It was half past nine in the morning and the second period has just started. Miss Latifah, donning a black robe with a blend of gold and silver embroideries, covering her head with a headscarf which looks just ideal with her robe walked into her classroom. Miss Latifah , who graduated with a degree in Finance and Economics from University of Al-Ahzar teaches Mathematics and has begun writing some basic algebraic equations on the board. Malik, clad in a dark blue shirt and long black pants diligently copy the equations from the cracked, deplorable blackboard. The classroom which could accommodate about 20 pupils is yet to be painted with some unfixed broken window panes and cracked bricks. Malik and his friends could only depend on a single fan to keep the class ventilated from the scorching heat of summer with occasional, unexplainable power cuts. The quiet, tranquil morning was interrupted with a loud, deafening explosion. The frequency of the sound wave was sky high that it could shatter the delicate eardrums of the pupils. Malik and his friends quickly hid under their desks for protection. Miss Latifah did the same. Nobody screamed. Nobody panicked. It seems like a planned fire-drill, a perfect, noiseless one. Nobody uttered a single word. Nobody ran out of the classroom. Silence enveloped the air for a couple of minutes. Then, Miss Latifah ordered the students to re-sit and continue their work. Nobody spoke about the event as if it was a cursed one. Nobody cared or should I say everyone has acquired a certain extent of immunity towards the incident. Then, I realized. It was part of their lives. Bombs. Grenades. TNTs. You name it.
The event above is a typical occurrence in war-stricken countries; Iraq, Iran etc. Other than this, endless misery plagued Syria. North Korea is now conducting nuclear practice, creating a tension in the air as they are hinting possibilities to launch nuclear war against US-backed South Korea. It makes me wonder, when would peace finally dwell in the world? When would the earthlings attain harmony in lives? When can I hope for the day where the only explosions we hear would be fireworks? When will the children in Palestine be able to roam freely in the field playing football without a constant reminder of their friends who died being shot? We often hear this cliché phrase ‘light will always triumph over the darkness’. I feel that the phrase is being over-rated. I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. To people in war-stricken nations, it’s darkness all over them. The light is yet to shine the darkness away. The only things that keep them going are faith and hope. But then again, people of different faiths have never stopped fighting. To claim their faith as superior to others. Just recently, there had been a dispute between the Muslims and Buddhists in Myanmar that resulted in nothing but damage, loss and hatred. This is just the tip of the iceberg as there are many more incidents which are not highlighted by the media. Never put the blame on religions but its adherents. Religion only promotes peace and harmony and never hatred. Nowadays people are keen in propagating hatred than love. And yes, people are being egoistic. The positive traits being taught in their faiths are being suppressed by ego in them.
So who should we point fingers to? One of our most desired traits isn’t it; to blame others, mock others, find fault in others, pinpoint others’ weaknesses. We are diamonds, aren’t we? Looking down upon the black coals around us. Politicians; the god in power, the king who thinks they are one class above the rest, the mastermind who make decisions. They seem to be flawless, but mostly rotten inside. They declare wars, instruct their army to invade other countries. And their hidden agenda? To take over the world? To be the mighty God? Whatever it may be, they cause sufferings to the people involved. So tell me, who can put end to these sufferings? God? The chosen messenger? Perhaps Lord Vishnu to take another avatar to save His earthlings? Buddha? I’m waiting!
