fromm once said:
“Love for one’s country, which is not part of one’s love for HUMANITY, is not love, but idolatrous worship”.
The plot must be getting lost somewhere, to fight terrorism we are declaring war. Does violence not breed violence? We seem to be developing a culture of two wrongs make a right. Is it not reverse terrorism? During these so called wars against terror, innocent people are being blown up. We seem so prepared to take casualties, as if it is the norm, without batting an eyelid. There seems to be no hesitation whatsoever in declaring war.
Is any war justified – be it a war against terror or a civil war? In my opinion it is not, though this is not sealed with God’s approval. Too many lives are lost, innocent ones for that matter, and many more problems accumulate with it – such as poverty, disease, emotional and physical trauma.
Let us not be lost in the admiration of the use of violence, for this is not graceful, though it might be persuasive. There is the danger of it getting a hold on us that in the end of it all, it will seem like common sense, and that would be a great tragedy.
I end with what the late Pope John Paul II wrote in his Catholic catechism:
“Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end .God alone is the Lord of LIFE from its beginning until its end, No one can under any circumstances claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.”
This is a challenge for us all – Respect and love life.
Review or comment on Respect the Sanctity of Life –
Reviews:
Wish everyone could respect life… the world would then be such a beautiful and safe place. Great work, Lucy! Samuel – 10/15/05
Wish there were more people with similar thoughts. Keep up the good work!
Lucie J – 10/25/05
Beautiful thoughts! Jimmy – 7/7/06
I think everyone should read this. It applies to each and every country of the world today. Wake up, people, before it’s too late. Remember and do what Lucy says – “Respect the Sanctity of Life” – and spread this message. Great work done, Lucy, hats off to you. Annie – 9/26/08
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