Why we fuss, why we fight?

With the Middle East crisis looming large on our faces, we've all spent some sad weeks, months and years so far. And there seems to be no end! With so many friends and acquantainces from the Middle East- it is but unnatural not to react. I have friends and have known several people from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Egypt, Greece so far in the last six years- they all spoke different languages, they all taught us wonderful cuisines, and shared wonderful stories. I met several of their family members too, and not one of these people seemed alien!

Their mothers and fathers seemed as loving and caring as mine back in India. They themselves loved to have fun, crack jokes, make friends, play soccer, cheat at board games, debate politics and perform wonderfully at grad school. Some of them are Christians, some Muslims, some Jews, some atheists- but we've sat together, eaten together, worked together and sometimes even prayed together. What else did you expect?

Yet today we are made to believe that religion is above everything else. Religion is what defines people and communities! We are being brain washed so much and so often that we are fogetting the screen that once separated reality from fantasy. Every day I watch with disbelief as so many brilliant minds shut down their brains and believe whatever is dished to them day and night. We all understand the reality around us and yet so many of us choose to fool ourselves and not accept reality either for the love for one's own country or people they think they know better. Why do we forget that we are what we are because of our values?

Religion, language, geographical boundaries are all inventions of the conceitful human mind. Good values like love, respect and affection are innate human qualities. We demonstrated those qualities the moment we were born. Hate, jealousy, greed, violence, mistrust and manipulation were things that we picked up along the way as we thought we were 'growing up'- didn't we?

Violence is bad and horrific no matter where it came from. Understanding why someone is doing what they are doing and if nothing else- looking at things with a clear and unbiased mind and heart is what it takes to get that courage and stand up for the truth. Our governments and leaders wouldn't have the timerity to do what they are doing if we stood up for that truth. We thought they would be the voice of our nations when we elected them and put our trust in them. Look inside yourselves now and question if what you believe today is what you want to believe!

Throughout history, our leaders and rulers have always led us into fights and wars and then made us believe that we asked for it or we believe in it! Do you know why we fall for this trick again and again? Next time you want to slap another support sticker at the back of your vehicle- take a minute and think deeply ...

Let's get back to one of my favourite rants at moments like these:

Rulers of the nation, as you fuss and fight,
over who owns the soil, and who, has the right
to design, build, sell and store and fire
all the bombs and guns to defend your holy empire
there are children hungry, children sick and dying
there are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers crying... - Sara Thomsen