provides a soothing respite in the form of people being there for each other in the times of extreme personal hardship and loss. It does make the loss seem a bit bearable as opposed to having to endure it alone. And maybe thats the very reason society and human bonding evolved and the affinity towards people who advocated communal bonding and compassion for all.
but, in the modern context it has be extended beyond the realms of one's own community and place.
Christmas not being celebrated in full swing in the US owing to the mass killings and shooting and new year celebratons here being subdued only is a temporary acceptance of the truth and facts of life,
which doesn't solve anything or does not seem to be heading anyway in trying to bring about a change or restraint for the good of the society. in a few days or months life and celebrations will be back to normal and full swing ..
It is true and a very crude reminder of the inability of society to find answers to such dastardly acts
And without any disrespect to the lost lives..what of the people and the cases that go unnoticed and some of them were brutal..the suffering is much deeper and the truth more baffling..
Every day..20,864 people die of hunger and yet a Super storm Sandy claimed just 86 lives, yet was international news for a week!!! Is it because it caused a sensation?
Each year, more than 30,000 Americans die in gun suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings as a result of the ready availability, and accessibility, of specific classes of firearms. Gun violence is more than a crime issue; it is a broad-based public health crisis of which crime is merely the most recognized aspect. According to The Violence Policy Center (VPC), USA.
And, on an average around 22,000 women are raped in India alone..yet we react only to one or two such sensational cases...
Are the rest..some sort of lowly creatures or for some reason God forbidden ?or are they children of a lesser God as the cliche goes??
Or are we as a society are only receptive, reactive and responsive to personal loss and sensational cases and news?
The man who shot the innocent lives in the School, the man who shot the youth in a youth camp, the man who burnt houses and killed his sister and the firemen, and these rapists who killed the girl are all part of the society and each one has displayed immeasurable hatred for civil society and normalcy.And in some form sought sensationalism..
This brings up a rather disturbing and uncomfortable question ? Are these people just an extreme form of our own sensationalist mindset and make up? Are they an indicator of the things to come, and if there is even a tiny bit of relevance here, well God save us..personal Gods will need to come to our rescue..
It is okay for Father Kevin to have his why unanswered and despite his personal loss(his theology and spiritualism came to his rescue), he will continue to provide soothing letters and comforting prayers and presence to te lucky few who have access to him and such noble souls..
But what of the people all around the world who know theology and the only logic they know is work hard and work harder to make a decent livelihood and bring comfort, safety and happiness to their families and children.
What of the Whys of the people who send their children to get better education to the schools that they feel offers best education...will it soon be, the schools that offer best security inside the classroom..and even this will be a super elitist thing..for where any form of schooling and education is a challenge, sending children to such schools will be a far fetched dream for the average parents.
And what of the millions of girls and women who are forced to travel everyday either to schools work or for any reason..will their whys too be at the mercy of some wise man's guess or some prophet or God man to come??
Why is civil society so uncivil?
Why is it difficult to find civility?
Why is it hard to find answers to simple everyday and universal questions?
Why is hard to find Food, shelter, water and clothings for all? despite the claims of having sorted out the God particle??
Why is it hard to circulate the air around us in breathable form as it is in our homes and offices?
Why is it easier to get guns and drugs when getting education and jobs is so hard?
Why is travelling to space and hovering in the atmosphere so easy, yet traveling to work and back home so perilous?
Why is going to church every sunday so easy, yet visiting the nearest orphanage is almost unheard?
Why is there a furore over a movie actors personal life, when the deaths and sufferings of millions just a passing news?
Why is it difficult to find solace and security amidst our own homes and schools and cities when we talk about providing safety and security to countries ravaged in wars of their own?
Why is there a pot hole and a bad road and a pile of garbage right outside or on the streets when we talk of social responsibilities and social service?
Why so many whys and questions ? despite google on the go, the desktop, laptop, ipads and phones and palm tops with almost everyone?
Why so much disconnect when there is 2G-3G and 4G and infrared, bluetooth and seamless connectivity?
Why the government and Police cannot protect a child, a woman and a man when they have a whole force protecting the VIPS and ministers and their children..twenty four hours a day?
Why are we so silent and enduring in such grim cases when a noball or a wide or a missed penalty is enough to trigger a heart attack, divorce, killing and even a mini war?
Why so much importance to the unimportant and rising only to sensationalism?
Are these Whys because everyone thinks why do i care unless it hits me hard personally?
Are these Whys because we are so caught up with our own selves and our non issues?
Are we tolerant of anything and everything because we too are dysfunctional in some ways?
Are we seeking answers from Father Kevin ( at least he is sane, well informed and noble) and scores of fake God men and cults and forums because we have lost trust in the civil society, law and order and governments?
Have we lost the trust in our law and order and government, because they only reflect us?
Have we lost the trust in ourselves and in our capacity to be good, to do good and to care for each other and for the rest of the world in whatever way possible?
Why are we not waking up to the larger reality and the larger cause and purpose of Life and the world.
We cannot live in our own cocoons neither can we rest assured in the safety and comfort of our family and homes,
Why can't we be progressive in our endeavors and cautious in our engagement and mindful of the consequences and more importantly be inclusive in our growth as a society and nation? And as much as we should care for the rest of the world..each one can start with one's own society..and engage actively in finding solutions for the basic questions.
And as for the celebrations..well everyday of life should be a celebration, but we cannot celebrate in full spirit when there are people dying of hunger, of hatred and of dysfunction, and archaic and harmful laws and legal set up.
Thats why celebrations in modern society needs alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and narcotics and psychedelic music and all that is unreal and an escape from reality.
here, celebrations are few and far and only seen inside the family and rare family get togethers.
Unfortunately, the real celebration is one which has everything positive and everyone is invited..it is the celebration of Life in the true meaning of Life is beyond the self and beyond the immediate family..
Why? can't it be? its not hard to bring a smile on a stranger's face, its not difficult to feel happy seeing the toothless smile of an unknown baby, it is not so difficult to help some, it is not difficult to help oneself.
And as for Life ..well-- some Indian soul said " We are all lamps and we are supposed to burn, brighter the better, shining upon others more often and touching more lives and spreading light and comfort. We will burn out, some early and some late, but burn out, we will for sure. The only thing we can do and must do is keep the lamp clean."
Thanks and Regards,
Son of India,
Jaihind.