The Source of Violence By Nazar da Silva Moira, Goa +91-832-2470290 nazardasi...@gmail.com
The stats may be shocking; but that should not surprise anyone. The truth is that you and I are contributing in a big way to perpetuate the scourge of Violence. And we don't want to know about it. We are in serious denial because 'we must have our cake and eat it too'. That is how a snowflake of violence has snowballed into an avalanche of such epic proportions today. Surely, as rational human beings, we owe it to ourselves that we take stock of the ground realities that plague us. Surely, it is our social obligation to deal with the problems that are destroying society: Dispassionately, and with all sincerity, we need to expose the root cause of the brutality that afflicts us as a people -- not as a community, not as a nation, but as a people. What all people share is a natural urge to discover the cause of whatever afflicts us. This desire itself confirms, quite graphically, that all people are gifted in an extraordinary way: Alone in all creation -- whether it began with a big bang, a whim or a whimper -- only the human person is endowed with this unique gift of reasoning and, among a host of other gifts, we have the freedom of making our own choices. This opens our eyes to a deeper truth: that we are all made in the image of our Creator. We all carry the DNA of Divinity so to speak! This is an astounding truth that we are reluctant to confront for reasons that should become apparent as we progress on our own path to self-discovery. Even though every one of us is gifted with an inherent intuition of what is right and what is wrong, we stubbornly choose to ignore that inner voice and, willy-nilly, make a mockery of freedom of choice. Consequently, we seem to have all but abandoned the concept of what constitutes wrong-doing. Basically, we are wired by our animal instincts to do only that which pleasures us. This familiar weakness is vigorously exploited by the global lobby of consumerism. Before we even know it we have become comfortable with ignoring the well-being of others, including that of our own off-spring. To add insult to injury, we even forget our role as custodians of the earth's natural resources. Some might say: "We have traded the 'Garden of Eden' for a quagmire fraught with the vulgar weeds and deeds of self-indulgence." The fall-out is that we dare not ask about the social costs of 'development' because society has itself created the real bogey by succumbing to the lures of market-driven forces. On the one hand, under the guise of religion, the resulting civic turmoil is exploited by bigotry and extremism; on the other hand, some power-hungry politicians resort to a crony form of capitalism and intimidation. The tinder-box for violence is primed; but violence does not come single file: it is a hydra-headed monster born of injustice: injustice being the calling card of all that is evil. The fruits of evil are enticing: they appeal to the baser instincts of our human nature. And, whether we realise it or not, unless we take corrective measures, we are being overtaken by the choices we make. Our once proud, multi-cultural nation, reputed for its tolerance and generosity, has fallen prey to the expedience of party politics and the pursuit of power. We keep making the wrong choices; we take the easy options. We have compromised and traded our hallowed values, especially the treasured traditions of family, for a false sense of 'freedom' that is evocative of utter licentiousness. We have allowed ourselves to be enslaved by dissolute addictions: power, wealth, sex, status, greed, the lot! The tragedy is that many of our chosen politicians have succumbed to the misuse of their legislative powers. And it is the Legislative Assembly -- no less -- that has let us down. It has compromised the most fundamental of human rights: the right to life! The irony of this heinous development came about because of the unnatural methods of birth control popularised by government. For one thing, such programmes are an affront to the dignity of the human person as they brazenly assume that all people are irresponsible and incapable of practicing restraint or self denial! Such undermining of the self-worth of any person can only encourage a lack of respect for life. This is exactly what has happened: Moreover, when any child is brought up to believe that s/he is counted among the 'unwanted', the culture of rebellion and violence can only deepen and become ingrained. As though that is not bad enough, one would think that a lesson has been learnt; but what has happened? We have gone deeper into the impossible morass! Abortion was legalised! The gut-churning horrors of Auschwitz, Belsen and more recently, ISIS, pale into insignificance as abortion clinics around the world flourish without the batting of an eye! And pray, what is to follow? You've guessed right: it is euthanasia! Have our hearts really hardened to a degree of such absolute and utter contempt for human life! We hope not. Consider the heroic story of the late Dr. Bernard Nathanson: By his own admission, the eminent surgeon, had personally performed some 5,000 abortions, and authorized 75,000 more! He came to realize the enormity of his transgression only when he witnessed live the image of a baby in the womb desperately trying to dodge the lethal implements being relentlessly manipulated for its merciless extermination. He was shocked to the core... From being a one-time vocal proponent of 'pro-choice', Dr. Nathanson became a staunch champion of the 'pro-life' movement in USA. He uncovered the diabolic practices of the powerful lobbies in government that manipulated a pliant media to promote the inhuman practice of abortion by undermining basic family values that respect the dignity of every single individual at every stage of his/her growth. He it was who produced the powerful documentary, aptly named, 'The Silent Scream'. It continues to shock and sicken viewers worldwide: wherever and whenever the documentary is allowed to be aired. Ironically, when we make the connection between the victims of abortion and the survivors of rape, the root cause of violence may yet dawn upon us: Science tells us that life begins from the moment of conception. Who are we to argue against scientific evidence! From this truth we can only conclude that the ultimate act of violence is the desecration of life in the womb! Who then can give voice to the Silent Scream? The least we can all do is pick up the gauntlet and be a voice for the voiceless. ### Naz da Silva is a senior citizen based in Moira. He has worked in Uganda and was an editorial board member of the insightful journal On The Move, published in Goa a couple of decades or more ago.