Monday, January 19, 2009

War for Peace

Burdened with hate and revenge,
The Sixth broke ranks from the clench,
Haughty as he was, and for want of more
blood, this was the spell of abhor

Dazed by the corrupt minds of his friends
The lone warrior sought a path of no amends
Slaughter was indeed why he came
With all the fury to play what he knew was the game

Time will elapse into eons and ages
As he twisted and spurned all adages
Only to know that the fist of God
Was all but a thoughtful odd

In cometh forever, every action that turned doubt
The white shadows cast a long and painful bout
When the soul is eternally numb
And the body is a woeful crumb

Answer now, I can hear no longer, feel no better
As I seek to know the past, present and the future!

Footnotes:

Over the weekend, I bought the book, Massacre in Munich: The Manhunt for the Killers Behind the 1972 Olympics, written by Michael Bar Bar-Zohar and Eitan Haber. It is word by word, day by day account of the run up to the Munich Massacre and the aftermath of the event.

India too has been a victim of extreme terrorism for many decades and continues to be so, losing its people every now and then. Much has been debated about this topic and I do not wish to add any more to an already simmering cauldron. But don't we have quite a number of lessons to learn from Israel? Their will to track down the perpetrators of terror, their never-say-die spirit, their ability to swiftly exercise retribution....... I wonder if anyone is listening at the South Block?

35 comments:

  1. But then, Rakesh, War can never buy Peace. Retribution perhaps, but never Peace! Using the same example, as a layperson, my observation is that even now, though Israel has been able to deal with those perpetrators, and still continues its vigil over its people and their safety, they, perhaps have not really known peace. Sad, terribly sad.

    And though I have admired the resilient and never say die spirit of the Nation and its ability to exert itself, unequivocally, would that model ever work here? Do we have that level of committment? Are we ready to face consequences arising out of such action? With the tradition of more than 5000 years of tolerance, the level , the threshold of tolerance to any and every kind of happening here, has risen high.

    A couple of months away from 26/11 and we still have not even got close to getting anywhere!

    A thought provoking post.

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  2. Yeah, I've read the book.
    Interesting stuff. Good Poem.
    :D

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  3. Yes, very thought provoking.

    This current war with Pakistan is being fought though terror attacks by Pakistan on Indian soil. As long as this goes on, all the casualties will be Indian, and Pakistan will have no incentive to stop these attacks.

    Taking the war to their soil will result in Pakistani casualties, and give them the incentive to start the peace process.

    So, as your title says- it will be war for peace.

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  4. I'm not in the middle of these conflicts (India / Pakistan, Israel / Palestine...) and see it of course from outside. However, I never until now felt for violence against violence. It's a never ending story. I don't know if I would feel differently if I was directly involved. Maybe?

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  5. first time here, you sure have a way with words! ditto in the simba post too. brb!

    Not sure abt the war though, i remember sigfried sasson saying,

    "You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye Who cheer when soldier lads march by, Sneak home and pray you’ll never know The hell where youth and laughter go."

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  6. gr8 poem there..
    regarding Israel, though I dont support what they are doing in Gaza,lebanon and all, I do believe that we have every right to retaliate in the highest possible manner when our nation's security is put to question..Lets not speak such shit words as 'compassion' and 'peace' with our neighbouring terrorist country

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  7. have seen a similar movie. by all accounts, they have showed made it clear not to mess with them.

    with india, it happens every time but somehow our forgiving nature is quite outstretched now! nothing happened till to anyone who has wrecked havoc there. nothing will ever happen also!! that's the sad plight!

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  8. i feel its not only india but the world as hole is a victim extreme terrorism

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  9. Extremism must not be TOLERATED anymore.

    Keshi.

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  10. Look India's situation is quite different with Israel... Hamas is not so stong...If they fire a rocket to territory of Israel, Jerusalem retaliates immediate...But think for a moment can do they against Iran?...Probabaly not...Our differences with Pakistan is quite different...War is not a solution...Ir brings more problems...

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  11. I don’t know how come peace by killing many in war! Israel’s strike on innocent peoples and children is such painful, so tied the world listening.

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  12. War for Peace!?

    kidding or what, Rak...

    Peace comes only with love and perseverence..But what do we do with Peace?? :)

    Good poem, dear

    "But I seek to know the past, present and the future"

    dear, what do you do with all the knowledge...sit under the Bodhi??

    open the book of life page by page..thats the fun of life...not knowing what the next moment has in store..yet knowing that the history of man is more or less the same since the time of Adam and Eve :)

    haven't we almost lived half a year of that uncertainty ourselves here. each day offering something new.

    yet, the sad news crumbles one..pray that they come down..


    wishes,
    devika

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  13. violence is not an answer in my opinion. but we so often fail to listen to 'the other side' so...

