I going to tell God everything, this heart wrenching disapproval of the innocent three-year-old Syrian kid mowed down by death was amplified with the ruthless Peshawar Massacre. One hundred and thirty two harmless children met with appalling and ghastly death at the hands of terrorists. December 16 witnessed yet another gruesome crime against mankind. Hardly two years ago the ‘Nirbhaya case’ had shook India, today we stand with our neighbour at the time of their grief.
It is said, death and heartache does not discriminate. The pain of the lost ones is universal cutting across race, region, gender, class and more particularly religion. The Facebook cover page of India with Pakistan states- ‘The smallest coffins are the heaviest’ and indeed it is. Our heart goes to the loved ones of these little children massacred by heartless inhumane beings. As a gesture of solidarity and respect parliamentarians, schools and probably many more homes in private observed a two minutes silence.
Visuals have a strong hold and grips one unexpectedly leaving a sour taste and revulsion at the deeds of a dogmatic few. Some of the pictures doing the rounds on the electronic channels and the internet are indeed very disturbing. It makes one wonder how many more innocent lives will be sacrificed in the name of religion, in the name of freedom, in the name of any other cause that these evil powers espouse. Yet, nothing can justify, the barbaric attacks and deeds of terrorism.
Hoffman Bruce, in Inside Terrorism, Columbia University Press, opines that the word “terrorism” is politically loaded and emotionally charged. For ages together the ugly head of terrorism is seen being raised time and again under new names, new leaders and new strategies. Pakistan for instance has to deal with the creation of its own Frankenstein. Take this wretched irrepressible fiend by its horn and put it to sleep. It can longer afford to support the spawning of these dark forces. This time round the collective voices of the parents who lost their young ones can’t be ignored. Pressure from all quarters should build up.
Pakistan and the world leaders, including India should sit and consider all possible corrective measures and how best these can be promptly implemented. For no nation can afford to lose precious and moreover innocent lives. There’s got to be better deals to transact apart from terminating peace, innocence and humanity. Time to acknowledge sale of arms and violence is ruining mankind as also religion is being pathetically and wrongfully marketed. No religion propagates death especially those of little children. And definitely children are not accountable for their parents’ deeds. This is a wakeup call to introspect the happenings in the world and the unaccountable conduct that is becoming rampant and viral.
It is time for each one of us to reflect. At this fag end of the year, as we rejoice and adore the birth of the Holy Child. Let us pray, that this world becomes a better place especially for the children. Let us also remind ourselves that we need to live a life worthy of the calling that we have received and ultimately we are all accountable for our conduct. There is no escape.