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  14. Reasons for violence and acceptance of authority are often interconnected.Is anyone really free to look at things in one's own way?
    liked the poem very much.
    wishes
    mip

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  15. Feeling any better now, Rak :))

    Cheer Up dear

    wishes,
    devika

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  16. Usha Ma'am

    Sometimes it is necessary to wage war in order to not just establish peace but also to rout the enemy of its evils!
    Obviously, one cannot compare and Israel and an India, for the former is very determined and one can only wonder the kind of determination India is posied with!

    The answer as you rightly said, lies in our spirit of commitment which is terribly lacking!

    Despite terror attacks on our country from time to time, we choose to do nothing! Isn't that disgusting!

    Rakesh

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  17. Vivek

    I'm sure you enjoyed the book!
    Thanks for your comments!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  18. Manju

    Thanks very much for your comments and the point of view which I echo!
    It is imperative that we take this mess to Pakistan and give them a taste of their medicine!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  19. Peter

    Isn't that such a blessed feeling that you are not in the midst of this quagmire?
    Maybe violence against violence is a very bad idea, but then I'm not sure if we Indians have a choice!

    Rakesh

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  20. BVN

    Thanks very much for your visit and comments! Greatly appreciate!

    Thanks also for the wonderful lines of Sasson

    Intense!

    Do keep coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  21. Praveen

    With all due respect for you point of view, I believe that Israel has survived for such a long time owing to its determination to stay in one piece and answer terror in the right manner

    Rakesh

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  22. Satheesh

    Isn't it so obvious that then, no one whosoever messes up with them?
    Us Indians on the other hand dont mind being treated as doormats!

    Rakesh

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  23. Rakesh

    True, it is not India alone that is a victim of terror! But then we as a nation can only have a limited control!

    Rakesh

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  24. Keshi

    True, extremism must not be tolerated for if done so, it will only lead to its propagation

    Rakesh

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  25. Deepak

    Does that mean that we fear a resurgence and stay put without doing anything?

    Rakesh

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  26. Jeevan

    In the world of today, the casualties of war are many! One can only pray to God for answers but in truth it is in us to stand in defence of the nation

    Rakesh

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  27. Devika Chechi

    True, that peace comes with a great deal of perseverence....but then at what cost? Are we going to be sitting ducks at all times or call it a lesson and then put together counter measures?

    Rakesh

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  28. Polona

    India has the soverign right to defend hersef in the face of such ruthless terror...perhaps our not being able to answer this has compounded the problem!

    Rakesh

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  29. MIP

    Rightly said, Reasons for violence and acceptance of authority are often interconnected!
    Thanks for your comments!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  30. Tr3nta

    Welcome back! Good to see you back in action!
    Wishes for a wonderful year ahead!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  31. Lessons are more than learned, dear...

    Putting together counter measures...is a collective effort..not in an individual's hand..even if he's the Prime Minister or President of the Nations...

    As far as forces of opposition, division prevails....what do we do??

    Will Mayawati and Mulayam join? will Pinarayi and Achudanandan of the same group ever tolerate each other....

    very difficult dear, very difficult :)

    For power they unite..and smile!

    wishes,
    devika

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  32. Devika Ma'am

    Yes, I do agree! Politics is indeed a dirty arena, especially in our country where alliances are for a matter of political and personal interest without any focus on development and bread-butter issues!

    It is sad indeed!

    Rakesh

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  33. Dear Rak,

    I agree it is sad.

    But if developmet is to reap long standing benefit, it ought to take a slow pace...

    The reckless speed -- the haste with which things were happening in almost all spheres of life in the past few years...are now bouncing back, beginning with economy...

    and life accross the world is defnitely assuming a slow and steady pace, every money, resources are valued and out to best use...

    That is definitely an aspect of THE CHANGE that the world is going to witness in the coming years

    And I personally feel that's the best thing that can happen from a 'humanist' perspective..it would help one to slow down to enjoy every aspect of life :)

    Let me ask you, while you did a post for Republic Day..did you activitely take part in any activity --There lies the beauty of life; not in blogging :)
    [My personal view; please don't tear me for this* :))]

    love,
    devika


    * I know you would not...But I am trying to become more 'soft' :))
    Can't say when until when :))

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  34. **and life across the world is definitely assuming a slow and steady pace -- every penny , resources are valued and put to best use...**

    devika

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